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Peosta opens public hearing on FY2027 property tax rates as residents say county levy notice is confusing
Summary
The Peosta City Council opened and closed a public hearing on proposed fiscal year 2027 property tax rates. Several residents said a county levy notice did not make clear how much their taxes would change; city staff explained valuation-driven increases and fielded questions.
The Peosta City Council opened a public hearing at 5:45 p.m. on proposed property tax rates for fiscal year 2027, and residents raised concerns that a county levy notice left them unsure how their tax bills would be affected.
Marcy, the city clerk, recorded roll call attendance of councilmembers Jeff, Ben, Brian, John and Jim before a motion to open the public hearing was moved, seconded and approved on a roll-call vote.
Several residents asked for clearer information in mailed notices about how to calculate the dollar change in a tax bill. “Where on here does it tell me what my taxes are going to be? It doesn't,” one participant asked, reflecting a commonly voiced concern that the county mailer was difficult to interpret.
Scott, city staff, explained that the amount a homeowner pays can change because of property valuation increases or because other taxing entities (for example, the county or school district) raise levies, not solely because the city increases its rate. Council members and staff walked through an illustrative example discussed in the hearing about a roughly 3.2% change and linked that example to valuation shifts, noting that higher assessed values can raise a homeowner’s bill even when the city’s tax rate stays the same.
Council members also reported that a recently held open forum had generated a small number of similar questions and emphasized that the city’s portion of the mailed notice includes a line stating “No increase in tax rate,” intended to help readers, though residents said notices still caused confusion.
The council briefly discussed outreach and naming for a future Q&A event, agreeing on “Connect with the Council” as a preferred option to replace earlier titles that included “coffee.”
After public comments and staff responses, a motion to close the public hearing was made, seconded and carried on roll call. The council then adjourned the 5:45 meeting. No further formal actions on tax rates or vote tallies changing levy levels were recorded during the session.
