Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Allan LindseyGarrison City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Garrett D. FlickingerGarrison Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Robert DeckerGarrison City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Tina RommannGarrison City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Doug KearnsGarrison City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Marvin TrimbleGarrison 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 Garrison
Homes and businesses in most of Garrison pay a combined $37.95 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Benton County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $14.38. Estimate your bill.
- Vinton-Shellsburg schools$14.8839%
- City of Garrison$14.3838%
- Benton County$6.7718%
- Kirkwood Community College$1.434%
- Benton County Assessor$0.34<1%
- Benton County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.16<1%
Rates over time
Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Garrison pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $33.08 | $10.83 |
| FY21 | $33.60 | $10.84 |
| FY22 | $33.99 | $10.67 |
| FY23 | $34.80 | $11.17 |
| FY24 | $38.22 | $14.53 |
| FY25 | $40.33 | $16.40 |
| FY26 | $40.22 | $16.40 |
| FY27 | $37.95 | $14.38 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $33.08 | $10.83 |
| FY21 | $33.60 | $10.84 |
| FY22 | $33.99 | $10.67 |
| FY23 | $34.80 | $11.17 |
| FY24 | $38.22 | $14.53 |
| FY25 | $40.33 | $16.40 |
| FY26 | $40.22 | $16.40 |
| FY27 | $37.95 | $14.38 |
Compared with places this size3
Garrison’s city property tax rate of $14.38 per $1,000 is the 56th highest of 201 Iowa cities with 230–520 people. The middle of the group is $12.57.
See all 201
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanhope | $29.10 | 354 |
| 2 | Rolfe | $22.67 | 505 |
| 3 | Fenton | $22.05 | 250 |
| 4 | Elliott | $21.61 | 328 |
| 5 | Oxford Junction | $20.84 | 424 |
| 6 | Earling | $20.47 | 394 |
| 7 | Pomeroy | $19.60 | 511 |
| 8 | Fort Atkinson | $19.19 | 300 |
| 9 | Salem | $19.15 | 380 |
| 10 | Cumberland | $18.42 | 248 |
| 11 | Massena | $18.23 | 352 |
| 12 | Elma | $17.82 | 493 |
| 13 | Callender | $17.78 | 361 |
| 14 | Casey | $17.72 | 387 |
| 15 | Dows | $17.70 | 509 |
| 16 | Vail | $17.66 | 383 |
| 17 | Ringsted | $17.65 | 346 |
| 18 | Emerson | $17.54 | 401 |
| 19 | Thompson | $17.25 | 478 |
| 20 | Ashton | $17.17 | 434 |
| 21 | Pierson | $17.12 | 335 |
| 22 | Burt | $17.10 | 404 |
| 23 | Pisgah | $17.09 | 248 |
| 24 | Latimer | $16.96 | 477 |
| 25 | Lohrville | $16.95 | 366 |
| 26 | Lakota | $16.84 | 261 |
| 27 | Marble Rock | $16.78 | 258 |
| 28 | Auburn | $16.65 | 253 |
| 29 | Mccallsburg | $16.58 | 356 |
| 30 | Whittemore | $16.54 | 478 |
| 31 | Irwin | $16.46 | 320 |
| 32 | Titonka | $16.45 | 491 |
| 33 | Truro | $16.34 | 515 |
| 34 | Lewis | $16.25 | 358 |
| 35 | Corwith | $16.22 | 259 |
| 36 | Deep River | $16.18 | 243 |
| 37 | Waucoma | $16.17 | 235 |
| 38 | Duncombe | $16.10 | 374 |
| 39 | Bayard | $16.05 | 402 |
| 40 | Scranton | $16.01 | 496 |
| 41 | Granville | $16.00 | 302 |
| 42 | Minburn | $15.75 | 317 |
| 43 | Peterson | $15.27 | 321 |
| 44 | Russell | $15.18 | 475 |
| 45 | Zearing | $14.99 | 508 |
| 46 | Arlington | $14.98 | 415 |
| 47 | Riverton | $14.94 | 243 |
| 48 | Maynard | $14.85 | 466 |
| 49 | Plainfield | $14.84 | 392 |
| 50 | Ryan | $14.84 | 348 |
| 51 | Otho | $14.82 | 417 |
| 52 | Humeston | $14.80 | 472 |
| 53 | Bagley | $14.63 | 230 |
| 54 | Gilmore City | $14.60 | 484 |
| 55 | Sabula | $14.38 | 498 |
| 56 | Garrison | $14.38 | 345 |
| 57 | Halbur | $14.37 | 268 |
| 58 | Lorimor | $14.36 | 377 |
| 59 | Crystal Lake | $14.36 | 243 |
