Sioux City school board certifies FY2027 budget; finance officer explains how levy and assessed values affect bills

On April 13, 2026 the Sioux City Community School District Board of Education voted to certify the district’s fiscal year 2027 budget, setting an expected maximum tax rate of $12.22 per $1,000 of assessed value and an income surtax of 4%.

Patty Blankenship, the district’s finance officer, told the board that the levy rate is only one part of a homeowner’s tax bill. “You have to consider both pieces,” Blankenship said. “The levy rate is only part of the equation. You have to consider assessed values.” She said an example where assessed values rose from $100,000 to $110,000 would yield only a small increase in tax bill at the $12.22 rate, and that assessed‑value increases shift funding between state aid and local property taxpayers.

Board members raised questions after media reports suggesting a 5% tax increase. Lance asked whether the district was increasing taxes by 5 percent; Blankenship replied that advertised percentage changes can reflect assessed‑value effects and that the district does not directly control assessed valuations. She said assessed values in the district had increased substantially last year and that when values rise, state aid typically decreases while property‑tax proceeds increase under the state funding formula.

The board moved, discussed and approved certification of the FY2027 budget during the meeting; the action passed on a unanimous voice vote. The district will publish the certified budget and follow the statutory notice process.

Why it matters: Certification sets the maximum levy the district may request and triggers final notice and publication requirements. Changes in assessed values can produce differing effects on individual taxpayers even when the levy rate moves only slightly.