Display
Language
About accessibility
Language
Display
Sign in

Local taxes › Adair County › Bridgewater

City

Bridgewater

Adair County · How cities work

$2,810 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($33.35 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,040 a yearof that goes to the city ($12.29 per $1,000)
$27,235property taxes the city levies, FY27
$61,600city budget, all funds, FY272

Who runs it

The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.

  • Douglas MillerBridgewater City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • James C. McCallBridgewater City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Roberta CarpenterBridgewater Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Debra TindleBridgewater City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Kristen WalkerBridgewater City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Tyler FordBridgewater City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023

Officials are worked out from election results: every member whose four-year term is still running, plus appointments and titles Iowa Funnel has been told about. A resignation may not show yet.

Meetings and agendas

What the council is deciding: each agenda, the resolutions and ordinances on it, and a plain-language summary.

Iowa Funnel doesn’t read this city’s agendas yet. Every council and board posts its agenda at least 24 hours before it meets.

Property taxes

How the bill is collected · What each levy is for

Who gets a property owner’s tax bill in Bridgewater

Homes and businesses in most of Bridgewater pay a combined $33.35 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Adair County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $12.29. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Bridgewater pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$34.49$9.60
FY21$35.32$10.51
FY22–$11.60
FY23–$10.92
FY24$35.60$11.18
FY25–$12.73
FY26$36.74$12.80
FY27$33.35$12.29
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$34.49$9.60
FY21$35.32$10.51
FY22–$11.60
FY23–$10.92
FY24$35.60$11.18
FY25–$12.73
FY26$36.74$12.80
FY27$33.35$12.29

Compared with places this size3

Bridgewater’s city property tax rate of $12.29 per $1,000 is the 55th highest of 176 Iowa cities with 100–220 people. The middle of the group is $10.71.

