Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Anthony ColellaCarbon City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Cathryn M JonesCarbon City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Donna RochauCarbon City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Dwight SundermanCarbon City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- John GebbieCarbon Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Michael KemptonCarbon City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Chania VosCarbon City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Martin JonesCarbon 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
Where a property tax dollar goes in Carbon
The combined rate in most of Carbon is $32.55 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). The city sets only its own piece. Estimate your bill.
- Corning schools$14.2344%
- City of Carbon$8.7827%
- Adams County$7.5423%
- Southwestern Community. College$1.073%
- Adams County Assessor$0.632%
- Adams County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.30<1%
Compared with places this size3
Carbon’s city property tax rate of $8.78 per $1,000 is the 15th highest of 38 Iowa cities with 20–50 people. The middle of the group is $8.10.
See all 38
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benton | $15.12 | 40 |
| 2 | Gillett Grove | $14.27 | 31 |
| 3 | Jolley | $13.34 | 28 |
| 4 | Rodman | $13.31 | 28 |
| 5 | Rodney | $13.04 | 43 |
| 6 | Rinard | $12.56 | 38 |
| 7 | Hayesville | $11.13 | 43 |
| 8 | Curlew | $10.85 | 38 |
| 9 | Dana | $10.85 | 34 |
| 10 | Owasa | $10.58 | 30 |
| 11 | Rathbun | $9.96 | 44 |
| 12 | Ottosen | $9.10 | 41 |
| 13 | Imogene | $9.10 | 37 |
| 14 | Buck Grove | $9.08 | 31 |
| 15 | Carbon | $8.78 | 32 |
| 16 | Coburg | $8.77 | 26 |
| 17 | Aspinwall | $8.45 | 35 |
| 18 | Elkport | $8.10 | 29 |
| 19 | Valeria | $8.10 | 41 |
| 20 | Galt | $8.10 | 22 |
| 21 | Maloy | $7.94 | 26 |
| 22 | Coppock | $7.94 | 35 |
| 23 | Marysville | $7.89 | 46 |
| 24 | Bassett | $7.86 | 42 |
| 25 | Millerton | $7.86 | 37 |
| 26 | Cotter | $7.73 | 40 |
| 27 | Thornburg | $7.57 | 46 |
| 28 | Blanchard | $7.52 | 29 |
| 29 | Thayer | $7.39 | 48 |
| 30 | Ellston | $7.07 | 23 |
| 31 | Udell | $6.85 | 31 |
| 32 | Pleasanton | $6.65 | 32 |
| 33 | Rossie | $6.32 | 46 |
| 34 | Berkley | $6.13 | 23 |
| 35 | Clayton | $5.08 | 45 |
| 36 | Jackson Junction | $3.66 | 38 |
| 37 | Beaver | $2.71 | 46 |
| 38 | Osterdock | $2.44 | 45 |
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.
Budget and spending
Where each dollar of Carbon’s budget goes, FY26
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (38) |
|---|---|---|
| General Government | 47¢ | 38¢ |
| Public Works | 38¢ | 41¢ |
| Community and Economic Development | 10¢ | 2¢ |
| Public Safety | 3¢ | 6¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 2¢ | 8¢ |
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 38 Iowa cities closest in size (20–50 people).
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.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $11,000 | $10,621 |
| Public Safety | $300 | $300 |
| Health and Social Services | $0 | $0 |
| General Government | $6,970 | $4,810 |
| Debt Service | $0 | $0 |
| Culture and Recreation | $200 | $200 |
| Community and Economic Development | $1,500 | $1,119 |
| Capital Projects | $0 | $0 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $0 | $0 |
What it spent each year
State money
What the state sends the city
Sales tax and property tax credits the state paid the city: up 29% since FY23; up 18% after inflation.
Show the numbers
| Program | FY27 | FY26 | FY25 | FY24 | FY23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local option sales tax | $636 | $4,878 | $5,142 | $4,775 | $3,786 |
Elections
Most recent: November 4, 2025
City · 2
5 seats: the top 5 win.
- Anthony Colella Winner1021.7%
- Cathryn M Jones Winner1021.7%
- Donna Rochau Winner1021.7%
- Michael Kempton Winner1021.7%
- Dwight Sunderman Winner613.0%
- John Gebbie Unopposed10100.0%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Carbon; official results are on each county auditor’s site.