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West Branch council sets maximum FY2027 property tax levy at reduced rate
Summary
At a short April 6 special meeting, West Branch City Council moved the maximum property tax levy for Fiscal Year 2027 from 2.6% to 2.5%, a reduction the minutes estimate will lower city property tax receipts by about $100,000 overall; the council closed the hearing and adjourned the meeting the same night.
West Branch — The West Branch City Council held a special meeting April 6 to set the maximum property tax levy for Fiscal Year 2027 and approved a modest reduction in the levy rate.
The council convened at 6:30 p.m., with Mayor Roger Laughlin and four councilmembers present. A procedural motion to approve the meeting agenda, moved by Councilmember Colton Miller and seconded by Councilmember Jerry Sexton, carried on a voice vote.
During the public hearing on the maximum levy, the minutes state that most levy categories remain unchanged from the prior year, liability insurance costs have risen, and the FICA/IPERS levy area was reduced because the city has a healthy reserve; the minutes record no tax will be levied in that FICA/IPERS category. The minutes show the overall levy rate will drop from 2.6% to 2.5%, which the city estimated is about $100,000 less in total property-tax levy revenue. The minutes note that each resident should see a slight decline in their city portion of the property tax bill but cautioned that other taxing authorities could change individual bills.
Mayor Laughlin closed the public hearing at 6:36 p.m. The minutes record the mayor's motion to close the hearing; no second or roll-call vote is recorded for that motion. The meeting adjourned at 6:36 p.m. after Councilmember Miller moved to adjourn and Councilmember Mike Horihan seconded; that motion also carried on a voice vote.
The city minutes do not attribute the levy-detail remarks to an individual staff member; they list City Clerk Alycia Friis, City Administrator Adam Kofoed, Finance Officer Heidi Van Auken, Public Works Director Matt Goodale, City Attorney Kevin Olsen, and City Engineer Dave Schechinger as staff present. The minutes do not record a formal roll-call vote or detailed vote tallies for the public-hearing closing or the adjournment motions.
Next steps: The minutes indicate this was a public hearing on the maximum levy; any final levy adoption or formal ordinance adoption would appear on a subsequent council agenda.
