Fiscal Year 2026 Dollars & Cents BrochureCopyrighted
May 19, 2025
City of Dubuque ACTION ITEMS # 5.
City Council
ITEM TITLE:
Fiscal Year 2026 Dollars & Cents Brochure
SUMMARY:
City Manager providing a copy of the FY2026 Dollars and
Cents brochure, which will be mailed to all City utility
customers with their utility bills from May 14 - June 4.
SUGGUESTED
Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. FY2026 Dollars and Cents
Page 945 of 950
THE CITY OF
DUB E WLLAR ENT
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
FISCAL YEAR 2026 FY26 City Property Tax Rate
July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026
• $10.06372 per thousand dollars assessed value
• Increase of 1.38% from FY2025
FY25 City
FY26 City
Cost
Percent
Property Type
Property
Property
Change
Change
Tax Payment
Payment
,
Residential: Avg. value = $196,508
$855.82
$889.20
+$33.38
+3.9%
Commercial: $150,000 value and below
$690.02
$716.00
+$25.98
+3.8%
Commercial: $150,001 - $300,000 value
$2,030.08
$2,074.61
+$44.53
+2.2%
Commercial: $301,000 - $450,000 value
$3,370.14
$3,433.21
+$63.07
+1.91.
Commercial: Avg. value = $540,594
$4,179.41
$4,253.75
+$74.25
+1.8%
Industrial: Avg. value = $632,952
$5,004.59
$5,090.27
+$85.67
+1.7%
City Property Tax Rate Comparison
$25 Waterloo = 116% higher than Dubuque
Average = 55% higher than Dubuque $21.79
$20
$15.56 $15.63 $16.61 $16.66 $17.12 $17.56 $17.69
$15
$11.75
$10.06 $10.30 $10.53
$10
$5
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Moody's Maintains Dubuque's Credit Rating
Moody's Investors Service maintained
the City of Dubuque's strong bond
rating of Aa2, the third highest rating
possible, in January 2025 when a
series of bonds were issued.
In July 2023, Moody's upgraded the
City's issuer rating and outstanding
general obligation unlimited tax bonds
from Aa3 to Aa2. The improved rating
Where Property Taxes Go
FY26 Consolidated Rate of $30.1238*
*Not certified until May/June 2025.
assists the City in securing the best
terms for financial products like loans,
which will provide substantial savings
for the City and taxpayers.
According to Moody's, "the City
has strong financial operations and
ample revenue -raising flexibility,
which has resulted in steadily
improved available fund balance and
cc
.1%
her
1%
cash. The city serves as a regional
economic center and its regional
economic growth rate has outpaced
the nation over the past five years.
The city's local economy is likely to
remain strong because of its mix of
commercial and industrial industries,
stable population and steady tax base
growth."
Page 946 of 950
F
CITY BUDGET FY26 Total Budget: $276,430,239
The City of Dubuque's Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The City
budget has two primary components: the operating budget and the capital budget.
► The operating budget includes personnel costs ► The capital budget funds major improvements
and annual facility operating costs. It is funded to City facilities and infrastructure. The capital
primarily through local property and sales taxes. budget is supported through multiple funding
sources, including federal and state grants.
FY26 City Budget
General Fund
$91,336,133
$320,814
Water Fund
$12,647,141
$3,755,780
Sanitary Sewer Fund
$17,765,445
$22,026,250
Stormwater Fund
$6,143,147
$9,927,585
Solid Waste
$5,812,550
$220,000
Parking
$3,060,958
$86,282
■ Operating Budget ■ Capital Budget
GENERAL FUND
The general fund is the operating fund for general City departments and their programs/services, such as public
safety, culture and recreation, health and social services, and general government.
How General Fund Money Is Spent General Fund Reserve Projections
Public Safety
42.8%
Culture & Recreation
18.8%
General Government
16.2%
Public Works
9.7%
Community & Economic
Development
6.4%
Health & Social Services
1.2%
Capital Projects
0.8%
Debt Service
0.1%
Other
4.5%
The City maintains a general fund reserve, or working
balance, to allow for unforeseen expenses that may
occur. The goal is to have at least a 25% reserve.
FY26
$32,266,193
37.64%
FY27
$32,266,193
37.64%
FY28
$32,266,193
37.64%
FY29
$32,266,193
37.64%
FY30
$32,266,193
37.64%
Page 947 of 950
WHAT'S INCLUDED in Your Monthly City Utility Bill
The rates listed below reflect average household utility costs. Keep in mind that smaller households
generally use less and therefore pay less for utilities.