Castana: $34.13Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Whitten: $22.65Soldier: $21.92Chelsea: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Coin: $19.59Rowan: $19.53Chester: $19.30Bouton: $19.25Ricketts: $19.22Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Jamaica: $18.24Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Prescott: $16.53Monmouth: $16.41Blockton: $16.37Montour: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Waterville: $16.25Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Woodburn: $15.59Kamrar: $15.47Greeley: $15.23Goodell: $15.16Marne: $15.03Baldwin: $14.91Magnolia: $14.68Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Ferguson: $13.53Lanesboro: $13.53Meservey: $13.43Calumet: $13.16Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Clemons: $12.69Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Arion: $12.14Webb: $12.10Paton: $12.09Decatur: $12.08Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92East Peru: $11.89Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Ledyard: $11.74Joice: $11.72Toronto: $11.68Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54College Springs: $11.44Melrose: $11.27Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Masonville: $11.00Somers: $10.99Frederika: $10.99Havelock: $10.95Alexander: $10.90Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Woden: $10.68Pacific Junction: $10.56Barnes City: $10.44Stockton: $10.37Randall: $10.35Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24North Washington: $10.23Dawson: $10.19Hancock: $10.13Melvin: $10.05Barnum: $9.96Grafton: $9.83Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Rutland: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Superior: $9.58Martinsburg: $9.49Rippey: $9.42Larrabee: $9.41Hamilton: $9.35Floris: $9.29Mitchell: $9.22Westphalia: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Welton: $8.86Archer: $8.84Luther: $8.83Fraser: $8.81Macksburg: $8.81Washta: $8.65Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Andover: $8.28South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Rome: $8.10Westfield: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Morrison: $7.86Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Cromwell: $7.81Mcclelland: $7.79Luzerne: $7.69Lidderdale: $7.68Bernard: $7.56Braddyville: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Franklin: $7.31Weldon: $7.18Brunsville: $6.95Packwood: $6.77Houghton: $6.73Williamson: $6.72Lincoln: $6.32Gravity: $6.18Ackworth: $5.90Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Harper: $5.29Panorama Park: $4.62Keomah Village: $3.15Mcintire: $2.78Sherrill: $2.66Centralia: $2.41Rickardsville: $2.27New Liberty: $2.27North Buena Vista: $1.78Bridgewater: $12.29$1.78 lowest$34.13 highestmiddle
See all 176
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Castana$34.13103
2Brayton$25.07138
3Harris$23.13145
4Whitten$22.6598
5Soldier$21.92176
6Chelsea$21.61207
7Smithland$21.12184
8Volga$20.23200
9Coin$19.59171
10Rowan$19.53118
11Chester$19.30134
12Bouton$19.25125
13Ricketts$19.22105
14Garden Grove$19.20173
15Hastings$18.95157
16Swaledale$18.62136
17Jamaica$18.24196
18Hillsboro$17.68158
19Bristow$17.39139
20Woolstock$17.26141
21Prescott$16.53186
22Monmouth$16.41129
23Blockton$16.37123
24Montour$16.37199
25Geneva$16.25137
26Waterville$16.25112
27Little Sioux$15.74170
28Moorhead$15.68186
29Onslow$15.63198
30Linden$15.62206
31Woodburn$15.59133
32Kamrar$15.47178
33Greeley$15.23216
34Goodell$15.16139
35Marne$15.03109
36Baldwin$14.9199
37Magnolia$14.68194
38Davis City$14.45178
39Lucas$14.40176
40Westgate$14.05190
41Palmer$13.89137
42Ayrshire$13.55128
43Searsboro$13.55129
44Ferguson$13.5398
45Lanesboro$13.53112
46Meservey$13.43212
47Calumet$13.16144
48Portsmouth$13.05187
49Clutier$13.03209
50Delaware$12.86139
51Patterson$12.84176
52Clemons$12.69135
53Millersburg$12.40135
54Aurora$12.40165
55Bridgewater$12.29145
56Hanlontown$12.17200
57Stout$12.14194
58Arion$12.1499
59Webb$12.10139
60Paton$12.09217
61Decatur$12.08174
62Rembrandt$12.03199
63Shambaugh$11.98161
64Lone Rock$11.92143
65East Peru$11.89119
66Henderson$11.85140
67Parnell$11.78190
68Reasnor$11.76157
69Ledyard$11.74118
70Joice$11.72206
71Toronto$11.68101
72Wadena$11.65201
73Exline$11.60157
74Beaman$11.54155
75College Springs$11.44172
76Melrose$11.27110
77Linn Grove$11.15155
78Dundee$11.14193
79Randolph$11.08183
80Leighton$11.07153
81Rake$11.05179
82Masonville$11.0098
83Somers$10.99121
84Frederika$10.99206
85Havelock$10.95127
86Alexander$10.90165
87Lambs Grove$10.78174
88Wallingford$10.75154
89Woden$10.68183
90Pacific Junction$10.5699
91Barnes City$10.44152
92Stockton$10.37171
93Randall$10.35156
94Meriden$10.28175
95Drakesville$10.24170
96North Washington$10.23107
97Dawson$10.19110
98Hancock$10.13199
99Melvin$10.05196
100Barnum$9.96186
101Grafton$9.83212
102Clare$9.81133
103Tingley$9.81146
104Rutland$9.65116
105Van Wert$9.62175
106Rock Falls$9.61143
107Kirkville$9.59159
108Superior$9.58127
109Martinsburg$9.49109
110Rippey$9.42217
111Larrabee$9.41116
112Hamilton$9.35125
113Floris$9.29119
114Mitchell$9.22118
115Westphalia$9.18133
116Elberon$9.16178
117Dixon$9.03204
118Blairsburg$8.93175
119Prairieburg$8.91156
120Oakville$8.89198
121Welton$8.86124
122Archer$8.84116
123Luther$8.83147
124Fraser$8.81107
125Macksburg$8.81103
126Washta$8.65206
127Moorland$8.61169
128Pilot Mound$8.54155
129Ollie$8.44196
130Thor$8.38182
131Andover$8.28106
132South English$8.27196
133Thurman$8.26162
134Boxholm$8.11177
135Rome$8.10112
136Westfield$8.10121
137Laurel$8.10214
138Lineville$8.10194
139Vincent$8.09125
140Morrison$7.86101
141Mount Auburn$7.86162
142Haverhill$7.86164
143Grand River$7.86192
144Olds$7.86174
145Castalia$7.86141
146Dickens$7.86146
147Rose Hill$7.86156
148West Chester$7.82147
149Cromwell$7.81104
150Mcclelland$7.79147
151Luzerne$7.69111
152Lidderdale$7.68162
153Bernard$7.56117
154Braddyville$7.49142
155Alvord$7.41216
156Franklin$7.31133
157Weldon$7.18134
158Brunsville$6.95128
159Packwood$6.77186
160Houghton$6.73129
161Williamson$6.72126
162Lincoln$6.32119
163Gravity$6.18149
164Ackworth$5.90117
165Oakland Acres$5.88178
166Springbrook$5.79145
167Maysville$5.77155
168Harper$5.29117
169Panorama Park$4.62142
170Keomah Village$3.15107
171Mcintire$2.78115
172Sherrill$2.66176
173Centralia$2.41117
174Rickardsville$2.27204
175New Liberty$2.27141
176North Buena Vista$1.78107

The $8.10 limit

Bridgewater’s general levy is $8.13 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.03 above the limit; it has to come down in steps.4 190 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.37 · FY26 $8.37 · FY27 $8.13 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $4.17 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$2.16 · $4,758
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.68 · $3,712
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$0.32 · $714

The city’s levies, FY27

What the city raises from each levy. The general levy is capped by state law; the others are set aside for one purpose.

