🌱 How the new school budget will raise Mason City property tax bills
Mason City, Iowa Patch AM: a 4 min readMorning Mason City! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How the new school budget will raise Mason City property tax bills
- Will Mason City require an independent environmental review for the data center?
- How Mason City’s Rock Island Depot helped build North Iowa
Today's riddle: How do you measure a fish? 🤔 (Answer below!)
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- Wednesday: Breezy in the afternoon, with a high of 82 and low of 55 degrees.
- Thursday: Showers and a heavier t-storm, temps: high: 68, low: 43.
- Friday: Breezy with decreasing clouds, with a high of 63 and low of 37 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Mason City School Board passes FY 2027 budget (kgloam.com) — Mason City residents will see the school portion of their property tax rate jump from $12.69 to $15.87 per $1,000 of assessed value in the upcoming fiscal year, after the School Board quietly approved the FY 2027 budget. Officials cite a growing special education funding deficit shared by many north-central Iowa districts, and no one spoke during the public hearing before the vote. 
• Mason City resident requests council to have independent environmental study on proposed data center (kttc.com) — A Mason City resident is urging the City Council to fund an independent environmental study before a large data center is built on newly rezoned land on the city’s southwest side. She argues the project could permanently damage valuable topsoil and wants unbiased analysis, while Mayor John Lee says the city supports a data center only if it truly benefits the community.
• Railroads turned North Iowa settlements into cities (nonpareilonline.com) — Mason City’s historic Rock Island Depot is highlighted as a key passenger and freight hub that helped transform early North Iowa settlements into thriving communities. The piece also spotlights nearby railroad heritage sites in Manly and Grafton that preserve this history for visitors and rail fans.
📸 Around Mason City
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Mason City
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
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Electric Avenue
NIACC - North Iowa Area Community College, 500 College Dr, Mason City
7:00 pm
Thursday April 23
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
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NIACC Performing Arts and Leadership Series: Electric Avenue
NIACC Auditorium , 500 College Dr , Mason City
7:00 pm -
Business After Hours hosted by: Splash
Mason City Chamber of Commerce , 9 N Federal Ave , Mason City
4:00 pm
Thursday April 23
Thursday April 30
📣 Mason City Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
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Leadership Workshop 2026: Design Your Culture
Anderson Event Room, Commerce Center , 9 N Federal Ave , Mason City
1:00 pm -
BINGO Night at Reserve 173°
Reserve 173 Bar & Grill , 306 1st Ave N , Clear Lake
6:00 pm -
VFW Bags Night
Clear Lake VFW
6:30 pm -
North Iowa Green Expo & Farmer's Market
Surf Ballroom
4:00 pm -
The Red Corvettes - Prince Tribute Band Tickets
North Iowa Community Auditorium , 500 College Dr , Mason City
7:00 pm -
Moriarty Tickets
North Iowa Community Auditorium , 500 College Dr , Mason City
7:00 pm -
Fur Patrol Tickets
North Iowa Community Auditorium , 500 College Dr , Mason City
7:00 pm -
Tribute to Barry White Tickets
North Iowa Community Auditorium , 500 College Dr , Mason City
7:00 pm -
Reverend Billy C. Wirtz Tickets
North Iowa Community Auditorium , 500 College Dr , Mason City
7:00 pm
Wednesday April 22
Thursday April 23
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Legacy Healthcare posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Mason City. Apply here.
- MercyOne posted a job opening for Billing Coordinator - Full Time - Days in Mason City. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Mason City here.
🗞 Nearby News
Clear Lake
- Clear Lake Firefighters Contain Garage Blaze, Prevent Further Damage (kiow.com)
- North Iowa Green Expo and Farmers Market 2026 (iowaagconnection.com)
- 4-21-26 Iowa Falls-Alden vs. Clear Lake boys tennis (timescitizen.com)
Forest City
- The Forest City Council Meeting for 4/20/26 (kiow.com)
Ok Mason City! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: By inches because they have no feet. (Thank you Gypsy S. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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