Mason City School Board approves 1.9% increase in property tax levy for Fiscal Year 2026
MASON CITY — The Mason City School Board this week approved a 1.9% hike in property taxes for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget starting July 1st. The tax rate will increase from $12.58 per $1000 of taxable property value to $12.69, with the district taking in an additional $353,000 in revenue for the next school year.
Superintendent Pat Hamilton says state lawmakers have transferred more of the tax burden necessary to keep the school district running onto local property owners with a low amount of State Supplemental Aid, or SSA. “The property tax is a slight increase due to being on the budget guarantee this year, that’s pretty much our entire increase, because with low state SSA, we need the budget guarantee. The budget guarantee is placed on property tax owners.”
Hamilton and assistant superintendent Bridgette Exman Dunn say it’s unfortunate that school districts are not getting more funding from the state and placing the burden on property owners. Dunn says, “The state legislature doesn’t fund SSA at a level that funds the budget. It automatically gets forced on property taxes.” Hamilton added, “It’s unfortunate, but that’s the reality.”
The Iowa Legislature this week approved a 2% increase in per pupil state funding.
The Mason City School Board plans to adopt their Fiscal Year 2026 budget at their April 21st meeting.
