If you own property in Madison County, you have likely noticed that you have not received your statement yet. Normally, payment is due on September 1, with penalties beginning October 1. However, this year the statements have not yet been mailed as of October 12, 2026.
According to Auditor Michele Brant and Treasurer Kylee Barber, the previous fiscal year — July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026 — must be balanced and the year-end process completed before the new property tax statements can be mailed to property owners. They have not given an expected date for when this process will be completed or when the statements will be mailed.
The focus on property tax statements is typically at the county level because the County Treasurer collects the taxes. However, property taxes also help fund local public schools, cities, the hospital, DMACC, agricultural extension and rural fire districts.
Each of these entities creates its budget based in part on the property tax revenue it expects to receive. The county collects the money from property owners and then distributes the appropriate portions to the various taxing entities. Therefore, the delay is not simply a matter of Madison County taxpayers receiving their bills later than usual. It also means that the schools, cities, and other local entities that rely on those property tax distributions are waiting for revenue they normally would have begun receiving by this time — while their own bills and payroll obligations continue to come due.
How are these government entities affected? The Madison Report reached out to several entities to find out. The responses from those experiencing the effects of the delay describe significant financial challenges, particularly in managing cash flow while waiting for property-tax revenue. This article will focus on the impact to schools.
Property taxes account for roughly one-third of the budgeted revenue for area public schools. When property-tax distributions are delayed, the districts must manage their expenses while waiting for the revenue to arrive.
Eight public school districts rely in part on property taxes from Madison County property owners. Winterset, Earlham, and I-35 Schools have their buildings and facilities in the county. Adel DeSoto Minburn, Van Meter, Martensdale–St. Marys, Nodaway Valley and East Union Schools are in adjacent counties with district boundaries reaching into Madison County.
In writing this article, The Madison Report contacted Winterset, Earlham and I-35 Schools. Their FY2027 budgets show how much property-tax revenue each district expects and what share of its total budgeted revenue that represents.
This chart illustrates the extent to which schools rely on property taxes and on receiving timely payments from the County.
| School District | Budgeted Property-tax Revenue | Total Budgeted Revenue | Property Taxes as a Share of Revenue |
| Winterset | $12.0 million | $34.0 million | 35% |
| I-35 | $5.8 million | $17.2 million | 34% |
| Earlham | $3.1 million | $11.5 million | 27% |
These figures cover each district’s entire budget, not just the portion within Madison County.
Winterset Community School District
Winterset Community School District appears to be the most adversely affected school in the county in part because its entire district lies within Madison County. The school’s Business Manager Jill Gavin provided figures showing how sharply the timing of property-tax receipts has changed.
In October 2023 and October 2024, Winterset Schools received just over $5 million in property-tax revenue in each of those months. By comparison, it received approximately $1.57 million in October 2025. As of October 12, 2026, the district had not received any property-tax payments for the current fiscal year.
According to the district’s current year (FY2027) budget, Winterset expects to receive just over $12 million in property-tax revenue during the fiscal year. That represents about 35% of its roughly $34 million in budgeted revenue.
Gavin said the primary concern is the timing of the revenue, rather than necessarily the amount the district will ultimately receive.
“Payroll, utilities, transportation, and other operating expenses continue on their regular schedules, regardless of when property tax revenue arrives,” Gavin explained.
The district will use available investments and maturing certificates of deposit as needed to cover operating expenses while waiting for property-tax revenue. Gavin explained that drawing down investments leaves less money available to earn interest, reducing another source of revenue and limiting the district’s financial flexibility.
With state aid not expected until November, the district is carefully managing its cash flow. Gavin said its priority is to ensure employees are paid on time and educational programs and daily school operations continue without interruption.
Earlham Community School District
Earlham Community School District Superintendent Steven Kaster also described a serious cash-flow concern in an October 7 email to county officials. The majority of the Earlham district lies within Madison County.
Kaster reported that the district had not received a property-tax disbursement from Madison County since June. He said the district has continued operating using the revenue it has available, but is approaching the point of needing assistance to cover essential expenses such as utilities and payroll.
The district’s FY2027 budget calls for approximately $3.1 million in property-tax revenue, representing 27% of its $11.5 million in total budgeted revenue.
Earlham has also communicated directly with families about the financial situation. In an email sent out to email subscribers, Superintendent Steven Kaster said they were temporarily limiting spending until anticipated revenue arrived from the county.
The message sought to reassure families that the district had funds intended to help manage situations like this and that it remained in a stable position to meet its ongoing obligations. The district said programs, services and staff supporting students would continue as planned.
Updated to add: Earlham’s school district is roughly 70% in Madison County.
Interstate 35 Community School District
Interstate 35 Community School District serves portions of several counties, including Madison, Warren and Clarke. The school building and facilities as well as a significant portion of the district boundaries are within Madison County.
The district’s FY2027 budget anticipates nearly $5.8 million in property-tax revenue, out of $17.2 million in total budgeted revenue. Property taxes therefore account for about 34% of its budgeted revenue.
The Madison Report has reached out to I-35 School District Superintendent Micheal Gossen and several school board members regarding the impact. We will update this article with additional information as it is received.
County Response and What’s Next
The Madison Report also contacted County Auditor Michele Brant to ask whether the delay was causing cash-flow concerns for the county in paying its bills. Brant responded, “No I would not be comfortable discussing this.”
Auditor Brant and Treasurer Barber are on the Board of Supervisors meeting agenda scheduled for Tuesday, Oct 13 at 6pm at the annex building in Winterset. The Madison Report will record and share that meeting video.
