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Local taxes › Benton County › Newhall

City

Newhall

Benton County · How cities work

$2,440 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($28.93 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$840 a yearof that goes to the city ($9.99 per $1,000)
$346,223property taxes the city levies, FY27
$805,669city budget, FY27, without city-run utilities (not yet reported)2

Who runs it

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

  • Ben SeeckNewhall City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Bruce CrossNewhall City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Doug BoddickerNewhall Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Douglas RinderknechtNewhall City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Kurt SlouhaNewhall City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Rachelle MessnerNewhall City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Douglas WendelNewhall 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 Newhall

Homes and businesses in most of Newhall pay a combined $28.93 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, $9.99. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Newhall pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$26.94$9.52
FY21$27.14$9.22
FY22$27.31$9.03
FY23$26.64$8.79
FY24$26.77$8.87
FY25$28.28$9.15
FY26$28.61$9.63
FY27$28.93$9.99
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$26.94$9.52
FY21$27.14$9.22
FY22$27.31$9.03
FY23$26.64$8.79
FY24$26.77$8.87
FY25$28.28$9.15
FY26$28.61$9.63
FY27$28.93$9.99

Compared with places this size3

Newhall’s city property tax rate of $9.99 per $1,000 is the 30th lowest of 181 Iowa cities with 590–1,300 people. The middle of the group is $12.88.

