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Local taxes › Buchanan County › Lamont

City

Lamont

Buchanan County · How cities work

$2,870 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($34.04 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,140 a yearof that goes to the city ($13.57 per $1,000)
$120,294property taxes the city levies, FY27
$372,559city 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.

  • Jarrod LamphierLamont City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Joseph LincolnLamont City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Michael J. CookLamont Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Michael SlackLamont City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • JoDee DevlinLamont City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Mark E. AdamsLamont 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 Lamont

Homes and businesses in most of Lamont pay a combined $34.04 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Buchanan County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $13.57. Estimate your bill.

  • City of Lamont$13.5740%
  • Starmont schools$10.7932%
  • Buchanan County$6.8020%
  • Buchanan People'S Memorial Hospital$1.083%
  • Northeast Iowa Community College$1.043%
  • Buchanan County Assessor$0.542%
  • Buchanan County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.21<1%

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.86$13.42
FY21$33.09$13.33
FY22$28.78$13.45
FY23$28.63$13.52
FY24$34.03$14.50
FY25$27.29$14.20
FY26$34.49$14.80
FY27$34.04$13.57
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.86$13.42
FY21$33.09$13.33
FY22$28.78$13.45
FY23$28.63$13.52
FY24$34.03$14.50
FY25$27.29$14.20
FY26$34.49$14.80
FY27$34.04$13.57

Compared with places this size3

Lamont’s city property tax rate of $13.57 per $1,000 is the 77th highest of 181 Iowa cities with 290–640 people. The middle of the group is $12.92.

