JOHNSTON, Iowa (Wednesday, April 23, 2025) — The Johnston City Council approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget on Monday, April 21, 2025, demonstrating the city's ongoing dedication to improving services for residents and enhancing community infrastructure. The FY 2026 budget will take effect on July 1, 2025.

"This has been a challenging budget year due to increasing inflation and infrastructure costs, a highly competitive labor market, and greater demand for services from our growing population,” said Mayor Paula Dierenfeld. “With all these pressures on our budget, our goal was to maintain the city’s tax levy at $11.43790 per $1,000 of taxable valuation, which we did. The FY 2026 budget reflects our council and staff’s dedication to finding departmental efficiencies while prioritizing public safety initiatives. Overall, this budget balances the needs of Johnston's residents and our commitment to fiscal responsibility as our community continues to grow."

This year's budget totals $89.3 million, an increase from last fiscal year's budget of $83.8 million. The additional funds will support various initiatives, including new equipment purchases, community investment projects, and new positions.
The 2026 budget allocates $23.7 million for critical community investment projects. This includes, but is not limited to, the reconstruction of NW 100th Street, north of NW 70^th Avenue to repave, add turn lanes, and a trail, the proposed reconstruction of NW 62nd Avenue east of Merle Hay Road, and the development of a ten-foot-wide trail along NW 78th Avenue from NW 100th Street to NW 107th Street.

The city's portion of a Johnston property owner’s total tax bill is 31.6%. The remaining taxes are allocated as follows: Johnston Schools (38.4%), Polk County (19%), Broadlawns Hospital (6.6%), DART (1.8%), DMACC (2.1%), Polk County Assessor (0.71%), and Ag Extension (0.09%).
With the adopted budget, the departments will add staff and resources to ensure residents continue to receive quality services. These include:

• Two additional Police Officers

• Maintenance Worker I

• City Clerk

• Two Firefighters/Paramedics

With the adopted budget, $23.7 million was included for various Community Investment Projects. Highlights of these projects include:           

Public Works Water and Wastewater Division (Total: $5,018,000)

• Replace the 16-inch water main and 10-inch sewer main from NW62nd (NW 54th to NW Beaver)

• Rehabilitation of NW 54th Water Pump Station

• NW Growth Area Water Service Extension Segment C and Sanitary Sewer Segment B to serve the growth area along Highways 141 and 41

Roads, Bridges and Sidewalks (Total: $15,360,000)

• Reconstruct NW 100th Street (NW 70th Avenue to North City Limits) to include turn lanes where needed and add a bike trail to connect the existing neighborhoods

• East of Merle Hay Road Improvements Phase 1 utility relocation and right of way acquisition/NW 51st Street to NW 62nd Avenue to NW 64th Place (Street reconstruction and utility upgrades)

• Design of East of Merle Hay Road Phase 2/ NW 63rd Place to Merle Hay Road to NW 51st Street (Street reconstruction and utility upgrades)

• Johnston’s pavement management program to patch and repair streets throughout the community

• Design of street improvements on Merle Hay Road between NW 55th Avenue and NW 61st Street

• NW 54th Avenue Road Diet would reduce the width of NW 54th Avenue adjacent to Timber Ridge Elementary to improve pedestrian safety and calm traffic speeds through the area

• NW 62nd Street from NW Beaver Drive to NW 54th Place Proposed reconstruction of the existing roadway

• Johnston Sidewalk Program to reconstruct curb ramps to maintain compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Stormwater (Total: $600,000)

• Country Ridge Subdivision Outlet repair near Country Ridge Lane and Wildflower Court

• Repair downstream of the storm sewer outlet as it drains to the Des Moines River near River Bend Drive  

Sustainability (Total: $220,100)

• Agreement to purchase a solar photovoltaic system, previously leased for City Hall

Parks & Recreation (Total: $1,460,000)

• Ten-foot-wide pedestrian trail along NW 78th Avenue from NW 100th to 107th Street

• Continue improvements at Dewey Park

• Construct a fenced-in dog park with amenities

• Design a reconstruction of the Foxboro Road Trail system with a 10-foot-wide concrete trail

• Replace 12 wooden Little League dugouts at Lew Clarkson Park, including the fencing around them and new benches

• Continue development of a neighborhood park in the new Ridgedale Heights development, including interior sidewalks, a playground, and a shelter

• Construct the city’s third water trail access point at Beaver Creek just east of Merle Hay Road      

For more detailed information on the FY 2026 budget and upcoming projects, residents and stakeholders are encouraged to visit the City of Johnston's budget page at www.cityofjohnston.com/budget.

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