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Indianola board hears public concern about rising property taxes as budget hearing opens
Summary
At a public hearing on the proposed 2026–27 budget, residents urged the Indianola Community School District to rein in spending amid tax increases; officials said a technical republishing of notices will lower the published levy by about $1 after a 2% state allowance is included.
The Indianola Community School District board opened its second public hearing on the proposed 2026–2027 budget at 5:32 p.m., hearing several residents express frustration about rising property taxes and asking trustees to find further savings.
Lois Tabor, a retired teacher who said her household’s taxes had increased about $3,000, told the board she was worried about families on fixed incomes and urged cuts where possible. “If there’s anything that you can do to maybe cut costs … we’d appreciate it,” Tabor said.
Julie Santos also criticized year-over-year tax increases and asked the board to reduce spending; she said roughly “2/3 of our property tax go to school” and requested information about the district’s statewide rank, which board members said was not available at the meeting.
Board members did not take final budget votes in the meeting. Tara (district staff) told the board the district must republish its first public-hearing notice because the initial publication missed the first notice; that republication changes the second published levy number. Tara said the revised publication will reflect a 2% state allowance and will reduce the published levy “about a dollar” from the earlier figure.
The district posted budget documents on its website, and staff offered to provide more detailed line-item breakdowns by fund to residents who request them by email. The board closed the hearing at 5:38 p.m.; the district later set additional public hearings for April 28 at 7:00 a.m. and 7:05 a.m. to satisfy publication requirements and accommodate public input.
Why it matters: Property-tax levies and the district budget determine local school funding levels and taxpayer obligations. Residents at the hearing pressed trustees to balance spending priorities while maintaining teacher pay and services.
What’s next: The district will republish required notices, hold the additional hearings and continue budget work ahead of levy certification.
