Linn County, Iowa · Bond measures · Tue., Nov. 3, 2026
Ballot measures
The bond measures on the Linn County ballot on Nov. 3, 2026: what each would authorize, what it costs a household, the case for and against, and each issuer's existing debt against its legal limit, with sources.
How to read this page
- These are the bond measures on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot in Linn County. They are not every outstanding bond in the county.
- The same ballot has a state constitutional amendment (a two-thirds legislative vote to raise income taxes). It is not a bond measure and is not covered here.
- The tax cost is each issuer's own stated rate per $100,000 of assessed value. The figure for a $200,000 home is twice that rate. It is computed here, not quoted.
- No organized opposition was found for any of the three: no vote-no campaign, no opposing letters, no dissenting vote by the issuer. The case against is drawn from the issuers' own documents, from public records, and from our own analysis, each labelled. No measure is endorsed.
Measure wording: Linn County, Public Measure Language (all measures). Data as of 2026-10-23.
Measure NC · General obligation bonds
Measure NC: Kirkwood Community College (Merged Area X)
What it would pay forRenovate, improve, build and equip facilities: health sciences, industrial technologies, agricultural sciences, business and information technology
Measure asks for$88M
Existing debt$138.9M
Legal debt limit$3.19B
Cost to a household
Per $100,000 a year$9.35Per $100,000 of assessed value; the college's estimate
A $200,000 home a year computed$18.70Twice the rate for $100,000
Repaid overabout 15 yearsAs reported
Needs to pass60%Of votes cast on the measure
The issuer has not published the total to be repaid, principal plus interest.
Rate: Kirkwood, November 2026 bond page · Term
The case for
- documentedDemand in the funded fields. Industrial technology enrollment is up 33% in six years, with 198 students waitlisted this fall. The Gazette, Oct. 15, 2026
- documentedOutdated equipment. The simulation center dates to the early 2000s. Nursing students train on beds and monitors they would not see in local hospitals. CBS2, Aug. 27, 2026
- documentedJones Hall is full. The trades building is about 50 years old, and its welding lab lacks ventilation. The Gazette, Oct. 15, 2026
- documentedThe cost. The college puts it at about $9.35 a year per $100,000 of assessed value, under $1 a month. It says bond money may go only to capital projects, not salaries or operations. Kirkwood, November 2026 bond page
- documentedTrack record. The board vote to put it on the ballot was unanimous, and the 2017 bond passed with 69%. The Gazette, July 17, 2026
- documentedEndorsement. The Corridor Business Journal's editorial board endorsed a yes vote. Corridor Business Journal, editorial
The case against
- documentedEarlier bonds are still being paid. This is the college's fourth bond since 2005. $52.98M of voter-approved GO bonds was outstanding in mid-2025, with final maturity in FY2033. The $9.35 is the added cost, on top of what those bonds already levy. Kirkwood Community College continuing disclosure, period ending 2025-06-30 (EMMA)
- documentedMore is planned. The college's own master plan lists $34M of "secondary bond" projects beyond this one, including a $7M library remodel and an $8M geothermal conversion, plus $8M of other projects such as a $6.5M hotel refresh. Kirkwood Facilities Master Plan, cost estimate and phasing
- documentedHealthy reserves. In May 2026 the college had 177 days of unrestricted reserves against a 90-day target, and expected FY2026 operating revenue $2.73M over budget. That is operating money, kept separate from bond money by law, but it bears on how much the college needs to borrow. Kirkwood board minutes, June 18, 2026
- analysisOne building takes over half. $46M of the $88M renovates Jones Hall. The public material does not say whether renovating was compared with replacing. Kirkwood, November 2026 bond page
- analysisWho pays and who uses it. Voters in 18 counties pay for projects that are nearly all on the main Cedar Rapids campus. Linn County, Public Measure Language
Sources: Kirkwood Community College continuing disclosure, period ending 2025-06-30 (EMMA) · Issuer on EMMA
Measure D · General obligation bonds or capital loan notes
Measure D: City of Cedar Rapids
What it would pay forFire Department Facility Plan: a new training facility, relocate Stations 2 and 8, remodel Stations 4 and 9, rebuild Stations 5 and 6, land, fire trucks and equipment
Measure asks for$60M
Existing debt$450.5M
Legal debt limit$794.6M
Remaining capacity$344.2M
Cost to a household
Per $100,000 a year$24.46Per $100,000 of assessed value; the City's not-to-exceed figure, $2.03 a month
A $200,000 home a year computed$48.92Twice the rate for $100,000
Repaid overabout 20 yearsAs reported
Needs to pass60%Of votes cast on the measure
The issuer has not published the total to be repaid, principal plus interest.
