Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Amy L. KnaackVan Horne City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Jim ParmenterVan Horne City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Kimberly FisherVan Horne City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Pat GorkowVan Horne Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Mitch SchulteVan Horne City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Todd DonaldVan Horne 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 Van Horne
Homes and businesses in most of Van Horne pay a combined $32.21 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, $13.27. Estimate your bill.
- City of Van Horne$13.2741%
- Benton schools$10.2532%
- Benton County$6.7721%
- Kirkwood Community College$1.434%
- Benton County Assessor$0.341%
- 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 Van Horne pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $32.27 | $14.84 |
| FY21 | $32.76 | $14.84 |
| FY22 | $33.78 | $15.50 |
| FY23 | $33.41 | $15.57 |
| FY24 | $33.46 | $15.57 |
| FY25 | $32.45 | $13.32 |
| FY26 | $32.14 | $13.16 |
| FY27 | $32.21 | $13.27 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $32.27 | $14.84 |
| FY21 | $32.76 | $14.84 |
| FY22 | $33.78 | $15.50 |
| FY23 | $33.41 | $15.57 |
| FY24 | $33.46 | $15.57 |
| FY25 | $32.45 | $13.32 |
| FY26 | $32.14 | $13.16 |
| FY27 | $32.21 | $13.27 |
Compared with places this size3
Van Horne’s city property tax rate of $13.27 per $1,000 is the 77th highest of 181 Iowa cities with 520–1,100 people. The middle of the group is $12.85.
See all 181
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exira | $24.81 | 766 |
| 2 | Dayton | $22.51 | 766 |
| 3 | Charter Oak | $21.32 | 521 |
| 4 | Correctionville | $19.84 | 759 |
| 5 | Villisca | $19.74 | 1,106 |
| 6 | Allison | $19.06 | 937 |
| 7 | Dumont | $19.04 | 614 |
| 8 | Seymour | $18.78 | 646 |
| 9 | Dexter | $18.69 | 631 |
| 10 | Fonda | $18.52 | 636 |
| 11 | Kanawha | $18.11 | 638 |
| 12 | Swea City | $18.04 | 545 |
| 13 | Greene | $17.91 | 971 |
| 14 | Alden | $17.90 | 738 |
| 15 | New Hartford | $17.69 | 555 |
| 16 | Lansing | $17.67 | 959 |
| 17 | Strawberry Point | $17.58 | 1,141 |
| 18 | Rockwell | $17.54 | 1,044 |
| 19 | Walnut | $17.46 | 728 |
| 20 | Murray | $17.44 | 609 |
| 21 | Gowrie | $17.17 | 943 |
| 22 | Colo | $17.14 | 856 |
| 23 | Mapleton | $16.90 | 1,114 |
| 24 | George | $16.89 | 1,106 |
| 25 | Adair | $16.84 | 792 |
| 26 | Eddyville | $16.82 | 965 |
| 27 | Elk Horn | $16.78 | 631 |
| 28 | Oxford | $16.70 | 715 |
| 29 | Buffalo Center | $16.58 | 839 |
| 30 | Bancroft | $16.52 | 677 |
| 31 | Eldon | $16.42 | 788 |
| 32 | Early | $16.35 | 571 |
| 33 | Truro | $16.34 | 515 |
| 34 | Aplington | $16.34 | 1,088 |
| 35 | Panora | $16.14 | 1,096 |
| 36 | Mechanicsville | $16.12 | 974 |
| 37 | Armstrong | $15.87 | 847 |
| 38 | Ruthven | $15.84 | 710 |
| 39 | Minden | $15.77 | 581 |
| 40 | Walker | $15.74 | 671 |
| 41 | Newell | $15.49 | 850 |
| 42 | Riceville | $15.31 | 807 |
| 43 | Neola | $15.30 | 917 |
| 44 | Sidney | $15.19 | 1,048 |
| 45 | Gilbertville | $15.15 | 792 |
| 46 | Stanwood | $15.12 | 612 |
| 47 | Stratford | $15.03 | 688 |
| 48 | Griswold | $15.01 | 975 |
| 49 | Readlyn | $14.99 | 857 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $14.81 | 526 |
| 51 | Hopkinton | $14.79 | 622 |
| 52 | Essex | $14.76 | 721 |
| 53 | Dunlap | $14.56 | 1,030 |
