The Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors heard more than an hour of pointed, emotional testimony yesterday morning during a public hearing on the county’s proposed property tax levy for the 2026–27 budget year.
According to the county’s published notice, the countywide levy rate would drop from $7.66 to $7.35 per $1,000 of taxable valuation. Rural residents would see a slight decrease as well. But because taxable valuations continue to rise, the county expects to collect about $250,000 more in countywide tax dollars—a 2.3 percent increase.
For a home assessed at $100,000, the county estimates an urban taxpayer would see a slight decrease, while a rural taxpayer would see about a $1 increase. Commercial properties, however, would see increases between 6 and 8 percent under the comparison model included in the notice.
That disconnect—lower levy, higher bill—drove much of the public’s frustration.
Storm Lake resident Juwan Ocegueda opened the hearing by expressing his concerns.
He also criticized the 8:30 a.m. timing of the public hearing and questioned the increase.
Board Chair Paul Merten said inflation, insurance, and state‑mandated services continue to push costs upward—even as the levy rate itself declines.
Supervisor Kathy Croker noted that the county has no control over property valuations, which are driven by the market and state‑ordered rollbacks.
Al Clark of Alta said rising valuations and layered tax increases are overwhelming seniors and working families.
Clark urged the board to cut spending before asking taxpayers for more.
Merten pushed back on the idea that the county is overspending, saying departments have already delayed equipment purchases, stretched vehicles well beyond their intended life cycles, and held off on non‑essential items until year‑end.
He also emphasized that Buena Vista County typically operates with ending fund balances around 11 to 12 percent, far below the 20‑percent cushion many counties maintain.
Croker said another major factor is the impact of unfunded mandates—including the new 65‑and‑older homestead exemption and expanded military credits—which reduced county valuations by roughly $10 million.
Residents also raised concerns about the broader tax climate.
Bruce Wilbur, a retired Albert City resident, said valuation increases are not aligned with residents’ ability to pay, citing a farming neighbor whose assessed value rose despite a decline in income.
He said retirees and working families are being asked to absorb increases that many employers no longer shoulder.
Merten acknowledged the frustration and said many of the pressures originate at the state level—from valuation spikes to rollback changes to House File 718, a major property tax reform law designed to lower property tax growth and increase transparency by limiting how much revenue local governments can collect, consolidating tax levies, and requiring direct notifications to taxpayers about budget changes.
A public hearing on the proposed 2026-27 budget will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21.
