Inside Ankeny's FY2027 Budget

Good morning Ankeny! Bet you didn’t know that it’s illegal to own only one guinea pig in Switzerland. They are social creatures and get lonely, making it considered animal abuse. Do with this information what you will. Besides the random fact… we are trying out a new event section and there will be a poll at the bottom of the email. Please let us know what you think! Ankeny Digest is for the community; and we want the same community helping continuously shape the newsletter.

In today’s digest:

Lets get started.

— Chase & Chance

For those of you that missed last week: we asked the digest readers to let us know what you guys wanted out of a refferal program. The two options being a birthday shoutout or an community cheat sheet. The results: 82.9% of the poll contributors voted for the community cheat sheet. The cheat sheet is currently being drafted, give us a week or two to finalize and “perfect” it.

This week's digest begins with ducks, specifically how a portion of Centennial Park is roped off to protect a mother duck nesting her eggs. We can thank Ankeny resident Lindsey Halford and her family for this kind act; they called the city after spotting the nest on Monday. Iowa DNR wildlife biologist Andy Kellner said the temporary fencing is expected to remain in place for roughly a month while the eggs incubate.

Several ponds are located near Centennial Park, which is where the mother duck and her ducklings are expected to head after the eggs hatch. In the meantime, Kellner encouraged nearby residents to enjoy the rare experience of urban wildlife while also giving her space. Mallard ducks are federally protected… the law says to look, but don’t touch. (more)

In honor of yesterday being 4/20, today we are talking about drugs… just not how you might imagine.

This Saturday, April 25, the Ankeny Police Department is partnering with the Drug Enforncement Administration (DEA) for the 30th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ankeny Police Department, 411 SW Ordnance Road. The event gives community members a safe, free, and completely anonymous way to drop off unused or expired prescription medications, no questions asked. It's a simple but impactful way to protect the environment, keep potentially dangerous drugs out of the wrong hands, and keep them off the streets.

The numbers behind this program are staggering. The previous Take Back Day (October, 2025) included more than 4,300 collection sites, with approximately 286 tons of medication collected for safe disposal across the nation. Iowa alone turned in over 3.5 tons during last October’s collection. Accepted items include tablets, capsules, patches, and vaping devices with batteries removed. Liquids like cough syrup are welcome if sealed tightly in their original containers. Syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs will not be collected. If you can't make it Saturday, the Ankeny Police Department maintains a permanent drop box year-round. Cheers!

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The Ankeny City Council signed off on the Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2027 budget, which kicks in July 1, 2026. The $202 million spending plan, up from $198 million in FY 2026, keeps the property tax rate held steady at $9.90 / $1,000 of taxable valuation. This (surprisingly?) makes it the lowest of any city with a population of 5,000 or more in the Des Moines metro. The budget breaks down to $113 million for operations, $60 million for capital improvements, and $29 million for debt service, and adds 10 new full-time employees across police, fire, parks, IT, and utilities.

On the utility side, residents will notice some changes starting April 1, 2026. Water usage rates climb 8%, sewer rates go up 4.5%, and solid waste tacks on another 14 cents per month. For the average homeowner, that works out to roughly $108 more per year in city services for the owner of a $330,000 home… cost of doing (your) business I guess. On the bright side, this money will go to fund major projects, including (but not limited to): West First Street widening & improvements, South Ankeny Boulevard improvements, Water Tower No. 4, Phase 2 of the High Trestle Trail Experience Park, and the beginning of the highly anticipated 20-acre Canyon Creek Park.

Ankeny has a new face joining the leadership team; Brent Hinson has been named assistant city manager, with his first day set for June 22, 2026. Hinson comes with an impressive resume, currently serving as deputy city administrator in Mason City and bringing more than 23 years of experience in senior management roles across four Iowa cities. He'll support day-to-day operations, guide policy development, and step in as acting city manager when needed. City Manager Mike Schrock called him "a clear choice for this role," and Hinson returned the compliment, calling Ankeny "one of the premier communities in Iowa." You’re off on the right foot, Brent. (more)

Iowa Gravel Project @ Firetrucker Brewery - Grab your gravel bike and join the group for a social ride at 6. Roll back to Firetrucker after to swap stories over a cold one. (go exercise)  

Nintendo Trivia @ B&B Theaters - Dust off your player instincts and head to free to play from 7:30 - 8:30pm, all ages welcome, and prizes for the winners! (Trivia)

Music Bingo @ Main Street Bakery - Think you can name that tune before anyone else? Play for free from 6-8pm, with prizes including desserts, free drinks, and more up for grabs! (info)  

Social Run @ Fitness Sports - Lace up and meet the crew every Wednesday at 6:15PM for a free social run with routes of 2, 4, or 6 miles. (info) 

Karaoke Thursday @ Cabaret - Whether you're a shower singer or a stage hog, come sing your heart out at 8pm (Details)

🎸Dan Medeiros @ B&B Theaters - Show starts at 6:30pm

Shop & Stroll @ Envision Salon - An evening of sweet prizes, delicious deals and delightful vendors. From 4-7pm.  

🎸Dj Hollywood @ Cabaret - 9pm sharp

Wood Burning Workshop @ Slick Designs - A hands-on wood burning workshop where you'll create your very own custom charcuterie board to take home. Class fee is $50 with a wood burner available to rent for just $5! (Tickets)

🎸Cory Jamison @ Cabaret - Playing at 8pm

Glow Party @ St. Lutheran Church - Starting at 5pm, an evening packed with music, dancing, games, face paint, a flashlight scavenger hunt, car races, and more, with dinner provided for the whole family! For kids preschool through 5th grade, and don't forget to wear your white or neon for maximum glow! (Info)  

Scavenger Hunt @ Chocolate Stam - All day, kids 10 and under can search the store to match every color on their sheet and earn a free chocolate bunny plus 10% off your entire order! (details)  

Indie Bookstore Trolley - Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day the right way by hopping on the trolley at Whiskey River at 11am for a joyride hitting eight of central Iowa's best indie bookshops. Just don't blame us when you come home with more books than you planned on. (Tickets)

Contempary Ballet @ Prairie Ridge Church - Experience a powerful evening where faith and artistry come together as Enoch Contemporary Ballet joins the young dancers of Encounter Outreach for a night of worship through dance! Starts Sunday at 4pm. (Tickets)  

Nervous System Reset @ The Tight Club - Starting at 6pm. Bring your yoga mat, get comfortable, and plan to leave feeling calm, clear, and grounded. (Details) 

Thanks for reading today’s Digest. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who eats a bowl of pistachio (shells on) daily.

See you next week.