The Fort Dodge City Council will act on the proposed budget for 2025-2026 when it meets this evening.

The council will meet at 6 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 819 First Ave. S.

The proposed budget totals $115,381,690.

That is down from the current budget of $127,214,770.

It includes a property tax rate of $20.75 per $1,000 of taxable value, which is down 20 cents from the current levy.

The budget also includes revenue from a two-part water rate hike already approved by the council. The first rate hike went into effect Jan. 1; the second will go into effect Jan. 1, 2026. Each increase will boost the average residential customer’s monthly bill by $2.12.

The budget is for the fiscal year that begins July 1 and ends June 30, 2026.

Also tonight, the council will consider a rezoning to allow the expansion of the District 29 apartment and townhome neighborhood located near Dodger Drive and North 29th Street. The expansion plans call for nine six-unit townhome buildings and nine five-unit townhome buildings.

The council will additionally schedule a May 12 public hearing on a potential $2.8 million internal loan to support Fort Dodge Fiber, which is the city’s broadband utility. The loan would be repaid with revenue from the utility, not property tax dollars.

The additional money is considered necessary because costs of building the system have been higher while construction delays have slowed the connection of customers and the flow of revenue for the utility.

The council will also consider an agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation for $500,000 for work on North 15th Street. The city has a plan to convert 15th Street between Second and 20th avenues north to one lane of traffic in each direction, with a center turn lane.