| 54 | Garnavillo | $14.52 | 751 |
| 55 | Maxwell | $14.50 | 862 |
| 56 | Clermont | $14.30 | 571 |
| 57 | Moulton | $14.25 | 596 |
| 58 | Mcgregor | $14.20 | 725 |
| 59 | Olin | $14.19 | 652 |
| 60 | Primghar | $14.18 | 893 |
| 61 | Sheffield | $14.16 | 1,123 |
| 62 | Elgin | $14.05 | 676 |
| 63 | Ossian | $13.88 | 777 |
| 64 | Redfield | $13.73 | 719 |
| 65 | Victor | $13.72 | 852 |
| 66 | Edgewood | $13.64 | 908 |
| 67 | Sioux Rapids | $13.63 | 722 |
| 68 | Donnellson | $13.63 | 859 |
| 69 | Gladbrook | $13.58 | 775 |
| 70 | Rockford | $13.52 | 722 |
| 71 | Janesville | $13.43 | 1,052 |
| 72 | Glidden | $13.43 | 1,140 |
| 73 | Calmar | $13.39 | 1,100 |
| 74 | Boyden | $13.39 | 694 |
| 75 | Baxter | $13.32 | 983 |
| 76 | Anita | $13.28 | 953 |
| 77 | Van Horne | $13.27 | 768 |
| 78 | Conrad | $13.23 | 1,098 |
| 79 | Keota | $13.21 | 888 |
| 80 | Shellsburg | $13.20 | 987 |
| 81 | De Soto | $13.18 | 937 |
| 82 | Quasqueton | $13.12 | 587 |
| 83 | Farmington | $13.10 | 583 |
| 84 | Anthon | $13.05 | 534 |
| 85 | Treynor | $13.03 | 1,104 |
| 86 | Odebolt | $13.00 | 967 |
| 87 | Coggon | $12.99 | 691 |
| 88 | Earlville | $12.90 | 713 |
| 89 | Brighton | $12.88 | 592 |
| 90 | Danville | $12.87 | 910 |
| 91 | Underwood | $12.85 | 973 |
| 92 | Malvern | $12.79 | 1,056 |
| 93 | Montrose | $12.78 | 734 |
| 94 | Goldfield | $12.73 | 617 |
| 95 | Wellsburg | $12.68 | 709 |
| 96 | Delmar | $12.68 | 541 |
| 97 | Badger | $12.67 | 540 |
| 98 | Stanton | $12.62 | 664 |
| 99 | Hospers | $12.58 | 703 |
| 100 | Everly | $12.51 | 570 |
| 101 | Hazleton | $12.48 | 711 |
| 102 | West Point | $12.39 | 903 |
| 103 | Hinton | $12.38 | 959 |
| 104 | Preston | $12.38 | 940 |
| 105 | Alburnett | $12.30 | 672 |
| 106 | Hubbard | $12.30 | 837 |
| 107 | Moravia | $12.27 | 625 |
| 108 | Hedrick | $12.22 | 717 |
| 109 | Carson | $12.22 | 772 |
| 110 | Wheatland | $12.18 | 765 |
| 111 | Schaller | $12.14 | 702 |
| 112 | Winfield | $12.04 | 1,006 |
| 113 | Elkhart | $12.00 | 1,079 |
| 114 | Afton | $11.96 | 864 |
| 115 | Lowden | $11.93 | 767 |
| 116 | Tabor | $11.88 | 983 |
| 117 | Albert City | $11.88 | 627 |
| 118 | Aurelia | $11.84 | 970 |
| 119 | Merrill | $11.64 | 713 |
| 120 | Morning Sun | $11.50 | 702 |
| 121 | Battle Creek | $11.49 | 683 |
| 122 | Wall Lake | $11.43 | 739 |
| 123 | West Bend | $11.42 | 770 |
| 124 | Dakota City | $11.39 | 764 |
| 125 | Marcus | $11.31 | 1,069 |
| 126 | Dunkerton | $11.30 | 840 |
| 127 | Sutherland | $11.25 | 628 |
| 128 | Arcadia | $11.23 | 588 |
| 129 | Whiting | $11.21 | 725 |
| 130 | Shelby | $11.17 | 730 |
| 131 | Blairstown | $11.04 | 705 |
| 132 | Manilla | $11.01 | 756 |
| 133 | Hamburg | $10.95 | 863 |
| 134 | Clarence | $10.94 | 991 |
| 135 | Ireton | $10.93 | 571 |
| 136 | Fontanelle | $10.88 | 684 |
| 137 | Richland | $10.82 | 532 |
| 138 | Grand Mound | $10.78 | 608 |
| 139 | Cambridge | $10.53 | 844 |
| 140 | Swisher | $10.39 | 909 |
| 141 | Schleswig | $10.39 | 820 |
| 142 | Melbourne | $10.38 | 771 |
| 143 | Radcliffe | $10.37 | 540 |
| 144 | Elk Run Heights | $10.33 | 1,061 |
| 145 | Fredericksburg | $10.27 | 983 |
| 146 | Ventura | $10.22 | 701 |
| 147 | Inwood | $10.22 | 962 |
| 148 | Milo | $10.20 | 762 |
| 149 | Hartford | $10.16 | 729 |
| 150 | What Cheer | $10.01 | 595 |
| 151 | Newhall | $9.99 | 887 |
| 152 | Cumming | $9.85 | 527 |
| 153 | Graettinger | $9.81 | 810 |
| 154 | Doon | $9.78 | 640 |
| 155 | Long Grove | $9.59 | 849 |
