Sign in

Local taxes › Benton County › Blairstown

City

Blairstown

Benton County · How cities work

Get an email when a new agenda is posted, with what’s on it.

$2,530 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($29.98 per $1,000 of taxable value)
$930 a yearof that goes to the city ($11.04 per $1,000)
$307,940property taxes the city levies, FY27
$812,818city budget, FY27, without city-run utilities (not yet reported)

Who runs it

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

  • Brian HagenBlairstown City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jeremy FranzenBlairstown City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Luke BeckerBlairstown City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Scott MetzBlairstown Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Shane MoenckBlairstown City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Nicholas T. MokasBlairstown City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Scott MetzBlairstown 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 Blairstown

The combined rate in most of Blairstown is $29.98 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). The city sets only its own piece. Estimate your bill.

Compared with places this size

Blairstown’s city property tax rate of $11.04 per $1,000 is the 51st lowest of 186 Iowa cities with 470–1,100 people. The middle of the group is $12.95.

Exira: $24.81Rolfe: $22.67Dayton: $22.51Charter Oak: $21.32Correctionville: $19.84Pomeroy: $19.60Allison: $19.06Dumont: $19.04Seymour: $18.78Dexter: $18.69Fonda: $18.52Kanawha: $18.11Swea City: $18.04Greene: $17.91Alden: $17.90Elma: $17.82Dows: $17.70New Hartford: $17.69Lansing: $17.67Rockwell: $17.54Walnut: $17.46Murray: $17.44Thompson: $17.25Gowrie: $17.17Colo: $17.14Latimer: $16.96Adair: $16.84Eddyville: $16.82Elk Horn: $16.78Oxford: $16.70Buffalo Center: $16.58Whittemore: $16.54Bancroft: $16.52Titonka: $16.45Eldon: $16.42Early: $16.35Truro: $16.34Mechanicsville: $16.12Scranton: $16.01Armstrong: $15.87Ruthven: $15.84Minden: $15.77Walker: $15.74Newell: $15.49Riceville: $15.31Neola: $15.30Sidney: $15.19Russell: $15.18Gilbertville: $15.15Stanwood: $15.12Stratford: $15.03Griswold: $15.01Zearing: $14.99Readlyn: $14.99Wyoming: $14.81Humeston: $14.80Hopkinton: $14.79Essex: $14.76Gilmore City: $14.60Dunlap: $14.56Garnavillo: $14.52Maxwell: $14.50Sabula: $14.38Collins: $14.32Clermont: $14.30Moulton: $14.25Mcgregor: $14.20Olin: $14.19Primghar: $14.18Farragut: $14.07Elgin: $14.05Dow City: $13.94Ossian: $13.88Redfield: $13.73Victor: $13.72Edgewood: $13.64Sioux Rapids: $13.63Donnellson: $13.63Gladbrook: $13.58Rockford: $13.52Janesville: $13.43Boyden: $13.39Baxter: $13.32Anita: $13.28Van Horne: $13.27Keota: $13.21Shellsburg: $13.20De Soto: $13.18Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Anthon: $13.05Odebolt: $13.00Coggon: $12.99Earlville: $12.90Brighton: $12.88Danville: $12.87Underwood: $12.85Malvern: $12.79Montrose: $12.78Goldfield: $12.73Wellsburg: $12.68Delmar: $12.68Badger: $12.67Stanton: $12.62Hospers: $12.58Everly: $12.51Hazleton: $12.48West Point: $12.39Hinton: $12.38Preston: $12.38Alburnett: $12.30Hubbard: $12.30Moravia: $12.27Hedrick: $12.22Carson: $12.22Wheatland: $12.18Schaller: $12.14Winfield: $12.04Afton: $11.96Lowden: $11.93Tabor: $11.88Albert City: $11.88Aurelia: $11.84Merrill: $11.64Ellsworth: $11.57Morning Sun: $11.50Battle Creek: $11.49Wall Lake: $11.43West Bend: $11.42Dakota City: $11.39Dunkerton: $11.30Sutherland: $11.25Arcadia: $11.23Whiting: $11.21Shelby: $11.17Manilla: $11.01Hamburg: $10.95Clarence: $10.94Ireton: $10.93Fontanelle: $10.88Richland: $10.82Grand Mound: $10.78Cambridge: $10.53Swisher: $10.39Schleswig: $10.39Melbourne: $10.38Radcliffe: $10.37Fredericksburg: $10.27Ventura: $10.22Inwood: $10.22Milo: $10.20Hartford: $10.16What Cheer: $10.01Newhall: $9.99Cumming: $9.85Graettinger: $9.81Breda: $9.80Doon: $9.78Long Grove: $9.59Paullina: $9.21Winthrop: $8.94Crescent: $8.72Ainsworth: $8.62Keosauqua: $8.58Grand Junction: $8.57Princeton: $8.24Gilman: $8.10Lakeside: $8.10Kellogg: $8.10Agency: $7.94Hills: $7.94Fremont: $7.86Larchwood: $7.52North English: $7.49Sully: $7.41Fruitland: $7.21Lawton: $7.10Wayland: $7.07Raymond: $6.85Keystone: $6.80Shueyville: $6.79New Virginia: $5.97University Park: $5.27Orleans: $4.13Okoboji: $3.83Blairstown: $11.04$3.83 lowest$24.81 highestmiddle