| 60 | Collins | $14.32 | 503 |
| 61 | Kimballton | $14.27 | 281 |
| 62 | Ocheyedan | $14.22 | 424 |
| 63 | Steamboat Rock | $14.19 | 261 |
| 64 | Garwin | $14.08 | 469 |
| 65 | Farragut | $14.07 | 480 |
| 66 | Mystic | $14.01 | 318 |
| 67 | Lime Springs | $13.95 | 467 |
| 68 | Dow City | $13.94 | 477 |
| 69 | Wesley | $13.91 | 382 |
| 70 | Diagonal | $13.91 | 331 |
| 71 | Bussey | $13.83 | 378 |
| 72 | Mondamin | $13.82 | 335 |
| 73 | Livermore | $13.78 | 382 |
| 74 | Fertile | $13.70 | 300 |
| 75 | Stockport | $13.68 | 272 |
| 76 | Kellerton | $13.60 | 241 |
| 77 | Albion | $13.58 | 444 |
| 78 | Quimby | $13.58 | 245 |
| 79 | Lamont | $13.57 | 429 |
| 80 | New Albin | $13.55 | 435 |
| 81 | Persia | $13.41 | 292 |
| 82 | Lawler | $13.39 | 392 |
| 83 | Lacona | $13.38 | 336 |
| 84 | Leland | $13.31 | 240 |
| 85 | Ute | $13.26 | 326 |
| 86 | New Market | $13.25 | 381 |
| 87 | Plymouth | $13.21 | 368 |
| 88 | Harcourt | $13.21 | 257 |
| 89 | Bennett | $13.16 | 330 |
| 90 | Ridgeway | $13.10 | 261 |
| 91 | Farmersburg | $13.09 | 264 |
| 92 | Little Rock | $13.03 | 447 |
| 93 | Lehigh | $12.97 | 395 |
| 94 | Menlo | $12.92 | 347 |
| 95 | Templeton | $12.91 | 337 |
| 96 | Silver City | $12.87 | 244 |
| 97 | Martelle | $12.83 | 250 |
| 98 | Malcom | $12.82 | 257 |
| 99 | Galva | $12.68 | 416 |
| 100 | Martensdale | $12.63 | 413 |
| 101 | Williams | $12.57 | 299 |
| 102 | Maurice | $12.56 | 271 |
| 103 | Norway | $12.53 | 463 |
| 104 | Clearfield | $12.50 | 277 |
| 105 | Kensett | $12.47 | 256 |
| 106 | Mccausland | $12.45 | 314 |
| 107 | Spillville | $12.40 | 371 |
| 108 | Modale | $12.34 | 284 |
| 109 | Mingo | $12.31 | 314 |
| 110 | Brandon | $12.29 | 331 |
| 111 | Blakesburg | $12.21 | 273 |
| 112 | Bonaparte | $12.17 | 357 |
| 113 | Macedonia | $12.12 | 266 |
| 114 | Hawkeye | $12.11 | 429 |
| 115 | Kiron | $12.03 | 262 |
| 116 | Colesburg | $11.97 | 379 |
| 117 | Liscomb | $11.96 | 292 |
| 118 | New Providence | $11.88 | 233 |
| 119 | Thornton | $11.86 | 394 |
| 120 | Runnells | $11.79 | 467 |
| 121 | Allerton | $11.72 | 432 |
| 122 | Atalissa | $11.71 | 287 |
| 123 | Kelley | $11.69 | 312 |
| 124 | Orient | $11.66 | 363 |
| 125 | Ellsworth | $11.57 | 495 |
| 126 | Cincinnati | $11.57 | 280 |
| 127 | Delta | $11.52 | 257 |
| 128 | Terril | $11.48 | 310 |
| 129 | Westside | $11.45 | 283 |
| 130 | Holland | $11.37 | 261 |
| 131 | Churdan | $11.31 | 359 |
| 132 | Mallard | $11.28 | 255 |
| 133 | Miles | $11.28 | 400 |
| 134 | Milton | $10.98 | 395 |
| 135 | New Vienna | $10.91 | 384 |
| 136 | Letts | $10.91 | 358 |
| 137 | Goose Lake | $10.89 | 250 |
| 138 | Birmingham | $10.87 | 371 |
| 139 | Charlotte | $10.86 | 386 |
| 140 | Yale | $10.85 | 265 |
| 141 | Batavia | $10.77 | 434 |
| 142 | Hornick | $10.74 | 255 |
| 143 | Riverdale | $10.67 | 385 |
| 144 | Bode | $10.64 | 304 |
| 145 | Union | $10.58 | 378 |
| 146 | Cleghorn | $10.49 | 235 |
| 147 | Calamus | $10.47 | 348 |
| 148 | Lovilia | $10.46 | 456 |
| 149 | Danbury | $10.43 | 315 |
| 150 | Lytton | $10.38 | 274 |
| 151 | Stacyville | $10.36 | 436 |
| 152 | Rhodes | $10.36 | 269 |
| 153 | Deloit | $10.28 | 246 |
| 154 | Protivin | $10.28 | 264 |
| 155 | Andrew | $10.22 | 374 |
| 156 | Royal | $10.20 | 379 |
| 157 | Bronson | $10.14 | 294 |
| 158 | Rudd | $10.13 | 339 |
| 159 | La Motte | $10.09 | 235 |
| 160 | Defiance | $10.05 | 248 |
| 161 | Floyd | $10.02 | 297 |
| 162 | Panama | $9.85 | 234 |
| 163 | Breda | $9.80 | 492 |
| 164 | Lynnville | $9.68 | 382 |
| 165 | Salix | $9.63 | 303 |
| 166 | Luxemburg | $9.58 | 240 |
| 167 | Farnhamville | $9.18 | 364 |
| 168 | Middletown | $9.16 | 365 |
| 169 | Alleman | $9.12 | 439 |
| 170 | Lester | $8.94 | 309 |
| 171 | Harvey | $8.71 | 242 |