| 156 | Lake View | $9.39 | 1,120 |
| 157 | Paullina | $9.21 | 979 |
| 158 | Fairbank | $9.00 | 1,133 |
| 159 | Winthrop | $8.94 | 814 |
| 160 | Crescent | $8.72 | 626 |
| 161 | Keosauqua | $8.58 | 944 |
| 162 | Grand Junction | $8.57 | 715 |
| 163 | Princeton | $8.24 | 917 |
| 164 | Gilman | $8.10 | 530 |
| 165 | Lakeside | $8.10 | 695 |
| 166 | Kellogg | $8.10 | 597 |
| 167 | Riverside | $8.02 | 1,063 |
| 168 | Agency | $7.94 | 623 |
| 169 | Hills | $7.94 | 911 |
| 170 | Fremont | $7.86 | 688 |
| 171 | Larchwood | $7.52 | 954 |
| 172 | North English | $7.49 | 1,030 |
| 173 | Sloan | $7.49 | 1,078 |
| 174 | Sully | $7.41 | 891 |
| 175 | Fruitland | $7.21 | 928 |
| 176 | Lawton | $7.10 | 949 |
| 177 | Wayland | $7.07 | 935 |
| 178 | Raymond | $6.85 | 754 |
| 179 | Keystone | $6.80 | 616 |
| 180 | Shueyville | $6.79 | 725 |
| 181 | Okoboji | $3.83 | 729 |
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 Van Horne’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 180 Iowa cities closest in size (520–1,100 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (180) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Type / Enterprise | 36¢ | 40¢ |
| Public Works | 25¢ | 16¢ |
| General Government | 14¢ | 10¢ |
| Public Safety | 10¢ | 9¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 8¢ | 9¢ |
| Everything else | 7¢ | 8¢ |
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 ($449,157 in FY26), so this total is low.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $225,080 | $249,536 |
| Public Safety | $90,525 | $59,147 |
| Health and Social Services | $13,000 | $17,535 |
| General Government | $152,456 | $397,955 |
| Debt Service | $147,145 | $89,422 |
| Culture and Recreation | $87,579 | $209,619 |
| Community and Economic Development | $750 | $893 |
| Capital Projects | $0 | $0 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $352,982 | $362,417 |
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 every year
Road Use Tax for streets, the commercial and industrial tax “backfill”, and ambulance reimbursement, paid every year by formula: $123,374 in FY25, up 40% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 12% more. Grants are below.
Show the numbers
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $104,699 | $106,511 | $109,329 | $109,923 |
| Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”) | – | – | $16,644 | $13,451 |
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 | $1,278 |
| FY20 | $0 |
| FY21 | $1,385 |
| FY22 | $15,608 |
| FY23 | $10,259 |
| FY24 | $6,644 |
| FY25 | $9,032 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $1,278 |
| FY20 | $0 |
| FY21 | $1,385 |
| FY22 | $15,608 |
| FY23 | $10,259 |
| FY24 | $6,644 |
| FY25 | $9,032 |
Has it kept up with prices?
Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.
- Road Use Tax (streets)−1%$88,105 → $109,923, up 25% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 1% 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 89% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 51% more.
Federal grants, for comparison: $3,075 in FY25.
Elections
Most recent: November 4, 2025
City · 2
3 seats: the top 3 win.
- Amy L. Knaack Winner8135.2%
- Kimberly Fisher Winner7833.9%
- Jim Parmenter Winner7130.9%
- Pat Gorkow Unopposed72100.0%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Van Horne; 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