Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Dennis KoenigPostville Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Mary EngstromPostville City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Rebecca EngelhardtPostville City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Devora Klein-MahrPostville City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Larry A. MoorePostville City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Laurie MoodyPostville 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 Postville
Homes and businesses in most of Postville pay a combined $38.64 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Allamakee County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $15.68. Estimate your bill.
- City of Postville$15.6841%
- Postville schools$13.4235%
- Allamakee County$6.4517%
- Allamakee County Veterans Memorial Hospital$1.213%
- Northeast Iowa Community College$1.043%
- Allamakee County Assessor$0.561%
- Allamakee County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.27<1%
Rates over time
Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Postville pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $37.08 | $15.48 |
| FY21 | $37.12 | $15.47 |
| FY22 | $22.84 | $14.96 |
| FY23 | $22.67 | $14.77 |
| FY24 | $40.00 | $16.00 |
| FY25 | $22.42 | $15.35 |
| FY26 | $38.24 | $15.37 |
| FY27 | $38.64 | $15.68 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $37.08 | $15.48 |
| FY21 | $37.12 | $15.47 |
| FY22 | $22.84 | $14.96 |
| FY23 | $22.67 | $14.77 |
| FY24 | $40.00 | $16.00 |
| FY25 | $22.42 | $15.35 |
| FY26 | $38.24 | $15.37 |
| FY27 | $38.64 | $15.68 |
Compared with places this size3
Postville’s city property tax rate of $15.68 per $1,000 is the 28th highest of 89 Iowa cities with 1,600–3,600 people. The middle of the group is $13.62.
See all 89
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eldora | $26.87 | 2,595 |
| 2 | Pocahontas | $20.79 | 1,848 |
| 3 | Rockwell City | $20.74 | 2,185 |
| 4 | Bloomfield | $20.41 | 2,773 |
| 5 | Belmond | $19.86 | 2,405 |
| 6 | Sibley | $19.77 | 2,787 |
| 7 | Albia | $19.70 | 3,579 |
| 8 | Sac City | $19.69 | 1,992 |
| 9 | Lake City | $19.32 | 1,656 |
| 10 | Eagle Grove | $19.32 | 3,615 |
| 11 | Toledo | $18.21 | 2,372 |
| 12 | La Porte City | $18.08 | 2,267 |
| 13 | Tama | $17.74 | 2,997 |
| 14 | Clarion | $17.74 | 2,751 |
| 15 | Britt | $17.72 | 2,001 |
| 16 | Missouri Valley | $17.68 | 2,638 |
| 17 | Madrid | $16.93 | 2,824 |
| 18 | Manson | $16.87 | 1,646 |
| 19 | West Union | $16.60 | 2,435 |
| 20 | Audubon | $16.52 | 2,008 |
| 21 | Grundy Center | $16.36 | 2,821 |
| 22 | Belle Plaine | $16.34 | 2,335 |
| 23 | Colfax | $16.25 | 2,305 |
| 24 | Durant | $16.24 | 1,798 |
| 25 | Lamoni | $16.15 | 2,072 |
| 26 | Marengo | $16.10 | 2,415 |
| 27 | Pleasantville | $15.80 | 1,696 |
| 28 | Postville | $15.68 | 2,418 |
| 29 | Tipton | $15.54 | 3,059 |
| 30 | Stuart | $15.48 | 1,887 |
| 31 | Mount Ayr | $15.32 | 1,616 |
| 32 | Granger | $15.22 | 2,095 |
| 33 | Sigourney | $15.20 | 1,974 |
| 34 | Guttenberg | $15.19 | 1,804 |
| 35 | Sumner | $14.83 | 2,032 |
| 36 | Woodbine | $14.80 | 1,707 |
| 37 | Van Meter | $14.60 | 1,840 |
| 38 | Rock Rapids | $14.57 | 2,709 |
| 39 | Jesup | $14.31 | 2,541 |
| 40 | Osage | $14.29 | 3,559 |
| 41 | Urbana | $14.20 | 1,635 |
| 42 | Parkersburg | $14.15 | 1,986 |
| 43 | Ida Grove | $14.10 | 1,988 |
| 44 | Lake Mills | $13.82 | 2,077 |
| 45 | Wilton | $13.62 | 2,914 |
| 46 | Avoca | $13.51 | 1,685 |
| 47 | New Hampton | $13.44 | 3,433 |
| 48 | Wapello | $13.29 | 2,026 |
| 49 | Hudson | $13.19 | 2,916 |
| 50 | Center Point | $13.19 | 2,578 |
| 51 | Greenfield | $13.13 | 1,988 |
| 52 | Hawarden | $13.02 | 2,630 |
| 53 | Leon | $12.93 | 1,779 |
| 54 | Garner | $12.86 | 3,049 |
| 55 | Slater | $12.79 | 1,626 |
| 56 | Bellevue | $12.67 | 2,321 |
| 57 | Milford | $12.57 | 3,258 |
| 58 | New London | $12.56 | 1,853 |
| 59 | Lisbon | $12.50 | 2,238 |
| 60 | Dallas Center | $12.42 | 1,993 |
| 61 | Onawa | $12.32 | 2,795 |
| 62 | Remsen | $12.32 | 1,681 |
| 63 | Monroe | $12.28 | 2,021 |
| 64 | Denver | $12.27 | 1,955 |
| 65 | Alta | $12.13 | 2,039 |
| 66 | Reinbeck | $12.10 | 1,673 |