Rate: KCRG, Aug. 11, 2026 · Term
The case for
- documentedResponse times. The department says the station layout dates from the 1970s while the city has grown south and southwest. Relocating Stations 2 and 8 moves them toward the areas with more calls. The Gazette, Oct. 9, 2026
- documentedTurnout time. The department says it cannot meet a 60-second turnout standard in the two-story Stations 5 and 6, which the plan rebuilds as one-story. CBS2, Aug. 21, 2026
- documentedFirefighter cancer risk. The City cites the NIOSH finding that firefighters are 9% more likely than the public to be diagnosed with cancer, and says new stations would separate living quarters from exhaust and contaminated gear. City of Cedar Rapids, CRFD Bond 2026 page
- documentedThe ISO rating. The chief says the last audit cost the department points for having no training center, and that without one the city could fall from ISO Class 2 to Class 3. Insurers use the class in setting rates. KCRG, Aug. 11, 2026
- documentedAge. Stations 5 and 6 date to 1957 and do not fit modern trucks. At Station 6, trucks stop traffic on Mt. Vernon Road to back in. The 1980s stations were built to last about 25 years. The Gazette, Oct. 9, 2026
- documentedTiming. The City says this is its first major fire bond in about 32 years and that the previous one is paid off. City of Cedar Rapids, CRFD Bond 2026 page
The case against
- documentedThe insurance benefit is hedged by the City itself. The City's material says any effect on individual insurance costs "would vary by insurer and policy", which is weaker than the ISO argument above. City of Cedar Rapids, CRFD Bond 2026 page
- analysisWhere the money goes. The plan names six stations, and an estimated $7M to $10M (12% to 17% of the measure) goes to one training campus. The Gazette, Aug. 7, 2026
- documentedA short runway. The plan was made public Aug. 7 and put on the ballot Aug. 11. The department called the timeline compressed. The Gazette, Aug. 7, 2026
- documentedExisting debt. On June 30, 2021, Cedar Rapids had $3,451 of debt per resident, the most of any Iowa city over 100,000. The ITR Foundation, which publishes the figure, advocates for lower taxes. The debt meter on this card shows the current figure against the legal limit. ITR Foundation, Property Tax Toolkit, from Iowa Treasurer data
Worth knowing
- documentedThe claim that Cedar Rapids has the highest property taxes in Iowa is not accurate. Its FY2024 consolidated city rate, $41.93 per $1,000, is above the statewide city average but below Davenport ($44.58), Ottumwa ($46.72) and Fort Dodge ($48.75). Iowa Legislative Services Agency, city consolidated rates FY2024
Sources: Official statement for General Obligation Series 2026A and 2026B, dated 2026-05-14 (EMMA) · Issuer on EMMA
Measure E · General obligation bonds
Measure E: City of Ely
What it would pay forConstruct, furnish and equip an expanded municipal library
Measure asks for$2.25M
Existing debt$4.54M
Legal debt limit$13.8M
Remaining capacity$9.31M
Cost to a household
Per $100,000 a year$67.43Per $100,000 of assessed value; the library's chart, $5.62 a month
A $200,000 home a year computed$134.86Twice the rate for $100,000
Repaid overabout 15 yearsAs reported
Needs to pass60%Of votes cast on the measure
The issuer has not published the total to be repaid, principal plus interest. The library puts the whole project at about $2.7M. The roughly $450,000 beyond the bond is to come from grants, donations and fundraising.
Rate: Ely Public Library, expansion FAQ · Term
The case for
- documentedOver capacity. The library says programs exceed room capacity 77% of the time at its main 2 p.m. slot, and it runs more than 1,000 programs a year. Ely Public Library, expansion FAQ
- documentedUndersized for years. Space studies in 2015 and 2020 recommended 15,000 and 18,000 square feet. The library is about 5,030 now. City of Ely, Library Expansion page
- documentedRegional use. The library has 4,652 active cardholders in a city of 2,328, because it also serves rural Linn County and nearby townships. Ely Public Library, expansion FAQ
- documentedThe cheaper option. A $7M municipal complex failed at the ballot in Nov. 2023, and a $5.5M renovation was judged too costly. This design is the lower-cost path. City of Ely, Library Expansion page
- documentedStaffing and access. The library says the larger building runs on current staff. It says the town's other meeting rooms, at the Legion hall and St. John Church, are not wheelchair accessible. Ely Public Library, expansion FAQ
The case against
- documentedVoters said no in 2023. Ely voters rejected the $7M municipal complex in Nov. 2023. City of Ely, Library Expansion page
- documentedOnly Ely pays. The library's operating budget is shared with rural Linn County and two townships, but this bond is levied on Ely property alone. Ely Public Library, expansion FAQ
- documentedA gap to fill. About $450,000 of the project is to come from grants and fundraising. The library's material names no grant already awarded. Ely Public Library, expansion FAQ
- analysisWant or need. The 240-seat community room is the largest new space in the plan, in a town of about 2,300 people. Whether it is essential is the judgment the ballot asks voters to make. Ely Public Library, expansion FAQ
- documentedParking. The library acknowledges parking problems downtown and points users of the new room to other lots. Ely Public Library, expansion FAQ
- analysisRunning costs. The building would grow from about 5,030 to 11,830 square feet, roughly 135%. Utilities and upkeep rise with it even if staffing stays flat. Ely Public Library, expansion FAQ
Worth knowing
- documentedIf the measure fails, the library says the project is paused and its board reassesses. Ely Public Library, expansion FAQ
Sources: Ely continuing disclosure, fiscal year ending 2025-06-30 (EMMA) · Issuer on EMMA