Webster City- A fact-finding public hearing was held Tuesday morning in the Hamilton County downstairs conference room regarding a budget protest against the Van Diest Medical Center tax levy. The Tuesday morning was called in response to a formal petition back on March 26th protesting the proposed budget for the hospital for the 2026-27 fiscal year beginning July 1st. The Van Diest Medical Center Board of Trustees voted this spring to decrease the hospital tax levy rate for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to $1.90 per $1,000 of taxable valuation, down from the previous rate of $2.10. The petitioners filed the protest with the Iowa State Appeal Board. This was out of the concern that the proposed tax levy is unnecessary for the local medical center. During Tuesday’s hearing, the petitioners Dave Taylor and Jake Van Diest presented arguments against the levy, basing their claims on the hospital’s historical performance and the current balance sheet. The defense in Tuesday’s hearing were Van Diest Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Lisa Ridge and Chief Financial Officer Ashley Allers. They spoke defending the financial necessity of the levy. The hearing also included a time for public comment as those attending voiced their support of the hospital while there two speakers who spoke in favor the protest by the petitioners.The Iowa State Appeal Board has scheduled an open meeting for Friday,June 26th to review the findings of the Tuesday morning hearing. The board will then issue its final written decision on the tax levy.