Clarifying Waukee CSD Tax Rate Info
This month, all Waukee CSD residents will receive a county issued, state required property tax letter that shows a tax rate increase of 12.61% (residential) and 13.95% (commercial). However, these numbers are misleading.
The numbers are calculated by taking FY25 property taxes levied divided by FY26 valuations. It assumes a 10% valuation increase of your property, which is not at all likely.
“To understand this in a different way with a basketball metaphor, it’s like taking your free throws made last year and dividing them by your free throw attempts this year. It is not a meaningful metric,” says Sarah Enfield, Chief Financial Officer at Waukee CSD.
We understand the letter may raise concerns, so we want to provide an accurate understanding of the information and what it means for you.
What You’re Seeing:
12.61% and 13.95% Increase
The letter, which is an annual, mandated mailing from the county auditor, uses information submitted by each municipality to the Iowa Department of Management.
This year’s letter will show the tax rate increasing by 12.61% for residential and 13.95% for commercial. These amounts were calculated by comparing total taxes levied by Waukee CSD between FY26 and FY25, divided by the prior year’s tax levy against a 10% increase in taxable valuation.
It did not take into account:
- New residential and commercial properties, which spread taxes levied over more properties
- Actual valuation changes for the average taxpayer
- The change in the rollback
- School funding formula and property tax impact—the District grew by 300+ students
Actual Impact:
0% Increase in Tax Levy Rate
If your home valuation is equal to last year, the property tax levy rate is the same.
2.36% Increase in Taxes Paid (Residential)
The Iowa Department of Revenue increased the residential rollback by 2.36%, which means property taxes paid for Waukee CSD will increase by 2.36%, which is significantly lower than the amount in the tax letter. (This assumes no change in your valuation.)
What Does This Mean for You?
For most Waukee CSD residents, the actual increase you will see in your tax bill will be smaller than the letter suggests, as it’s based on the change in the value of your home and rollback. We are committed to keeping you informed and transparent about how these changes will impact our schools and your finances.
“Because of how the school funding formula works in Iowa, each additional student to our District is partially funded by property taxes,” Enfield explains. “Our goal is to provide a high level of education for students while keeping the cost to taxpayers as reasonable as possible.”
If you have questions or need further clarification, contact Sarah Enfield, Chief Financial Officer, at senfield@waukeeschools.org or 515-987-5161.