See all 186
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Exira$24.81766
2Rolfe$22.67505
3Dayton$22.51766
4Charter Oak$21.32521
5Correctionville$19.84759
6Pomeroy$19.60511
7Allison$19.06937
8Dumont$19.04614
9Seymour$18.78646
10Dexter$18.69631
11Fonda$18.52636
12Kanawha$18.11638
13Swea City$18.04545
14Greene$17.91971
15Alden$17.90738
16Elma$17.82493
17Dows$17.70509
18New Hartford$17.69555
19Lansing$17.67959
20Rockwell$17.541,044
21Walnut$17.46728
22Murray$17.44609
23Thompson$17.25478
24Gowrie$17.17943
25Colo$17.14856
26Latimer$16.96477
27Adair$16.84792
28Eddyville$16.82965
29Elk Horn$16.78631
30Oxford$16.70715
31Buffalo Center$16.58839
32Whittemore$16.54478
33Bancroft$16.52677
34Titonka$16.45491
35Eldon$16.42788
36Early$16.35571
37Truro$16.34515
38Mechanicsville$16.12974
39Scranton$16.01496
40Armstrong$15.87847
41Ruthven$15.84710
42Minden$15.77581
43Walker$15.74671
44Newell$15.49850
45Riceville$15.31807
46Neola$15.30917
47Sidney$15.191,048
48Russell$15.18475
49Gilbertville$15.15792
50Stanwood$15.12612
51Stratford$15.03688
52Griswold$15.01975
53Zearing$14.99508
54Readlyn$14.99857
55Wyoming$14.81526
56Humeston$14.80472
57Hopkinton$14.79622
58Essex$14.76721
59Gilmore City$14.60484
60Dunlap$14.561,030
61Garnavillo$14.52751
62Maxwell$14.50862
63Sabula$14.38498
64Collins$14.32503
65Clermont$14.30571
66Moulton$14.25596
67Mcgregor$14.20725
68Olin$14.19652
69Primghar$14.18893
70Farragut$14.07480
71Elgin$14.05676
72Dow City$13.94477
73Ossian$13.88777
74Redfield$13.73719
75Victor$13.72852
76Edgewood$13.64908
77Sioux Rapids$13.63722
78Donnellson$13.63859
79Gladbrook$13.58775
80Rockford$13.52722
81Janesville$13.431,052
82Boyden$13.39694
83Baxter$13.32983
84Anita$13.28953
85Van Horne$13.27768
86Keota$13.21888
87Shellsburg$13.20987
88De Soto$13.18937
89Quasqueton$13.12587
90Farmington$13.10583
91Anthon$13.05534
92Odebolt$13.00967
93Coggon$12.99691
94Earlville$12.90713
95Brighton$12.88592
96Danville$12.87910
97Underwood$12.85973
98Malvern$12.791,056
99Montrose$12.78734
100Goldfield$12.73617
101Wellsburg$12.68709
102Delmar$12.68541
103Badger$12.67540
104Stanton$12.62664
105Hospers$12.58703
106Everly$12.51570
107Hazleton$12.48711
108West Point$12.39903
109Hinton$12.38959
110Preston$12.38940
111Alburnett$12.30672
112Hubbard$12.30837
113Moravia$12.27625
114Hedrick$12.22717
115Carson$12.22772
116Wheatland$12.18765
117Schaller$12.14702
118Winfield$12.041,006
119Afton$11.96864
120Lowden$11.93767
121Tabor$11.88983
122Albert City$11.88627
123Aurelia$11.84970
124Merrill$11.64713
125Ellsworth$11.57495
126Morning Sun$11.50702
127Battle Creek$11.49683
128Wall Lake$11.43739
129West Bend$11.42770
130Dakota City$11.39764
131Dunkerton$11.30840
132Sutherland$11.25628
133Arcadia$11.23588
134Whiting$11.21725
135Shelby$11.17730
136Blairstown$11.04705
137Manilla$11.01756
138Hamburg$10.95863
139Clarence$10.94991
140Ireton$10.93571
141Fontanelle$10.88684
142Richland$10.82532
143Grand Mound$10.78608
144Cambridge$10.53844
145Swisher$10.39909
146Schleswig$10.39820
147Melbourne$10.38771
148Radcliffe$10.37540
149Fredericksburg$10.27983
150Ventura$10.22701
151Inwood$10.22962
152Milo$10.20762
153Hartford$10.16729
154What Cheer$10.01595
155Newhall$9.99887
156Cumming$9.85527
157Graettinger$9.81810
158Breda$9.80492
159Doon$9.78640
160Long Grove$9.59849
161Paullina$9.21979
162Winthrop$8.94814
163Crescent$8.72626
164Ainsworth$8.62511
165Keosauqua$8.58944
166Grand Junction$8.57715
167Princeton$8.24917
168Gilman$8.10530
169Lakeside$8.10695
170Kellogg$8.10597
171Agency$7.94623
172Hills$7.94911
173Fremont$7.86688
174Larchwood$7.52954
175North English$7.491,030
176Sully$7.41891
177Fruitland$7.21928
178Lawton$7.10949
179Wayland$7.07935
180Raymond$6.85754
181Keystone$6.80616
182Shueyville$6.79725
183New Virginia$5.97499
184University Park$5.27476
185Orleans$4.13503
186Okoboji$3.83729