Elkader: $27.11Exira: $24.81Laurens: $24.16Dayton: $22.51Correctionville: $19.84Villisca: $19.74Allison: $19.06Dumont: $19.04Seymour: $18.78Dexter: $18.69Fonda: $18.52Kanawha: $18.11Dysart: $17.95Greene: $17.91Alden: $17.90Lansing: $17.67Strawberry Point: $17.58Rockwell: $17.54Walnut: $17.46Murray: $17.44Gowrie: $17.17Colo: $17.14Mapleton: $16.90George: $16.89Fayette: $16.85Adair: $16.84Eddyville: $16.82Elk Horn: $16.78Oxford: $16.70Buffalo Center: $16.58Bancroft: $16.52Eldon: $16.42Aplington: $16.34Panora: $16.14Mechanicsville: $16.12Dike: $15.94Armstrong: $15.87Ruthven: $15.84Walker: $15.74Shell Rock: $15.52Newell: $15.49Riceville: $15.31Neola: $15.30Sidney: $15.19Gilbertville: $15.15Stanwood: $15.12Stratford: $15.03Griswold: $15.01Readlyn: $14.99Tripoli: $14.99Hopkinton: $14.79Essex: $14.76Dunlap: $14.56Garnavillo: $14.52Maxwell: $14.50Coon Rapids: $14.49Moulton: $14.25Nora Springs: $14.25Mcgregor: $14.20Olin: $14.19Primghar: $14.18Sheffield: $14.16Elgin: $14.05Ossian: $13.88Alton: $13.87Redfield: $13.73Victor: $13.72Edgewood: $13.64Sioux Rapids: $13.63Donnellson: $13.63Gladbrook: $13.58Clarksville: $13.53Rockford: $13.52Janesville: $13.43Glidden: $13.43Calmar: $13.39Boyden: $13.39Baxter: $13.32Manly: $13.29Anita: $13.28Van Horne: $13.27Conrad: $13.23Springville: $13.22Keota: $13.21Shellsburg: $13.20De Soto: $13.18Treynor: $13.03Odebolt: $13.00Coggon: $12.99Earlville: $12.90Brighton: $12.88Danville: $12.87Underwood: $12.85New Sharon: $12.80Malvern: $12.79Montrose: $12.78Goldfield: $12.73Wellsburg: $12.68Buffalo: $12.68Stanton: $12.62Hospers: $12.58Hazleton: $12.48West Point: $12.39Hinton: $12.38Preston: $12.38Alburnett: $12.30Hubbard: $12.30Moravia: $12.27Hedrick: $12.22Carson: $12.22Wheatland: $12.18Schaller: $12.14Winfield: $12.04Elkhart: $12.00Afton: $11.96Lowden: $11.93Tabor: $11.88Albert City: $11.88Aurelia: $11.84Merrill: $11.64Morning Sun: $11.50Battle Creek: $11.49Wall Lake: $11.43West Bend: $11.42Dakota City: $11.39Marcus: $11.31Dunkerton: $11.30Sutherland: $11.25Whiting: $11.21Melcher-Dallas: $11.21Shelby: $11.17University Heights: $11.12Blairstown: $11.04Manilla: $11.01Hamburg: $10.95Clarence: $10.94Fontanelle: $10.88Grand Mound: $10.78Cambridge: $10.53Swisher: $10.39Schleswig: $10.39Melbourne: $10.38Elk Run Heights: $10.33Fredericksburg: $10.27Lake Park: $10.25Ventura: $10.22Inwood: $10.22Milo: $10.20Hartford: $10.16Central City: $10.01What Cheer: $10.01Graettinger: $9.81Doon: $9.78Long Grove: $9.59Lake View: $9.39Paullina: $9.21Fairbank: $9.00Winthrop: $8.94Crescent: $8.72Keosauqua: $8.58Grand Junction: $8.57Princeton: $8.24Kellogg: $8.10Lakeside: $8.10Riverside: $8.02Agency: $7.94Hills: $7.94Fremont: $7.86Larchwood: $7.52North English: $7.49Sloan: $7.49Sully: $7.41Fruitland: $7.21Lawton: $7.10Wayland: $7.07Raymond: $6.85Keystone: $6.80Shueyville: $6.79Arnolds Park: $4.95Okoboji: $3.83Newhall: $9.99$3.83 lowest$27.11 highestmiddle
See all 181
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Elkader$27.111,192
2Exira$24.81766
3Laurens$24.161,253
4Dayton$22.51766
5Correctionville$19.84759
6Villisca$19.741,106
7Allison$19.06937
8Dumont$19.04614
9Seymour$18.78646
10Dexter$18.69631
11Fonda$18.52636
12Kanawha$18.11638
13Dysart$17.951,266
14Greene$17.91971
15Alden$17.90738
16Lansing$17.67959
17Strawberry Point$17.581,141
18Rockwell$17.541,044
19Walnut$17.46728
20Murray$17.44609
21Gowrie$17.17943
22Colo$17.14856
23Mapleton$16.901,114
24George$16.891,106
25Fayette$16.851,193
26Adair$16.84792
27Eddyville$16.82965
28Elk Horn$16.78631
29Oxford$16.70715
30Buffalo Center$16.58839
31Bancroft$16.52677
32Eldon$16.42788
33Aplington$16.341,088
34Panora$16.141,096
35Mechanicsville$16.12974
36Dike$15.941,293
37Armstrong$15.87847
38Ruthven$15.84710
39Walker$15.74671
40Shell Rock$15.521,265
41Newell$15.49850
42Riceville$15.31807
43Neola$15.30917
44Sidney$15.191,048
45Gilbertville$15.15792
46Stanwood$15.12612
47Stratford$15.03688
48Griswold$15.01975
49Readlyn$14.99857
50Tripoli$14.991,208
51Hopkinton$14.79622
52Essex$14.76721
53Dunlap$14.561,030
54Garnavillo$14.52751
55Maxwell$14.50862
56Coon Rapids$14.491,258
57Moulton$14.25596
58Nora Springs$14.251,330
59Mcgregor$14.20725
60Olin$14.19652
61Primghar$14.18893
62Sheffield$14.161,123
63Elgin$14.05676
64Ossian$13.88777
65Alton$13.871,248
66Redfield$13.73719
67Victor$13.72852
68Edgewood$13.64908
69Sioux Rapids$13.63722
70Donnellson$13.63859
71Gladbrook$13.58775
72Clarksville$13.531,238
73Rockford$13.52722
74Janesville$13.431,052
75Glidden$13.431,140
76Calmar$13.391,100
77Boyden$13.39694
78Baxter$13.32983
79Manly$13.291,233
80Anita$13.28953
81Van Horne$13.27768
82Conrad$13.231,098
83Springville$13.221,161
84Keota$13.21888
85Shellsburg$13.20987
86De Soto$13.18937
87Treynor$13.031,104
88Odebolt$13.00967
89Coggon$12.99691
90Earlville$12.90713
91Brighton$12.88592
92Danville$12.87910
93Underwood$12.85973
94New Sharon$12.801,249
95Malvern$12.791,056
96Montrose$12.78734
97Goldfield$12.73617
98Wellsburg$12.68709
99Buffalo$12.681,163
100Stanton$12.62664
101Hospers$12.58703
102Hazleton$12.48711
103West Point$12.39903
104Hinton$12.38959
105Preston$12.38940
106Alburnett$12.30672
107Hubbard$12.30837
108Moravia$12.27625
109Hedrick$12.22717
110Carson$12.22772
111Wheatland$12.18765
112Schaller$12.14702
113Winfield$12.041,006
114Elkhart$12.001,079
115Afton$11.96864
116Lowden$11.93767
117Tabor$11.88983
118Albert City$11.88627
119Aurelia$11.84970
120Merrill$11.64713
121Morning Sun$11.50702
122Battle Creek$11.49683
123Wall Lake$11.43739
124West Bend$11.42770
125Dakota City$11.39764
126Marcus$11.311,069
127Dunkerton$11.30840
128Sutherland$11.25628
129Whiting$11.21725
130Melcher-Dallas$11.211,193
131Shelby$11.17730
132University Heights$11.121,188
133Blairstown$11.04705
134Manilla$11.01756
135Hamburg$10.95863
136Clarence$10.94991
137Fontanelle$10.88684
138Grand Mound$10.78608
139Cambridge$10.53844
140Swisher$10.39909
141Schleswig$10.39820
142Melbourne$10.38771
143Elk Run Heights$10.331,061
144Fredericksburg$10.27983
145Lake Park$10.251,155
146Ventura$10.22701
147Inwood$10.22962
148Milo$10.20762
149Hartford$10.16729
150Central City$10.011,254
151What Cheer$10.01595
152Newhall$9.99887
153Graettinger$9.81810
154Doon$9.78640
155Long Grove$9.59849
156Lake View$9.391,120
157Paullina$9.21979
158Fairbank$9.001,133
159Winthrop$8.94814
160Crescent$8.72626
161Keosauqua$8.58944
162Grand Junction$8.57715
163Princeton$8.24917
164Kellogg$8.10597
165Lakeside$8.10695
166Riverside$8.021,063
167Agency$7.94623
168Hills$7.94911
169Fremont$7.86688
170Larchwood$7.52954
171North English$7.491,030
172Sloan$7.491,078
173Sully$7.41891
174Fruitland$7.21928
175Lawton$7.10949
176Wayland$7.07935
177Raymond$6.85754
178Keystone$6.80616
179Shueyville$6.79725
180Arnolds Park$4.951,214
181Okoboji$3.83729

