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Van Meter council holds public hearing on proposed FY 2027 property tax levy; residents question library and public safety plans
Summary
The Van Meter City Council opened and closed a public hearing March 30, 2026, on the proposed FY 2027 property tax levy after two residents raised broad objections to the property tax system and asked for details about planned public safety and library building projects. Council actions at the special meeting were unanimous.
The Van Meter City Council on March 30, 2026, met in special session at the Van Meter United Methodist Church and held a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2027 property tax levy. Mayor Joe Herman presided; council members Travis Brott, Joe Lake, Jason Barney, Jarin Young and Joel Akers were present. Interim City Administrator-Clerk Travis Cooke was in attendance.
Councilmember Travis Brott moved to approve the meeting agenda; Joel Akers seconded the motion and it passed on a 5-0 roll call vote (Akers, Brott, Barney, Lake, Young all voting yes).
At 6:16 p.m. the council unanimously moved to open the public hearing on the proposed FY 2027 property tax levy. Two residents provided public comment. Resident Erin Shelton (621 Richland Rd) spoke in opposition to the property tax system generally and asked questions about the city’s planned public safety and library building projects. Resident David Young (616 Elm St.) addressed state-level property tax legislation and likewise asked how that legislation and the city’s building plans would affect the proposed levy. The minutes record no specific levy adjustment or formal proposal introduced by the speakers.
Councilmember Joel Akers moved to close the public hearing at 6:26 p.m.; Travis Brott seconded and the motion carried 5-0. The special meeting concluded with a unanimous motion to adjourn moved by Travis Brott, seconded by Jarin Young; Mayor Joe Herman adjourned the meeting at 6:27 p.m.
The minutes of the special meeting record only the hearing, attendance, motions and roll-call results; they do not record a final council vote setting the FY 2027 levy amount or further staff direction on the levy during this session. Any formal decision on the levy or follow-up actions are not specified in the minutes.
