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Legislature Bills Calendar Legislators Committees This session New laws Revenue and spending State budget Tax credits Economic development Federal money Executive orders What bills cost Lobbying Districts & maps

Local Find your county, city or school Property & sales taxes Tax calculator City levy limits Local debt New audits Schools statewide State money to local governments State aid by county Federal money by county How local government works Property tax and local money

Elections Results Your next ballot Sample ballot Turnout Local ballot measures Offices Campaign money Constitutional amendments

Learn Start here Take the tour Speak up Local governments Local money The Legislature Elections Glossary Bill-to-law game Quiz State agencies

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Start here Local governments Property tax & local money The Legislature Bills & amendments On the floor The funnel The budget Elections Money & lobbying Taking part Code & costs Glossary How Iowa Funnel works Bill-to-law game Quiz State agencies

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Ten questions from Your local governments. Each answer says why. Your answers stay in your browser.

Mixed Your local governments Property tax and local money The Legislature Bills & amendments On the floor The funnel The budget Elections Money & lobbying Taking part Code & costs

1. Under Iowa’s open meetings law, how far ahead must a meeting’s agenda be posted?At least 24 hoursAt least a weekIt doesn’t have to be posted

The agenda has to be posted at least 24 hours ahead, and the board can only act on what’s on it.

2. A council member elected “at large” is chosen by…Voters across the whole cityVoters in one wardThe other council members

An at-large member is chosen by the whole city; a ward member only by voters in one part of it.

3. Who collects the property tax that pays for your city and school district?The cityThe county treasurerThe state

The county treasurer collects property tax for every government on your bill, then passes each one its share.

4. What usually happens at a council work session?Final votes on ordinancesMembers discuss and study issues, usually without votingOnly closed-door business

Work sessions are for discussion before an item comes up for a vote at a regular meeting. They’re open to the public.

5. How are county supervisors elected?In odd years, with no party on the ballotIn November of even years, on a party ticket, for four-year termsBy the city councils in the county

The Board of Supervisors has three or five members, elected in November of even years for four-year terms, on a party ticket.

6. How many counties does Iowa have?8899120

Iowa has 99 counties, and every inch of the state is in one.

7. When are city council and school board members elected?November of odd-numbered yearsNovember of even-numbered yearsEvery June

City and school elections share one ballot in November of odd years. County, state and federal races are in even years.

8. Who chooses the county assessor, who sets the value of every property?The votersA conference board appoints themThe Board of Supervisors alone

The assessor isn’t elected: a conference board of the county’s, cities’ and school districts’ representatives appoints them.

9. When can a council or board meet in closed session?Whenever a majority wants toOnly for reasons the law lists, after a public vote to do itNever

Closed sessions are allowed only for reasons like a lawsuit, a property purchase or a personnel matter, and the board has to vote in public to hold one.

10. In a city where the mayor isn’t on the ballot, how is the mayor usually chosen?The Governor appoints oneThe council chooses the mayor from its own membersThe county auditor picks one

In a few Iowa cities, voters elect the council and the council picks the mayor and mayor pro tem from among themselves.

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