By JANE CURTIS

You may have seen the proposed levy for Hamilton County published in the Daily Freeman-Journal Wednesday.

If not, you may have seen it on social media; the state has required county departments to post the same proposed levy information there.

Either way, the cold numbers of a graphic sometimes don’t explain a story completely.

“The notice shows a tax rate comparison — current versus proposed for residential property and also for commercial property,” Hamilton County Auditor Kim Schaa explained Wednesday. “And both classifications are broken down by urban and rural. You can find that information on the bottom half of the notice.”

She added, “It’s a very confusing notice but it’s what the state is requiring us to use.”

Taxpayers will be notified in other ways as well.

“Beside the published notice, property owners will also receive a statement in the mail regarding potential property taxes and public hearing dates for cities, schools and the county.” Schaa said.

“The purpose of the notice and the mailing is to make taxpayers aware of the time and place of public hearings where they may voice concerns over proposed tax levy rates before the budgets are approved.

“The proposed rates are the maximum rate that can be levied. The city, school and county levies may be lowered after the hearings, but not increased.”

She reiterated: “Due to the timing of when the proposed property tax rates have to be submitted and when the budget is finalized, the rates published are the maximum allowed and the rates approved with the final budget may be lowered.”

Schaa added, “A large portion of Hamilton County’s increase is due to the $.30 EMS levy that was approved by voters in the November 2024 General Election.”

The public hearing on Hamilton County’s proposed property tax levy for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, is Monday, March 24, in the basement conference room of the Hamilton County Courthouse, 2300 Superior Street, Webster City.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m.

At that meeting, the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors will listen to relevant comments from residents and taxpayers.

A public hearing on the proposed county budget will be held in April.

“At the budget hearing, which will be in late April, the actual levy could be lowered from what this proposed levy is, but it cannot be higher than the proposed levy,” Schaa explained. “This is the second year the state has required counties, schools and cities to go through this process.” She added, “We are still working on the final budget.”

The Webster City Community School District Board of Directors has set its two budget hearings for Monday, April 14, 5:45 p.m. and 6 p.m., in the board conference room at the School Administration building, 820 Des Moines Street, Webster City.

“Due to Supplemental State Aid (SSA) not being set, Mr. (Matt) Berninghaus (superintendent) recommended the tax rate be calculated using 2.25% SSA to allow for maximum flexibility during the budget hearing process,” the minutes of the March 10 school board meeting reported. “The tax rates recommended for 2025-2026 will be a combined rate of 12.27, the former Webster City District tax rate of 12.79, and the former NEH District tax rate of 11.10.”

The Van Diest Medical Center Board of Directors will hold a meeting on its proposed budget on Tuesday, March 25, in the boardroom at Van Diest Medical Center, 2350 Hospital Drive, Webster City.

Residents or taxpayers will have an opportunity to comment on its proposed budget. VDMC is asking that a total of $2.65 million be raised through taxes.