Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Malorie SchallerLuther Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Robert L. OwensLuther City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Trevor MathisLuther City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Jeff SandegrenLuther City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Mike MillerLuther City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Rob DobekLuther 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 Luther
Homes and businesses in most of Luther pay a combined $24.71 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Boone County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $8.83. Estimate your bill.
- United schools$9.0637%
- City of Luther$8.8336%
- Boone County$3.2413%
- Boone County Hospital$2.219%
- Des Moines Area Community College$0.813%
- Boone County Assessor$0.432%
- Boone County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.13<1%
Rates over time
Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Luther pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $29.33 | $9.82 |
| FY21 | $27.91 | $9.09 |
| FY22 | – | $9.08 |
| FY23 | – | $9.07 |
| FY24 | $25.81 | $9.48 |
| FY25 | – | $8.65 |
| FY26 | $25.14 | $8.47 |
| FY27 | $24.71 | $8.83 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $29.33 | $9.82 |
| FY21 | $27.91 | $9.09 |
| FY22 | – | $9.08 |
| FY23 | – | $9.07 |
| FY24 | $25.81 | $9.48 |
| FY25 | – | $8.65 |
| FY26 | $25.14 | $8.47 |
| FY27 | $24.71 | $8.83 |
Compared with places this size3
Luther’s city property tax rate of $8.83 per $1,000 is the 54th lowest of 180 Iowa cities with 100–220 people. The middle of the group is $10.76.
See all 180
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Castana | $34.13 | 103 |
| 2 | Brayton | $25.07 | 138 |
| 3 | Harris | $23.13 | 145 |
| 4 | Whitten | $22.65 | 98 |
| 5 | Soldier | $21.92 | 176 |
| 6 | Coulter | $21.80 | 220 |
| 7 | Chelsea | $21.61 | 207 |
| 8 | Smithland | $21.12 | 184 |
| 9 | Volga | $20.23 | 200 |
| 10 | Alta Vista | $19.88 | 219 |
| 11 | Arthur | $19.86 | 218 |
| 12 | Coin | $19.59 | 171 |
| 13 | Rowan | $19.53 | 118 |
| 14 | Chester | $19.30 | 134 |
| 15 | Bouton | $19.25 | 125 |
| 16 | Ricketts | $19.22 | 105 |
| 17 | Garden Grove | $19.20 | 173 |
| 18 | Hastings | $18.95 | 157 |
| 19 | Swaledale | $18.62 | 136 |
| 20 | Jamaica | $18.24 | 196 |
| 21 | Hillsboro | $17.68 | 158 |
| 22 | Bristow | $17.39 | 139 |
| 23 | Woolstock | $17.26 | 141 |
| 24 | Prescott | $16.53 | 186 |
| 25 | Monmouth | $16.41 | 129 |
| 26 | Blockton | $16.37 | 123 |
| 27 | Montour | $16.37 | 199 |
| 28 | Geneva | $16.25 | 137 |
| 29 | Waterville | $16.25 | 112 |
| 30 | Little Sioux | $15.74 | 170 |
| 31 | Moorhead | $15.68 | 186 |
| 32 | Onslow | $15.63 | 198 |
| 33 | Linden | $15.62 | 206 |
| 34 | Woodburn | $15.59 | 133 |
| 35 | Kamrar | $15.47 | 178 |
| 36 | Greeley | $15.23 | 216 |
| 37 | Goodell | $15.16 | 139 |
| 38 | Marne | $15.03 | 109 |
| 39 | Baldwin | $14.91 | 99 |
| 40 | Magnolia | $14.68 | 194 |
| 41 | Davis City | $14.45 | 178 |
| 42 | Lucas | $14.40 | 176 |
| 43 | Westgate | $14.05 | 190 |
| 44 | Palmer | $13.89 | 137 |
| 45 | Ayrshire | $13.55 | 128 |
| 46 | Searsboro | $13.55 | 129 |
