Woodbury County government leaders are getting closer to setting a new budget for next year, and the financial plan currently shows a possible property tax levy increase.
The county board of supervisors on Tuesday again deliberated proposed department budget amounts, and took the required step of sharing the currently proposed property tax rate with residents.
The Woodbury County property tax levy for people living in towns is currently $7.11 per $1,000 of taxable property valuation. For the next fiscal year of 2026-27, that county property tax levy could rise to $7.30 per thousand.
Woodbury County Board Chairman Mark Nelson continues to point towards the goal “to lower the levy, (or) at least keep it the same.”
The supervisors have more time to make spending reductions to reach that goal, by the time the budget is adopted by April.
But for now, a mailing will soon be sent by all the local school districts, county supervisors and cities in Iowa sharing projected tax levies. Those letters contain the dates and locations of public hearings for Iowans to learn more on local government spending.
That’s a step the Iowa Legislature first required of local municipalities in 2024.
Last spring, the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors passed a budget totaling $58 million for the 2025-26 year.