| 172 | Ainsworth | $8.62 | 511 |
| 173 | Rowley | $8.31 | 264 |
| 174 | Lost Nation | $8.10 | 425 |
| 175 | Low Moor | $8.10 | 242 |
| 176 | Bertram | $8.10 | 267 |
| 177 | Grandview | $8.10 | 431 |
| 178 | Nichols | $8.10 | 317 |
| 179 | Luana | $7.98 | 303 |
| 180 | Lockridge | $7.92 | 245 |
| 181 | Delhi | $7.81 | 438 |
| 182 | Klemme | $7.74 | 429 |
| 183 | Pulaski | $7.58 | 259 |
| 184 | Beacon | $7.56 | 434 |
| 185 | Sheldahl | $7.56 | 312 |
| 186 | Worthington | $7.50 | 374 |
| 187 | Harpers Ferry | $7.49 | 273 |
| 188 | Marquette | $7.08 | 434 |
| 189 | Columbus City | $6.94 | 385 |
| 190 | Donahue | $6.83 | 336 |
| 191 | Libertyville | $6.60 | 278 |
| 192 | Keswick | $6.49 | 238 |
| 193 | Crawfordsville | $6.44 | 278 |
| 194 | New Virginia | $5.97 | 499 |
| 195 | Holy Cross | $5.91 | 348 |
| 196 | Conesville | $5.86 | 350 |
| 197 | University Park | $5.27 | 476 |
| 198 | Orleans | $4.13 | 503 |
| 199 | Maharishi Vedic City | $3.87 | 290 |
| 200 | Wahpeton | $3.19 | 337 |
| 201 | West Okoboji | $2.92 | 311 |
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 Garrison’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 199 Iowa cities closest in size (230–520 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (199) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Type / Enterprise | 55¢ | 39¢ |
| Public Works | 14¢ | 20¢ |
| General Government | 13¢ | 16¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 10¢ | 8¢ |
| Public Safety | 5¢ | 9¢ |
| Everything else | 4¢ | 5¢ |
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 ($189,500 in FY26), so this total is low.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $53,516 | $37,949 |
| Public Safety | $10,676 | $9,646 |
| Health and Social Services | $0 | $0 |
| General Government | $31,600 | $39,556 |
| Debt Service | $12,280 | $12,280 |
| Culture and Recreation | $25,932 | $33,802 |
| Community and Economic Development | $0 | $0 |
| Capital Projects | $0 | $0 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $147,135 | $172,577 |
What it spent each year
FY24 left out4
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? 5
What the state pays the city
$49,523 in FY25: up 18% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 6% less. Road Use Tax, the money for streets the state sends every year by formula, is up 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 19% less; grants come and go.
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $42,297 | $41,238 | $42,306 | $42,535 |
| State grants | $3,684 | $1,352 | $1,260 | $1,193 |
| Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”) | – | – | $2,116 | $5,795 |
Show the numbers
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $42,297 | $41,238 | $42,306 | $42,535 |
| State grants | $3,684 | $1,352 | $1,260 | $1,193 |
| Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”) | – | – | $2,116 | $5,795 |
Has it kept up with prices?
Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.
- Road Use Tax (streets)−19%$42,036 → $42,535, up 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 19% 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 47% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 17% more.
Federal grants, for comparison: $26,914 in FY23.
Elections
Most recent: November 4, 2025
City · 2
3 seats: the top 3 win.
- Tina Rommann Winner4335.5%
- Allan Lindsey Winner4033.1%
- Robert Decker Winner3831.4%
- Garrett D. Flickinger Unopposed37100.0%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Garrison; official results are on each county auditor’s site.
Related places
At the Statehouse and in Congress6
Charlie McClintock (Sen. 42)Thomas Gerhold (Rep. 84)
U.S. House:District 2