March 10-17, 2023

The Week in Review is a weekly digital newsletter from Linn County, Iowa.

New Property Tax Lookup Tool Now Available

Linn County has created a new online tool that provides increased transparency of the property tax collection and distribution process. The site includes interactive maps, a dashboard, and charts that show countywide property tax statistics, the tax bill cycle, property tax levy rates for all taxing jurisdictions in the county, where property tax dollars are going, and last three years of an individual property’s tax bill. By using this site, taxpayers can look up their property and see how their tax bill compares to other like properties in their area; compare their current property tax bill to the last three years; and see how their property taxes are distributed among the different taxing jurisdictions, such as their city of residence, school district, and county. When entering an address in the mapping tool, it will display a pie chart with the exact dollar amount and percentage of taxes going to each taxing jurisdiction. 

Property Assessment Increases

Linn County property owners are receiving their 2023 assessments and many have had questions regarding the increase from 2021 assessments. Iowa code requires residential property to be valued (assessed) at market value in odd numbered years. The market value is determined by what buyers are paying for houses – the Assessor’s Office sets values based on what the market has done. Almost all residential properties will see increases in market value in the 2023 assessment. Linn County valuation (assessment) increases are similar or slightly higher than the projected state average. These increases are part of a nationwide trend and represent the market change over a two-year period from January 2021 through December 2022. If city and county assessors do not adjust assessed values as required by state law, the Iowa Department of Revenue would make the adjustments this fall anyway. It’s important to know that assessed value is not the same as taxable value. In fact, as assessed values go up, the assessment limitation drops to limit the taxable value increase. Learn more.

Fairfax Mayor Special Election

A special election for the Fairfax Mayor vacancy will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Persons interested in being a candidate can obtain a Candidate Packet from the Linn County Auditor’s Office, Fairfax City Hall, or online at LinnCountyIowa.gov/Vote. The candidate filing deadline is April 7 at 5 p.m. Learn about options for voting early or on Election Day.

Kirkwood Students Receive Linn County Adastra Scholarship Funding

In January 2023, the Board of Supervisors signed an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) subaward agreement with Kirkwood Community College to provide $1,000,000 in need-based scholarship funding to qualifying Kirkwood students during the 2023 academic year. The funding was used to establish “Linn County’s Adastra Scholarship Program” that derives its name from the Latin phrase ad astra per aspera, which translates to “to the stars, through difficulty.” The scholarships help ease the financial burden and provide the recipients an opportunity to improve their lives through education. Hear from three students who received the scholarship this spring in our latest edition of the Linn County Connection blog.

Board of Supervisors Meeting Recap

The following is a recap from the Linn County Board of Supervisors meetings the week of March 10-17, 2023. The Board of Supervisors:

• Approved a vacancy form requesting an accounting manager for the Auditor’s Office
• Authorized Risk Management Director to sign a claim service agreement with EMC Risk Services for third party administration of workers’ compensation claims
• Received and placed on file Treasurer’s (Auto Dept.) report to the County Auditor receipts and disbursements for the month of February 2023
• Approved a resolution for 28E agreements between Linn County and the City of Center Point for rental housing and property maintenance inspection services
• Approved a resolution for a property use request for permission to use the Linn County Community Services Building conference rooms for the purpose of holding Wellness Recovery & Action Plan Training during the week of March 27 through March 31, 2023
• Authorized Chair to sign a certificate of self-insurance to allow Linn County employees and agents working with Early Care and Education Supportive Services intended to increase access to extended day and year high-quality wraparound care
• Authorized Chair to sign a certificate of self-insurance to allow Linn County employees and agents working with Nurturing Parent Program – Long Term to provide short term home visitation family support services to Linn County families
• Authorized Chair to sign a certificate of self-insurance to allow Linn County employees and agents working with Nurturing Parent Program – Short Term to provide short term home visitation family support services to Linn County families
• Authorized Chair to sign a settlement with T. Washington
• Held third and final consideration on an ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances, Linn County, Iowa, by amending provisions in Chapter 107, Unified Development Code, relating to accessory dwelling units
• Canvassed 1^st tier votes for the March 7, 2023, Special Election for College Community School District Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) and Springville Community School District PPEL

NOTE: The Board of Supervisors Meeting Recap briefly summarizes topics from the Board's meeting agendas. This recap is provided by County staff as a public service and is not an official record of Board action. The official record of approved minutes from Board of Supervisors meetings are approved at future meetings and are available for viewing after approval. 

Board agendas, minutes, and meeting videos are available on the Agenda and Minutes webpage.

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UPCOMING EVENTS & DATES

• Property Tax Payments Due March 31
• Public Meetings Calendar
• Conservation Department Events

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