It seems like a segment of the Fort Dodge population has surrendered its right to complain about any potential increase in the city property tax rate that may be coming.

As it stands right now, the city’s property tax rate for the 2026-2027 fiscal year is set to go up by 14 cents per $1,000 of taxable value. That would boost the tax rate from $20.75 per $1,000 of taxable value to $20.89 per $1,000 of taxable value.

And that higher rate would be levied against any increased value that a piece of property might have.

Property owners throughout the city had a golden opportunity on Monday to give their elected officials an earful about the increase. A public hearing, which was scheduled and announced well in advance, was held. The mayor and five of the City Council members were there.

What happened?

Not much.

There were four members of the public in the meeting room. Only one of them spoke. He was the owner of the Days Inn here in Fort Dodge, and he politely and professionally voiced his opposition to the proposed increase.

Then a letter submitted by all of the city’s hotel owners and operators was read into the record. The lodging industry is apparently taking a financial beating right now, and the hoteliers announced their opposition to the proposed increase.

Nothing else was said during the hearing and no other comments were received.

This public hearing came two days after state Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink, R-Fort Dodge, said during an Eggs and Issues forum that those who are not happy about their property taxes need to talk to their local officials, who set the levy rates, rather than their state legislators.

Yes, a 5 p.m. public hearing can be hard to fit into the busy schedules of many. But the hearing was announced well in advance, and everyone still had the option to submit written comments. And yet there was just one verbal objection and one written objection.

Those who deliberately ignored or otherwise skipped Monday’s hearing cannot in good conscience complain about the property tax increase if it wins final approval. And they cannot in good conscience turn to their state legislators and urge them to do something about property taxes.

Democracy requires public engagement. If the property owners of Fort Dodge don’t want a tax increase, they need to get engaged in the process by voicing their concerns to the City Council.

There is still a chance to do so.

The conclusion of the public hearing legally set the maximum property tax levy at $20.89 per $1,000 of taxable value. The City Council can reduce that levy.

If you do not want that higher tax levy rate, now is the time to let your Fort Dodge elected officials know that.