| 47 | Ferguson | $13.53 | 98 |
| 48 | Lanesboro | $13.53 | 112 |
| 49 | Meservey | $13.43 | 212 |
| 50 | Calumet | $13.16 | 144 |
| 51 | Portsmouth | $13.05 | 187 |
| 52 | Clutier | $13.03 | 209 |
| 53 | Delaware | $12.86 | 139 |
| 54 | Patterson | $12.84 | 176 |
| 55 | Clemons | $12.69 | 135 |
| 56 | Millersburg | $12.40 | 135 |
| 57 | Aurora | $12.40 | 165 |
| 58 | Bridgewater | $12.29 | 145 |
| 59 | Hanlontown | $12.17 | 200 |
| 60 | Stout | $12.14 | 194 |
| 61 | Arion | $12.14 | 99 |
| 62 | Webb | $12.10 | 139 |
| 63 | Paton | $12.09 | 217 |
| 64 | Decatur | $12.08 | 174 |
| 65 | Rembrandt | $12.03 | 199 |
| 66 | Shambaugh | $11.98 | 161 |
| 67 | Lone Rock | $11.92 | 143 |
| 68 | East Peru | $11.89 | 119 |
| 69 | Henderson | $11.85 | 140 |
| 70 | Parnell | $11.78 | 190 |
| 71 | Reasnor | $11.76 | 157 |
| 72 | Ledyard | $11.74 | 118 |
| 73 | Joice | $11.72 | 206 |
| 74 | Toronto | $11.68 | 101 |
| 75 | Wadena | $11.65 | 201 |
| 76 | Exline | $11.60 | 157 |
| 77 | Beaman | $11.54 | 155 |
| 78 | College Springs | $11.44 | 172 |
| 79 | Melrose | $11.27 | 110 |
| 80 | Linn Grove | $11.15 | 155 |
| 81 | Dundee | $11.14 | 193 |
| 82 | Randolph | $11.08 | 183 |
| 83 | Leighton | $11.07 | 153 |
| 84 | Rake | $11.05 | 179 |
| 85 | Masonville | $11.00 | 98 |
| 86 | Somers | $10.99 | 121 |
| 87 | Frederika | $10.99 | 206 |
| 88 | Havelock | $10.95 | 127 |
| 89 | Alexander | $10.90 | 165 |
| 90 | Lambs Grove | $10.78 | 174 |
| 91 | Wallingford | $10.75 | 154 |
| 92 | Woden | $10.68 | 183 |
| 93 | Pacific Junction | $10.56 | 99 |
| 94 | Barnes City | $10.44 | 152 |
| 95 | Stockton | $10.37 | 171 |
| 96 | Randall | $10.35 | 156 |
| 97 | Meriden | $10.28 | 175 |
| 98 | Drakesville | $10.24 | 170 |
| 99 | North Washington | $10.23 | 107 |
| 100 | Dawson | $10.19 | 110 |
| 101 | Hancock | $10.13 | 199 |
| 102 | Melvin | $10.05 | 196 |
| 103 | Barnum | $9.96 | 186 |
| 104 | Grafton | $9.83 | 212 |
| 105 | Clare | $9.81 | 133 |
| 106 | Tingley | $9.81 | 146 |
| 107 | Ionia | $9.65 | 220 |
| 108 | Rutland | $9.65 | 116 |
| 109 | Van Wert | $9.62 | 175 |
| 110 | Rock Falls | $9.61 | 143 |
| 111 | Kirkville | $9.59 | 159 |
| 112 | Superior | $9.58 | 127 |
| 113 | Martinsburg | $9.49 | 109 |
| 114 | Rippey | $9.42 | 217 |
| 115 | Larrabee | $9.41 | 116 |
| 116 | Hamilton | $9.35 | 125 |
| 117 | Floris | $9.29 | 119 |
| 118 | Mitchell | $9.22 | 118 |
| 119 | Westphalia | $9.18 | 133 |
| 120 | Elberon | $9.16 | 178 |
| 121 | Dixon | $9.03 | 204 |
| 122 | Blairsburg | $8.93 | 175 |
| 123 | Prairieburg | $8.91 | 156 |
| 124 | Oakville | $8.89 | 198 |
| 125 | Welton | $8.86 | 124 |
| 126 | Archer | $8.84 | 116 |
| 127 | Luther | $8.83 | 147 |
| 128 | Fraser | $8.81 | 107 |
| 129 | Macksburg | $8.81 | 103 |
| 130 | Washta | $8.65 | 206 |
| 131 | Moorland | $8.61 | 169 |
| 132 | Pilot Mound | $8.54 | 155 |
| 133 | Ollie | $8.44 | 196 |
| 134 | Thor | $8.38 | 182 |
| 135 | Andover | $8.28 | 106 |
| 136 | South English | $8.27 | 196 |
| 137 | Thurman | $8.26 | 162 |
| 138 | Boxholm | $8.11 | 177 |
| 139 | Rome | $8.10 | 112 |
| 140 | Westfield | $8.10 | 121 |
| 141 | Laurel | $8.10 | 214 |
| 142 | Lineville | $8.10 | 194 |
| 143 | Vincent | $8.09 | 125 |
| 144 | Morrison | $7.86 | 101 |
| 145 | Mount Auburn | $7.86 | 162 |