  • Consolidate General Fund$17,91066%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$4,75818%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$3,71214%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$7143%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Bridgewater’s budget goes, FY26

Public Works: 60¢ of every dollar60¢General Government: 19¢ of every dollar19¢Culture and Recreation: 10¢ of every dollar10¢Public Safety: 7¢ of every dollar7¢Community and Economic Development: 3¢ of every dollar

Planned spending from all funds, including city-run utilities like water and sewer (“business type”), which some cities run and others don’t. Transfers between funds are left out. “Cities this size” is the average for the 176 Iowa cities closest in size (100–220 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (176)
Public Works60¢25¢
General Government19¢23¢
Culture and Recreation10¢8¢
Public Safety7¢9¢
Community and Economic Development3¢1¢

Planned spending, FY27

All funds: property taxes, utility and other fees, state and federal money. “Business type” is city-run utilities and enterprises like water or sewer.

  • General Government$22,00036%
  • Public Works$15,60025%
  • Public Safety$12,00019%
  • Culture and Recreation$10,00016%
  • Community and Economic Development$2,0003%
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$70,000$82,265
Public Safety$10,000$31,821
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$30,000$26,742
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$20,000$9,053
Community and Economic Development$15,000$12,241
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$0$0

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$162,122
$62,599

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Bridgewater owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.7

$0
$0
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$0$0
2016$0$0
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$0$0
2016$0$0
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $234,084 (5% of $4.7M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. Bridgewater’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021 (PDF), released Thursday, March 31, 2022, by a CPA firm.

State money

What the State of Iowa pays the city each year, and whether it has kept up with prices. Does state money keep pace? 11

What the state pays the city every year

Road Use Tax for streets, the commercial and industrial tax “backfill”, and ambulance reimbursement, paid every year by formula: $14,684 in FY25, down 14% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 32% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$15,166$14,250$14,605$14,684

Grants and project money

State grants and money for specific projects (roads, development, natural resources) vary with what the city applies for and wins, so they aren’t counted as the state’s regular support.

$27,500
$358
  • Iowa DOT projects$358100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$0
FY20$11,000
FY21$0
FY22$0
FY23$27,500
FY24$1,619
FY25$358
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$0
FY20$11,000
FY21$0
FY22$0
FY23$27,500
FY24$1,619
FY25$358

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−32%$17,126 → $14,684, down 14% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 32% less

Collected by the state for the city

The local option sales tax is a city tax voters approved; the state collects it with the state sales tax and sends it back. It isn’t state aid. It’s up 51% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 21% more.

$41,882
$32,012

Federal grants, for comparison: $11,289 in FY23.

Business awards

Every award statewide

Elections

Running for mayor and city council

Filing opens Monday, August 23, 2027: in 285 days.

For the Tuesday, November 2, 2027 election, candidates file Monday, August 23, 2027 to Thursday, September 16, 2027 with the county auditor (or the city clerk, if the auditor names the clerk to take them)12.

In a city that can hold a primary, filing runs Monday, August 9, 2027 to Thursday, August 26, 2027.

Most recent: November 4, 2025

City · 2

2 seats: the top 2 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Bridgewater; official results are on each county auditor’s site.

Who has filed for Tuesday, November 2, 2027

Filing hasn’t opened. These seats are expected on the ballot.

  • Bridgewater City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Kristen Walker, Tyler Ford, Debra Tindle
  • Bridgewater Mayor
    Now held by Roberta Carpenter

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here13.

Past ballot measures

None found since 2022.

When a measure can be on the ballot

  • Tuesday, March 2, 2027 · no bond or debt questions
  • Tuesday, September 14, 2027 · no bond or debt questions
  • Tuesday, November 2, 2027 · any question, including bonds
  • Tuesday, March 7, 2028 · no bond or debt questions

Bonds and other borrowing can only go on the November ballot14.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress15

Amy Sinclair (Sen. 12)Ray Sorensen (Rep. 23)

U.S. House:District 3

Adair CountyNodaway Valley schools