The $8.10 limit

Newhall’s general levy is $7.53 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.57 below the limit.4 796 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $7.49 · FY24 $7.56 · FY25 $7.81 · FY26 $8.10 · FY27 $7.53 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $2.45 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$2.00 · $69,222
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$0.46 · $15,822

Tax increment financing (TIF)

Newhall’s TIF revenue, from its reports to the state.

YearTIF revenue
FY21$100
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY21$100

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$261,17975%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$69,22220%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$15,8225%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Newhall’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 43¢ of every dollar43¢Public Works: 31¢ of every dollar31¢Culture and Recreation: 11¢ of every dollar11¢Public Safety: 8¢ of every dollar8¢General Government: 6¢ of every dollarEverything else: <1¢ of every dollar

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 180 Iowa cities closest in size (590–1,300 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (180)
Business Type / Enterprise43¢40¢
Public Works31¢15¢
Culture and Recreation11¢9¢
Public Safety8¢10¢
General Government6¢9¢
Everything else<1¢2¢

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$404,77950%
  • Culture and Recreation$149,83719%
  • Public Safety$131,89316%
  • General Government$119,16015%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($529,465 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$325,500$329,789
Public Safety$76,500$75,352
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$57,520$71,389
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$112,676$141,294
Community and Economic Development$75$40
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$516,123$509,969

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$1.5M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Newhall owes

$1.4M at June 30, 2026: $1,567 per resident. 449th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$2.7M
$1.4M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$1.4M$1,567
2025$1.5M$1,733
2024$1.7M$1,896
2023$1.8M$2,058
2022$2.2M$2,534
2021$2.2M$2,534
2020$2.4M$2,756
2019$2.4M$2,756
2018$2.7M$3,119
2017$2.7M$3,119
2016$0$0
2015$0$0
2014$6,277$7
2013$6,277$7
2012$378,864$432
2011$1.6M$1,837
2010$490,058$559
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$1.4M$1,567
2025$1.5M$1,733
2024$1.7M$1,896
2023$1.8M$2,058
2022$2.2M$2,534
2021$2.2M$2,534
2020$2.4M$2,756
2019$2.4M$2,756
2018$2.7M$3,119
2017$2.7M$3,119
2016$0$0
2015$0$0
2014$6,277$7
2013$6,277$7
2012$378,864$432
2011$1.6M$1,837
2010$490,058$559

Up 180% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $1.4M, 40% of the limit of about $3.4M (5% of $68.4M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

1 obligation at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
General ObligationSewer Project and Main Street Project CS-1920718-01 and WRR14-0162035$1.4M

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. Newhall’s latest audit has them: Annual Examination, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2026 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Annual Examination for the period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2026 (PDF), released Friday, October 9, 2026, by a CPA firm.

The report has no Schedule of Findings Iowa Funnel could read.

7 earlier reports for Newhall

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? 11

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: $124,409 in FY25, up 10% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 12% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$121,068$120,547$123,737$124,409
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)––––

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.

$66,013
$1,317
  • State grants$1,317100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$22,005
FY20$1,338
FY21$2,218
FY22$13,624
FY23$66,013
FY24$1,940
FY25$1,317
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$22,005
FY20$1,338
FY21$2,218
FY22$13,624
FY23$66,013
FY24$1,940
FY25$1,317

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−12%$113,037 → $124,409, up 10% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 12% 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 67% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 33% more.

$134,004
$93,384

Federal grants, for comparison: $131,865 in FY23.

Business awards

Every award statewide

Elections

Running for mayor and city council

Filing opens Monday, August 23, 2027: in 285 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)12.

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

5 seats: the top 5 win.

2 more →

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Newhall; 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.

  • Newhall City Council At-Large (5 seats)
    Now held by Ben Seeck, Douglas Wendel, Bruce Cross, Rachelle Messner, Douglas Rinderknecht
  • Newhall Mayor
    Now held by Doug Boddicker

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here13.

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 ballot14.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress15

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

U.S. House:District 2

Benton CountyBenton schools