Dubuque County supervisors mull levy rates for FY26 budget

Reacting to revenue impacts of Iowa Legislature decisions — past and future — the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors chose to keep the countywide property tax flat, while adjusting their rural levy up and relying on reserve funds to balance the county’s sheets for the coming fiscal year. The board, split 2-1, selected a limited number of capital improvement projects requested by county departments and endeavored to keep the property tax levy paid on properties countywide the same as now. Supervisors Harley Pothoff and Wayne Kenniker both supported the $3 million cap on capital improvement projects and the levy plan to fund those, as well as the consistently increasing operating costs. Supervisors’ and other county officials’ various proposals all aimed to prepare for what they expect to be further, future property tax restrictions by recent and developing changes from the Iowa Legislature, which impact county revenues.