| 146 | Haverhill | $7.86 | 164 |
| 147 | Grand River | $7.86 | 192 |
| 148 | Olds | $7.86 | 174 |
| 149 | Dickens | $7.86 | 146 |
| 150 | Castalia | $7.86 | 141 |
| 151 | Rose Hill | $7.86 | 156 |
| 152 | West Chester | $7.82 | 147 |
| 153 | Cromwell | $7.81 | 104 |
| 154 | Mcclelland | $7.79 | 147 |
| 155 | Luzerne | $7.69 | 111 |
| 156 | Lidderdale | $7.68 | 162 |
| 157 | Bernard | $7.56 | 117 |
| 158 | Braddyville | $7.49 | 142 |
| 159 | Alvord | $7.41 | 216 |
| 160 | Franklin | $7.31 | 133 |
| 161 | Weldon | $7.18 | 134 |
| 162 | Brunsville | $6.95 | 128 |
| 163 | Packwood | $6.77 | 186 |
| 164 | Houghton | $6.73 | 129 |
| 165 | Williamson | $6.72 | 126 |
| 166 | Lincoln | $6.32 | 119 |
| 167 | Gravity | $6.18 | 149 |
| 168 | Ackworth | $5.90 | 117 |
| 169 | Oakland Acres | $5.88 | 178 |
| 170 | Springbrook | $5.79 | 145 |
| 171 | Maysville | $5.77 | 155 |
| 172 | Harper | $5.29 | 117 |
| 173 | Panorama Park | $4.62 | 142 |
| 174 | Keomah Village | $3.15 | 107 |
| 175 | Mcintire | $2.78 | 115 |
| 176 | Sherrill | $2.66 | 176 |
| 177 | Centralia | $2.41 | 117 |
| 178 | Rickardsville | $2.27 | 204 |
| 179 | New Liberty | $2.27 | 141 |
| 180 | North Buena Vista | $1.78 | 107 |
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 Luther’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 (100–220 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (180) |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | 58¢ | 25¢ |
| General Government | 30¢ | 23¢ |
| Public Safety | 7¢ | 10¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 3¢ | 8¢ |
| Health and Social Services | 1¢ | <1¢ |
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 | $13,550 | $11,137 |
| Public Safety | $8,300 | $6,900 |
| Health and Social Services | $1,500 | $0 |
| General Government | $51,083 | $32,905 |
| Debt Service | $0 | $0 |
| Culture and Recreation | $10,450 | $2,993 |
| Community and Economic Development | $0 | $0 |
| Capital Projects | $15,000 | $5,246 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $0 | $0 |
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: $15,665 in FY25, up 53% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 22% more. Grants are below.
Show the numbers
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $13,171 | $15,058 | $15,581 | $15,665 |
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 | $0 |
| FY20 | $0 |
| FY21 | $0 |
| FY22 | $0 |
| FY23 | $0 |
| FY24 | $0 |
| FY25 | $2,158 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $0 |
| FY20 | $0 |
| FY21 | $0 |
| FY22 | $0 |
| FY23 | $0 |
| FY24 | $0 |
| FY25 | $2,158 |
Has it kept up with prices?
Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.
- Road Use Tax (streets)+22%$10,244 → $15,665, up 53% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 22% more
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 101% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 60% more.
Federal grants, for comparison: $9,943 in FY23.
Elections
Most recent: November 4, 2025
City · 2
2 seats: the top 2 win.
- Robert L. Owens Winner1973.1%
- Trevor Mathis Winner726.9%
- Malorie Schaller Unopposed19100.0%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Luther; official results are on each county auditor’s site.