Avg. Household Rate: 4th Lowest
$43.74 / month* Highest, Des Moines, is 5.2% higher
Water than Dubuque, and average is 5.2%
0 ($3.60 increase from FY2025) lower than Dubuque.
Avg. Household Rate:
Sanitary $59.70 / month***
l'.., Sewer ($4.92 increase from FY2025, $2.46
for low -consumption households)
Basic Rate $18.11 / month*
Curbside ($0.86 increase from FY2025)
o7 Collection Curbside collection of recycling
is no extra charge.
Q Avg. Household Rate:
�UUU Stormwater $11.03 / month**
($0.53 increase from FY2025)
*Average household rate based on 6,000 gallons per month at $0.00669 per gallon
4th Highest
Highest, Des Moines, is 6.7% higher
than Dubuque, and average is 18.2%
lower than Dubuque.
3rd Lowest
Highest, Ames, is 59% higher than
Dubuque, and average is 19.1% higher
than Dubuque.
2nd Highest
Highest, Des Moines, is 74.9% higher
than Dubuque, and average is 30.8%
lower than Dubuque.
**Monthly rate for majority of Dubuque households based on usage of one single family unit. Stormwater fees are based on the
amount of impervious ground coverage on a property. Fees collected are only used for stormwater management activities such as
the construction, maintenance and operation of the public stormwater management system.
***Average household rate based on 6,000 gallons per month at $0.00913 per gallon. The City's wastewater collection and
treatment system operates as a self-supporting enterprise fund which means that it is funded with revenue from user fees, fees
from extra services, and grants.
Discounted City Utilities Program
The City offers income -qualified residential O
customers a reduction in monthly fees for
all four City utilities (water, sanitary sewer,
curbside collection, and stormwater) of up
to 50% of the base rate. Customers must submit an
application for consideration. Applications are renewed on
an annual basis.
To learn more and apply, visit www.cityofdubuque.org/
utilitybilling or call 563-589-4144•
Page 948 of 950
From 2025-2029, the City will invest nearly $131 million in sanitary
sewer Infrastructure Improvements.
Sewer Rate Increase Comparison
Including the 9% rate increase in FY2026,
Dubuque's average annual rate increase of
6% over the last six years (FY2021-FY2026) is
fourth highest among Iowa's largest cities with
wastewater treatment facilities.
The average annual rate increase of the other
cities is 5.5%, which is 9% lower than Dubuque.
Lower consumption households
pay less: customers are only
charged for the water they use and
the wastewater they generate.
STATUTORY DEBT
Strategic Use of Debt for
Community Investments
The City of Dubuque's use of debt can be
compared to many average homeowners
who borrow to buy their home. The City has
borrowed money at low interest rates to
invest in infrastructure. Unlike the federal
government, the City does not borrow
money to cover operating expenses.
Project Description and Amount Outstanding
1 Stormwater Improvements $57,697,798
2 Sanitary Sewer Improvements $54,661,651
3 Water & Resource Recovery Center $44,755,000
4 Water Improvements $32,754,450
5 TIF Incentives/Improvements $30,325,774
6 Parking Improvements $18,385,109
7 Industrial Park Expansions $9,740,738
8 Public Safety Improvements $9,701,906
9 Park & Recreation Improvements $5,930,290
10 TIF Rebates/Bonds to Businesses $5,561,674
Total $269,514,390
* $780 million has been spent on street improvements
from 1997-2024. 45 miles of streets have been
resurfaced or reconstructed in the last 5 years.
FY2021-2026 Average Annual
10.0% Sewer Rate Increase
8.8%
6.1 % 6.0 % 5.9
5.5%
3.8
2.4
in 1-
Sioux City Council Cedar Dubuque Waterloo Avg. w/o Ames Davenport Iowa City
Bluffs Rapids Dubuque
FY26 Statutory Debt Limit Used
100% This chart shows the percentage of statutory debt
9o% 87% limit in the FY2025 budaet. By FY2034. the Citv will
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
20%
FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26 FY27 FY28 FY29 FY30 FY31 FY32 FY33 FY34 FY35
Comparison of Statutory Debt Limit Utilized (FY2024)
Dubuque ranks as the fifth lowest and is below
80% the average of the other cities. The average is
68% 21% higher than Dubuque and the highest (Des
70% 62% Moines) is 100% higher than Dubuque.
60% 58% 56%
47% 47%
50% 41%
40% 34%
30% 24% 24% 21%
17%
20%
10%
0%
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