04/10/2026
How the City of Holstein builds its annual budget
By: Brent Harm
Sports Editor
Holstein City Administrator Tammy Nuckolls agreed to a question-and-answer session on the workings of the city budget. Nuckolls shared some details on how the budget is decided on and adjusted.
Question - Do you have to make a budget for the City of Holstein each year, and when does this happen?
Answer - Yes - It’s required, and it runs on a Fiscal Year.
“Every year, the City of Holstein is required by Iowa law to adopt a budget,” said Nuckolls. “Our fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30 of the following year, so the budget we are working on right now is for Fiscal Year 2027 — covering July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
“The process is not a quick one,” she added. “It spans roughly four to five months, beginning in January and concluding with the final budget adoption at the end of April. Iowa law also requires the City to hold public hearings and publish notices before the budget is adopted, so residents have the opportunity to weigh in before anything is finalized. Once adopted, the budget must be submitted to the County Auditor by April 30th.”
Question - Who is all involved in making budget decisions?
Answer - It takes a team - From department heads to the full City Council.
“Budget decisions at the City of Holstein involve quite a few people,” said Nuckolls. “The process begins with each department head submitting their budget requests to the City Administrator. Those departments include Public Works, Parks and Recreation, the Swimming Pool, the Public Library, our taxi program, and City Hall operations.
“From there, the City Administrator compiles everything, works through the numbers, and presents options to the City Council for their review and approval. The City Council - Mayor Kathy Breyfogle and council members Bonnie Stevenson, Marcus Prell, Steve Tiefenthaler, Terri Schimmer, and Mike Johnson - ultimately make all final budget decisions. They review the budget in stages across several council meetings held between January and April.
“There is also outside involvement,” she added. “For example, the Fire Department budget is sent to the Fire Township Trustees, since the township also contributes to fire protection costs. The City’s Municipal Financial Advisor also plays an important role, particularly in areas related to debt management and long-range financial planning.”
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