| 67 | Atkins | $11.99 | 2,168 |
| 68 | Blue Grass | $11.79 | 1,707 |
| 69 | Hull | $11.79 | 2,459 |
| 70 | Columbus Junction | $11.71 | 1,794 |
| 71 | Cascade | $11.64 | 2,396 |
| 72 | West Branch | $11.63 | 2,876 |
| 73 | Mitchellville | $11.54 | 2,686 |
| 74 | Solon | $11.53 | 3,284 |
| 75 | Prairie City | $11.38 | 1,722 |
| 76 | Northwood | $11.28 | 2,047 |
| 77 | Mediapolis | $11.27 | 1,679 |
| 78 | Williamsburg | $11.11 | 3,380 |
| 79 | Ely | $11.08 | 2,371 |
| 80 | Ogden | $10.99 | 1,970 |
| 81 | Farley | $10.91 | 1,723 |
| 82 | Moville | $10.67 | 1,707 |
| 83 | Story City | $10.39 | 3,439 |
| 84 | Kalona | $10.37 | 2,762 |
| 85 | West Burlington | $10.15 | 3,249 |
| 86 | Peosta | $9.82 | 2,195 |
| 87 | Robins | $9.68 | 3,362 |
| 88 | Epworth | $9.42 | 2,042 |
| 89 | Fairfax | $8.10 | 2,937 |
The $8.10 limit
Postville’s general levy is $7.81 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.29 below the limit.4 691 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.
FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.13 · FY26 $8.05 · FY27 $7.81 (before FY25, the general levy alone)
Outside the limit: $7.87 more5
- Total Employee Benefit Levies$3.30 · $229,797
- Debt Service Levy$3.19 · $222,312
- Liability, property & self insurance costs$0.71 · $49,129
- Capital Projects (Capital Improv. Reserve)$0.68 · $47,028
Tax increment financing (TIF)
Postville’s TIF revenue, from its reports to the state. It budgeted $29,000 in TIF revenue for FY25.
| Year | TIF revenue |
|---|---|
| FY16 | $85,647 |
| FY17 | $138,586 |
| FY18 | $85,699 |
| FY19 | $110,253 |
| FY20 | $112,148 |
| FY21 | $125,112 |
| FY22 | $128,000 |
| FY23 | $69,632 |
Show the numbers
| Year | TIF revenue |
|---|---|
| FY16 | $85,647 |
| FY17 | $138,586 |
| FY18 | $85,699 |
| FY19 | $110,253 |
| FY20 | $112,148 |
| FY21 | $125,112 |
| FY22 | $128,000 |
| FY23 | $69,632 |
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 Postville’s budget goes, FY26
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 88 Iowa cities closest in size (1,600–3,600 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (88) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Type / Enterprise | 35¢ | 39¢ |
| Capital Projects | 19¢ | 14¢ |
| Public Works | 18¢ | 10¢ |
| Public Safety | 14¢ | 12¢ |
| General Government | 6¢ | 6¢ |
| Everything else | 7¢ | 18¢ |
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.
The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($1.9M in FY26), so this total is low.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $603,400 | $575,138 |
| Public Safety | $589,100 | $546,201 |
| Health and Social Services | $0 | $0 |
| General Government | $249,050 | $243,808 |
| Debt Service | $85,000 | $84,550 |
| Culture and Recreation | $191,550 | $179,974 |
| Community and Economic Development | $110,000 | $16,472 |
| Capital Projects | $305,000 | $715,583 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $1.7M | $1.6M |
What it spent each year
FY24 left out6
Debt, reserves and audits
How local debt works · What an audit tells you
What Postville owes
$6.8M at June 30, 2026: $2,717 per resident. 309th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $6.8M | $2,717 |
| 2025 | $6.2M | $2,490 |
| 2024 | $7.1M | $2,825 |
| 2023 | $8.2M | $3,266 |
| 2022 | $8.3M | $3,305 |
| 2021 | $8.8M | $3,517 |
| 2020 | $9.6M | $3,830 |
| 2019 | $10.1M | $4,023 |
| 2018 | $10.2M | $4,059 |
| 2017 | $9.8M | $3,930 |
| 2016 | $4.9M | $1,960 |
| 2015 | $5.5M | $2,208 |
| 2014 | $6.1M | $2,450 |
| 2013 | $6.8M | $2,711 |
| 2012 | $7.3M | $2,917 |
| 2011 | $8.3M | $3,299 |
| 2010 | $8.8M | $3,520 |
Show the numbers
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $6.8M | $2,717 |
| 2025 | $6.2M | $2,490 |
| 2024 | $7.1M | $2,825 |
| 2023 | $8.2M | $3,266 |
| 2022 | $8.3M | $3,305 |
| 2021 | $8.8M | $3,517 |
| 2020 | $9.6M | $3,830 |
| 2019 | $10.1M | $4,023 |
| 2018 | $10.2M | $4,059 |
| 2017 | $9.8M | $3,930 |
| 2016 | $4.9M | $1,960 |
| 2015 | $5.5M | $2,208 |
| 2014 | $6.1M | $2,450 |
| 2013 | $6.8M | $2,711 |
| 2012 | $7.3M | $2,917 |
| 2011 | $8.3M | $3,299 |
| 2010 | $8.8M | $3,520 |
Down 23% since 2010.
