Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Barbara MilburnRathbun Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Debra WalkerRathbun City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Jesse ZaputilRathbun City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- John VitkoRathbun City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Joseph TodeyRathbun City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Troy ArcherRathbun City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Ronnie MilburnRathbun 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 Rathbun
The combined rate in most of Rathbun is $32.77 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). The city sets only its own piece. Estimate your bill.
- Centerville schools$15.6848%
- City of Rathbun$9.9630%
- Appanoose County$5.0615%
- Indian Hills Community. College$1.244%
- Appanoose County Assessor$0.522%
- Appanoose County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.31<1%
Compared with places this size3
Rathbun’s city property tax rate of $9.96 per $1,000 is the 19th highest of 51 Iowa cities with 30–70 people. The middle of the group is $8.78.
See all 51
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dougherty | $25.38 | 61 |
| 2 | Vining | $16.97 | 53 |
| 3 | Northboro | $15.81 | 52 |
| 4 | Benton | $15.12 | 40 |
| 5 | Truesdale | $14.56 | 64 |
| 6 | Yorktown | $14.48 | 60 |
| 7 | Gillett Grove | $14.27 | 31 |
| 8 | Rodney | $13.04 | 43 |
| 9 | Rinard | $12.56 | 38 |
| 10 | Aredale | $12.19 | 59 |
| 11 | Colwell | $12.14 | 52 |
| 12 | Dolliver | $11.85 | 63 |
| 13 | Hayesville | $11.13 | 43 |
| 14 | Plover | $11.10 | 52 |
| 15 | Curlew | $10.85 | 38 |
| 16 | Dana | $10.85 | 34 |
| 17 | Owasa | $10.58 | 30 |
| 18 | Guernsey | $10.13 | 59 |
| 19 | Rathbun | $9.96 | 44 |
| 20 | Gray | $9.85 | 62 |
| 21 | Nemaha | $9.53 | 65 |
| 22 | Kirkman | $9.44 | 60 |
| 23 | Ottosen | $9.10 | 41 |
| 24 | Imogene | $9.10 | 37 |
| 25 | Buck Grove | $9.08 | 31 |
| 26 | Carbon | $8.78 | 32 |
| 27 | Aspinwall | $8.45 | 35 |
| 28 | Knierim | $8.13 | 53 |
| 29 | Valeria | $8.10 | 41 |
| 30 | Orchard | $8.10 | 64 |
| 31 | Coppock | $7.94 | 35 |
| 32 | Gruver | $7.89 | 63 |
| 33 | Marysville | $7.89 | 46 |
| 34 | Redding | $7.86 | 64 |
| 35 | Bassett | $7.86 | 42 |
| 36 | Millerton | $7.86 | 37 |
| 37 | Cotter | $7.73 | 40 |
| 38 | Thornburg | $7.57 | 46 |
| 39 | Bevington | $7.41 | 62 |
| 40 | Thayer | $7.39 | 48 |
| 41 | Udell | $6.85 | 31 |
| 42 | Pleasanton | $6.65 | 32 |
| 43 | Rossie | $6.32 | 46 |
| 44 | Sandyville | $6.06 | 59 |
| 45 | Clayton | $5.08 | 45 |
| 46 | Plano | $4.66 | 57 |
| 47 | Hardy | $4.36 | 55 |
| 48 | Jackson Junction | $3.66 | 38 |
| 49 | Beaver | $2.71 | 46 |
| 50 | Osterdock | $2.44 | 45 |
| 51 | Gibson | $1.88 | 58 |
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 Rathbun’s budget goes, FY26
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (50) |
|---|---|---|
| General Government | 79¢ | 38¢ |
| Public Works | 13¢ | 40¢ |
| Community and Economic Development | 5¢ | 2¢ |
| Public Safety | 2¢ | 9¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 1¢ | 6¢ |
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 50 Iowa cities closest in size (30–70 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 | $6,321 |
| Public Safety | $443 | $42 |
| Health and Social Services | $0 | $0 |
| General Government | $95,000 | $41,209 |
| Debt Service | $0 | $2,006 |
| Culture and Recreation | $1,000 | $244 |
| Community and Economic Development | $1,000 | $0 |
| 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 5% since FY23; down 4% after inflation.
Show the numbers
| Program | FY27 | FY26 | FY25 | FY24 | FY23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local option sales tax | $442 | $5,334 | $5,472 | $5,469 | $5,101 |
Elections
Most recent: November 4, 2025
City · 2
5 seats: the top 5 win.
- Jesse Zaputil Winner1325.5%
- Debra Walker Winner1223.5%
- Joseph Todey Winner1223.5%
- John Vitko Winner1223.5%
- Troy Archer Winner23.9%
- Barbara Milburn Unopposed14100.0%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Rathbun; official results are on each county auditor’s site.
Related places
At the Statehouse and in Congress4
Cherielynn Westrich (Sen. 13)Austin Harris (Rep. 26)
U.S. House:District 3