Wright County’s tax levy will remain the same for the coming fiscal year, but that does not mean property owners will be paying the same in taxes. The board of supervisors briefly discussed the tax rate, changes in the rollback, and new procedures required by the state.
To exert control over property taxes, the state legislature has been reducing the taxable value of residential property each year. It sets a “rollback” number to offset the increasing assessed value of homes. This year the rollback is 54%. Next year it will be 46%.
Under a new state law, every payer of property taxes will get a letter from their county auditor in late March explaining how school, city, and county tax rates are set. The letter will give an overview of the taxation process in each county, but it will not show each person’s taxes, according to Wright County Auditor Betty Ellis. Anyone who wants to know their exact situation will need to calculate their taxes by using the tax levies provided in the letter and multiplying by their assessed property value and rollback percentage.
Strangely enough, the letter will include Polk County tax rates as an example. Ellis said there is no way Wright County rates can be added to the example since the state must approve the letter and Polk County has been set as the default example for the entire state.
“So the purpose of this (letter) is to inform the taxpayer, and all it is going to do is confuse the taxpayer,” Supervisor Dean Kluss said. “It drives me crazy.”
The letter will show levies for the local school district, county, and city, in that order. The supervisors joked that school districts may be on the receiving end of most of the questions since the school levy will be listed first. Anyone with questions is directed in the letter to contact the Iowa Department of Management by email.
The supervisors asked how much the new mailing will cost the county. Ellis said she did not know, but it seems likely the cost will be several thousand dollars. She said county auditors will be keeping track of the mailing costs and will make sure state legislators are aware of the added expense.
“I love these new rules,” Supervisor Karl Helgevold said, sarcastically.
The proposed budget and tax levy for the county will be published in local newspapers next month. A public hearing on the matter will be held Monday, April 1.
The supervisors also fielded questions from Judy Ritter about when the Iowa Utilities Board will decide on allowing Summit Carbon Solutions to use eminent domain.
Supervisor Kluss restated the opinion of the attorney from Ahlers & Cooney that a decision will likely come in April. Attorney Tim Whipple also warned that “if we do ordinances, we will more than likely have a suit brought against us,” Kluss said. The supervisor said Whipple did not discourage the county from approving new ordinances to limit where pipelines can be laid but just pointed out the facts based on Summit Carbon’s reaction in other counties. Kluss said the matter is currently in the hands of the county’s planning and zoning commission.
Kluss added that he understands the IUB is considering the use of eminent domain on a parcel-by-parcel basis.
The supervisors saw a demonstration of new interactive features on the county’s website. Under the auditor’s tab, the “real estate information” page now includes scans of transfer and survey books dating back to the 1800’s. That same tab also provides a link for property owners to receive email notices about drainage work.
The board also talked about continuing to use a drone to fly over and record all of the open drainage ditches in the county. Courtney Morris said one video that was made last fall cost almost $350, including 3.5 hours of set-up and two hours of flying the ditch, which was nearly seven miles long. The supervisors agreed to continue the practice.
In other business, the supervisors:
—heard that the economic development office is meeting with a prospect for the ag park south of Eagle Grove, as well as another business that could be located near Prestage;
—approved a conflict of interest release for Ahlers & Cooney to negotiate a contract for a naturalist who would be shared between Wright and Franklin counties. The firm handles legal matters for both counties;
—appointed Jeremy Feltz as a trustee in Wall Lake Township. He will fill out the term of Dean Cleveland;
—approved a liquor license for Oakridge Golf Course in Goldfield;
—and signed a proclamation declaring March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month in the county.
At the end of the meeting, the supervisors briefly discussed some of the candidates who so far have taken out nomination papers for the November county election. Some of the candidates and districts include: Greg Schipull, District 1 (Eagle Grove and Goldfield); Ashley Bosch, District 2 (southwest corner, including Woolstock); Lynn Loux, District 4 (Belmond); and Todd Foss and Rick Eichenberger, District 5 (southeast corner including Clarion, Rowan, Galt, and Dows).
