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Poweshiek County supervisors hold public hearing on proposed FY27 property tax levy
Summary
The Poweshiek County Board of Supervisors opened and closed a public hearing March 24 on the proposed FY27 property tax levy; discussion centered on funding two additional deputies, rising insurance and operating costs, IT expenses, a lake restoration project and the county's fund-balance shortfall.
The Poweshiek County Board of Supervisors met March 24 and held a public hearing on the proposed FY27 property tax levy, with Supervisors Jason Roudabush, Jacki Bolen and Jeff Tindle and County Auditor Melissa Eilander present.
The board voted 3-0 at 6:00 p.m. to open the public hearing on the proposed levy (motion by Jacki Bolen, second by Jason Roudabush). Members of the public and county representatives discussed budget pressures that are leading to the levy proposal.
Discussion during the hearing identified several budget drivers: a proposed increase in the sheriff's budget to fund hiring two additional deputies; rising costs for software subscription services and other information-technology needs; a conservation lake restoration project; higher property and liability insurance premiums; and increases in fuel, equipment and rock costs. The county also discussed information-technology security and referenced windmills in the county, but the hearing record includes no formal action on those subjects.
County officials said the county expects to operate from its fund balance for a few months before property-tax receipts arrive in September. The officials described an ideal fund-balance target of 25 percent of expenditures and stated that the county's current fund balance is about 17 percent.
The board also clarified levy responsibilities: the general basic levy is assessed countywide, the rural basic levy applies only to rural residents, and urban residents pay levies associated with their cities.
At 6:38 p.m. Supervisor Jeff Tindle moved, seconded by Jacki Bolen, to close the public hearing; the motion carried 3-0. The transcript and minutes record the opening and closing of the public hearing but do not record a vote adopting the levy at this meeting.