FY27 rates from the Department of Management. A higher rate isn’t always a bigger bill: it depends on how much property there is to tax. Sizes: Census Bureau 2024 estimates.

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$232,54176%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$46,33815%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$28,5649%

Budget and spending

Where each dollar of Blairstown’s budget goes, FY26

Public Works: 29¢ of every dollar29¢Business Type / Enterprise: 29¢ of every dollar29¢Public Safety: 20¢ of every dollar20¢Culture and Recreation: 15¢ of every dollar15¢General Government: 7¢ of every dollar$1$1
Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (185)
Public Works29¢17¢
Business Type / Enterprise29¢40¢
Public Safety20¢9¢
Culture and Recreation15¢9¢
General Government7¢11¢

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 185 Iowa cities closest in size (470–1,100 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.

  • Public Works$328,48540%
  • Public Safety$230,86628%
  • Culture and Recreation$168,16221%
  • General Government$85,30510%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($324,402 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$243,282$198,336
Public Safety$169,166$248,603
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$70,986$86,690
Debt Service$81,035$81,035
Culture and Recreation$120,058$140,947
Community and Economic Development$0$0
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$188,556$386,515

What it spent each year

$2.4M
$1.1M
’17’18’19’20’21’22’23

State money

What the state sends the city

Sales tax and property tax credits the state paid the city: up 38% since FY23; up 26% after inflation.

In today's dollarsActual dollars
$50,000$62,500$75,000$87,500$100,000’23’24’25’26Today's $Actual
$50,000$62,500$75,000$87,500$100,000’23’24’25’26Today's $Actual
Show the numbers
ProgramFY27FY26FY25FY24FY23
Local option sales tax$7,605$93,837$75,258$73,597$68,166

Elections

Most recent: November 4, 2025

City · 3

3 seats: the top 3 win.

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

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress

Charlie McClintock (Sen. 42)Thomas Gerhold (Rep. 84)

U.S. House:District 2

Districts that cover Blairstown; percentages are rough shares of its area. They write the state laws and budget Blairstown works within.

Benton CountyBenton schools

City budgets and levies from the Department of Management; budgets are adopted each spring for the year starting July 1. State payments from the Department of Revenue; prices from the consumer price index.