The proposed 2026–27 budget for the City of Sioux Center includes a range of updates and improvements from public safety equipment to park accessibility upgrades, while also lowering the city’s portion of the property tax levy.
City leaders are considering a decrease in the levy rate to $11.05 per $1,000 of taxable valuation, a reduction of about 1.76%.
City officials say the proposed decrease continues a long-term trend, with the city having lowered or held its tax rate steady in 16 of the past 17 years while managing costs across departments.
If a residential property sees no change in value, the decrease in the levy rate, combined with a reduction in the residential rollback, would result in about a 7.8% decrease in property taxes paid. For a $250,000 home, that equates to roughly $103 less in city taxes.
The city’s portion makes up about 33% of a homeowner’s total property tax bill, with the remainder going to the Sioux Center Community School District, Sioux County, and Northwest Iowa Community College.
General Fund And Key Services
The general fund budget covers core city services, including police, fire, and ambulance operations, public works, parks and recreation, economic development, and general government functions.
Major Projects And Improvements
The proposed budget outlines several projects and upgrades across the community.
Public safety updates include replacing a police vehicle, upgrading laptops, and updating cardiac monitors for the ambulance service.
Parks and recreation improvements include a new accessible fishing pier and shelter at Bridgeview Park, accessibility upgrades near the new ball diamonds, additional bleachers, and a scoreboard replacement at the football field. Trail expansions north toward new residential development are also being considered.
Highway 75 reconstruction will continue in 2026, with the city sharing costs with the Iowa Department of Transportation, including utilities, lighting, and engineering work.
Upgrades are also planned at the All Seasons Center, including a new HVAC system and improvements to entrances and arena areas.
Utilities And Sales Tax Contributions
Sioux Center’s municipally owned utilities are expected to contribute about 5% of utility sales to the general fund.
Meanwhile, the city’s 1% Local Option Sales Tax is projected to generate about $840,000 for property tax relief and approximately $150,000 for trail projects.
Next Steps
City leaders will continue reviewing the budget in the coming weeks, including a public hearing on the proposed property tax levy scheduled for April 7.
The council is expected to take final action on the 2026–27 budget following that process.
