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Des Moines County holds public hearing; proposes to keep county tax levy rates unchanged
Summary
At a March 31 hearing the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors proposed keeping county levy rates at current levels while answering residents' questions about state-mandated mailings, rural service levies and tax-increment financing.
The Des Moines County Board of Supervisors on March 31 opened and closed a public hearing on the county's proposed property tax levy rates and signaled it will keep county levy rates the same as the current year.
County staff told residents the statewide notice they mailed is required by House File 718 and must include a hypothetical 10% increase example; Des Moines County's actual assessed values rose about 3%, so the hypothetical figure can be misleading. "This mailing is required by the state of Iowa due to House File 718," a county staff member said, adding the notice shows only the three major levying authorities (city, school and county) and omits several smaller levies.
Residents used the hearing to press for clarity and to express concern about affordability. Bill Kermelire, a retired deputy sheriff, said many local homeowners live on fixed incomes and urged the board to avoid raising taxes: "it's really tough when you jack up the taxes," he said. Multiple speakers asked why rural property owners often pay higher county taxes; staff explained the rural services levy funds secondary roads, county deputies, library contributions and other services that city residents fund through city levies.
Speakers also asked about tax-increment financing (TIF) and whether the mailing presents a full picture of what property owners will pay. County staff described TIF as a mechanism cities use to divert increased tax receipts on redevelopment parcels to repay infrastructure investments, and said the state form is not intended to list every smaller taxing authority.
Board members recorded a motion to open the hearing, accepted public comment, and then moved to close the hearing; routine agenda business followed. The board also approved payroll reimbursement claims and a resolution setting the FY27 budget hearing for April 21, 2026.
Why it matters: The hearing addressed how property-tax notices are presented and why some rural residents pay higher county levies. While the county is proposing no change to its levy rates this year, residents said they remain concerned about rising costs and asked the board and staff to improve outreach and clarity about how the various levies combine on an individual tax bill.
What's next: The FY27 budget hearing is scheduled for April 21, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. in the Des Moines County Courthouse, when the board will consider the countywide budget and any formal changes to levy rates.
