Story County moves to proceed with proposed FY27 property tax levy after public hearing

Story County held a public hearing at 9 a.m. on March 31, 2026, to consider the proposed fiscal year 2027 property tax levy. After staff reviewed the published notice and levy calculations and a resident letter opposing the increase was read aloud, the board voted to proceed with the proposed levy "as published."

The staff member presenting the notice said the mailed truth-in-taxation notice compared current-year taxes with proposed taxes based on an assumed 10% valuation increase, but countywide valuations actually rose 4.6%. "The statement that the taxpayers provided as notice for the public hearing is confusing at best," the staff member said, summarizing why the mailed grid can mislead taxpayers about their individual impact. The presentation listed the proposed changes: the general supplemental rate shown in the notice increases by $0.31 (from $4.03 to $4.34) and the rural rate by $0.25 (from $7.21 to $7.46). The presenter also said the county’s maximum general fund levy was lowered to $3.43 from $3.50 because actual valuation growth was smaller than the notice’s assumption.

In the hearing the presenter noted that the mailed notice did not include other levies that affect many taxpayers — for example, city levies, the county hospital levy, ag extension levies and township levies in rural areas — and that omission contributes to confusion about the overall tax impact. The presenter told the board the county paid about $18,000 for the mandated mailing and said many residents focus on the printed grid without following the Department of Management link included in small print. "It’s very costly mailing," the staff member said.

Board members and one commenter discussed outreach options to help residents find the Department of Management tools to calculate their individual tax change. A committee member suggested proactively pushing a web link and explanatory information, particularly because older residents may have difficulty reading the small-print link on the mailed notice.

Chair (reading a written submission) read a March 20, 2026 letter from a Story County resident opposing the proposed tax increase. The letter argued that rising costs of living and stagnant wages make a tax increase imprudent, urged the county to revisit budget priorities and listed local service concerns such as gravel road maintenance and debris removal in ditches.

After the hearing closed, the body moved to "proceed with the proposed tax levy as published." The motion was called and members present recorded their support. Staff said it will follow up with the next publication step required in the budget process.

The meeting then opened a second public-comment period for items not on the agenda, received no speakers, and adjourned.