The 5% limit8
General obligation debt is $1.6M, 29% of the limit of about $5.6M (5% of $112.1M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).
9 obligations at June 30, 2026
| Kind | For | Paid off by | Owed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue Bonds | Waste Water Treatment Facilty Improvement Watershed Sponsored Project | 2045 | $4.5M |
| General Obligation | General Obligation Captial Loan 2025 Water Line project and sidewalk project | 2040 | $835,000 |
| General Obligation | GO 2017A Post Street Project/Fire Tanker | 2032 | $480,000 |
| Revenue Bonds | INDUSTRIAL WASTE TREATMENT FACILITY | 2027 | $360,700 |
| General Obligation | Taxable General Obligation Note Series 2023A | 2033 | $300,000 |
| Revenue Bonds | SRF Sewer Lining | 2038 | $226,000 |
| Capital Leases/Lease to Purchase | 2025 FORD EXPLOER WITH EQUIPMENT K9 | 2028 | $48,656 |
| Capital Leases/Lease to Purchase | POLICE TASERS WITH EQUIPMENT | 2028 | $3,000 |
| Capital Leases/Lease to Purchase | Purchase agreement Police Tasers | 2027 | $2,520 |
General obligation bonds are repaid from property taxes; revenue bonds and loans from the fees or revenue they’re tied to. On the Treasurer’s site
Money in reserve
The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. Postville’s latest audit has them: Financial Statement, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).
Audits10
The latest: Financial Statement for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Thursday, April 2, 2026, by a CPA firm.
AI summary11
- One employee has too much control over the money because they handle both the bank deposits and the recording of cash receipts.
- The city will continue to monitor staff to ensure duties are divided as much as possible among their small team.
The findings, as the report states them
16 earlier reports for Postville
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2024Wednesday, March 26, 2025
- Financial Statement, period ending Friday, June 30, 2023Thursday, March 28, 2024
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2022Friday, June 23, 2023
- Financial Statement, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021Thursday, June 2, 2022
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2020Friday, March 12, 2021
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2019Monday, January 13, 2020
- Financial Statement, period ending Saturday, June 30, 2018Thursday, March 21, 2019
- Financial Statement, period ending Friday, June 30, 2017Thursday, February 1, 2018
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2016Friday, March 24, 2017
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2015Monday, February 22, 2016
- Financial Statement, period ending Monday, June 30, 2014Thursday, February 12, 2015
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2013Friday, January 24, 2014
- Financial Statement, period ending Saturday, June 30, 2012Wednesday, January 16, 2013
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2011Wednesday, February 22, 2012
- Financial Statement, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2010Thursday, March 31, 2011
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2009Monday, April 19, 2010
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? 12
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: $355,474 in FY25, up 24% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 2% less. Grants are below.
Show the numbers
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $339,117 | $344,441 | $353,555 | $355,474 |
| Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”) | – | – | $76,650 | – |
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.
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $2,907 |
| FY20 | $74,569 |
| FY21 | $131,259 |
| FY22 | $114,287 |
| FY23 | $26,112 |
| FY24 | $10,800 |
| FY25 | $75,407 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $2,907 |
| FY20 | $74,569 |
| FY21 | $131,259 |
| FY22 | $114,287 |
| FY23 | $26,112 |
| FY24 | $10,800 |
| FY25 | $75,407 |
Has it kept up with prices?
Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.
- Road Use Tax (streets)−2%$287,697 → $355,474, up 24% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 2% 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 60% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 28% more.
Federal grants, for comparison: $153,485 in FY23.
Business awards
State economic development awards
Community college new jobs training: 1 contract since 2003 worth $705K, for 94 pledged jobs.
Elections
Running for mayor and city council
Filing opens Monday, August 23, 2027: in 284 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)13.
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.
- Mary Engstrom Winner18451.1%
- Rebecca Engelhardt Winner17648.9%
- Dennis Koenig Unopposed168100.0%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Postville; 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.
- Postville City Council At-Large (3 seats)Now held by Larry A. Moore, Devora Klein-Mahr, Laurie Moody
Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here14.
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 ballot15.
Related places
At the Statehouse and in Congress16
Mike Klimesh (Sen. 32)Jason Gearhart (Rep. 64)
U.S. House:District 2