Stanhope: $29.10Rolfe: $22.67Elliott: $21.61Charter Oak: $21.32Oxford Junction: $20.84Earling: $20.47Pomeroy: $19.60Fort Atkinson: $19.19Salem: $19.15Dumont: $19.04Dexter: $18.69Fonda: $18.52Massena: $18.23Kanawha: $18.11Swea City: $18.04Elma: $17.82Callender: $17.78Casey: $17.72Dows: $17.70New Hartford: $17.69Vail: $17.66Ringsted: $17.65Emerson: $17.54Murray: $17.44Thompson: $17.25Ashton: $17.17Pierson: $17.12Burt: $17.10Latimer: $16.96Lohrville: $16.95Elk Horn: $16.78Mccallsburg: $16.58Whittemore: $16.54Irwin: $16.46Titonka: $16.45Early: $16.35Truro: $16.34Lewis: $16.25Duncombe: $16.10Bayard: $16.05Scranton: $16.01Granville: $16.00Minden: $15.77Minburn: $15.75Peterson: $15.27Russell: $15.18Stanwood: $15.12Zearing: $14.99Arlington: $14.98Maynard: $14.85Plainfield: $14.84Ryan: $14.84Otho: $14.82Wyoming: $14.81Humeston: $14.80Hopkinton: $14.79Gilmore City: $14.60Sabula: $14.38Garrison: $14.38Lorimor: $14.36Collins: $14.32Clermont: $14.30Moulton: $14.25Ocheyedan: $14.22Garwin: $14.08Farragut: $14.07Mystic: $14.01Lime Springs: $13.95Dow City: $13.94Wesley: $13.91Diagonal: $13.91Bussey: $13.83Mondamin: $13.82Livermore: $13.78Fertile: $13.70Albion: $13.58New Albin: $13.55Persia: $13.41Lawler: $13.39Lacona: $13.38Ute: $13.26New Market: $13.25Plymouth: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Anthon: $13.05Little Rock: $13.03Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Brighton: $12.88Goldfield: $12.73Delmar: $12.68Galva: $12.68Badger: $12.67Martensdale: $12.63Williams: $12.57Norway: $12.53Everly: $12.51Mccausland: $12.45Spillville: $12.40Mingo: $12.31Brandon: $12.29Moravia: $12.27Bonaparte: $12.17Hawkeye: $12.11Colesburg: $11.97Liscomb: $11.96Albert City: $11.88Thornton: $11.86Runnells: $11.79Allerton: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Kelley: $11.69Orient: $11.66Ellsworth: $11.57Terril: $11.48Churdan: $11.31Miles: $11.28Sutherland: $11.25Arcadia: $11.23Milton: $10.98Ireton: $10.93New Vienna: $10.91Letts: $10.91Birmingham: $10.87Charlotte: $10.86Richland: $10.82Grand Mound: $10.78Batavia: $10.77Riverdale: $10.67Bode: $10.64Union: $10.58Calamus: $10.47Lovilia: $10.46Danbury: $10.43Radcliffe: $10.37Stacyville: $10.36Andrew: $10.22Royal: $10.20Bronson: $10.14Rudd: $10.13Floyd: $10.02What Cheer: $10.01Cumming: $9.85Breda: $9.80Doon: $9.78Lynnville: $9.68Salix: $9.63Farnhamville: $9.18Middletown: $9.16Alleman: $9.12Lester: $8.94Crescent: $8.72Ainsworth: $8.62Gilman: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Kellogg: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Nichols: $8.10Luana: $7.98Agency: $7.94Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Beacon: $7.56Sheldahl: $7.56Worthington: $7.50Marquette: $7.08Columbus City: $6.94Donahue: $6.83Keystone: $6.80New Virginia: $5.97Holy Cross: $5.91Conesville: $5.86University Park: $5.27Orleans: $4.13Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87Wahpeton: $3.19West Okoboji: $2.92Lamont: $13.57$2.92 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 181
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Stanhope$29.10354
2Rolfe$22.67505
3Elliott$21.61328
4Charter Oak$21.32521
5Oxford Junction$20.84424
6Earling$20.47394
7Pomeroy$19.60511
8Fort Atkinson$19.19300
9Salem$19.15380
10Dumont$19.04614
11Dexter$18.69631
12Fonda$18.52636
13Massena$18.23352
14Kanawha$18.11638
15Swea City$18.04545
16Elma$17.82493
17Callender$17.78361
18Casey$17.72387
19Dows$17.70509
20New Hartford$17.69555
21Vail$17.66383
22Ringsted$17.65346
23Emerson$17.54401
24Murray$17.44609
25Thompson$17.25478
26Ashton$17.17434
27Pierson$17.12335
28Burt$17.10404
29Latimer$16.96477
30Lohrville$16.95366
31Elk Horn$16.78631
32Mccallsburg$16.58356
33Whittemore$16.54478
34Irwin$16.46320
35Titonka$16.45491
36Early$16.35571
37Truro$16.34515
38Lewis$16.25358
39Duncombe$16.10374
40Bayard$16.05402
41Scranton$16.01496
42Granville$16.00302
43Minden$15.77581
44Minburn$15.75317
45Peterson$15.27321
46Russell$15.18475
47Stanwood$15.12612
48Zearing$14.99508
49Arlington$14.98415
50Maynard$14.85466
51Plainfield$14.84392
52Ryan$14.84348
53Otho$14.82417
54Wyoming$14.81526
55Humeston$14.80472
56Hopkinton$14.79622
57Gilmore City$14.60484
58Sabula$14.38498
59Garrison$14.38345
60Lorimor$14.36377
61Collins$14.32503
62Clermont$14.30571
63Moulton$14.25596
64Ocheyedan$14.22424
65Garwin$14.08469
66Farragut$14.07480
67Mystic$14.01318
68Lime Springs$13.95467
69Dow City$13.94477
70Wesley$13.91382
71Diagonal$13.91331
72Bussey$13.83378
73Mondamin$13.82335
74Livermore$13.78382
75Fertile$13.70300
76Albion$13.58444
77Lamont$13.57429
78New Albin$13.55435
79Persia$13.41292
80Lawler$13.39392
81Lacona$13.38336
82Ute$13.26326
83New Market$13.25381
84Plymouth$13.21368
85Bennett$13.16330
86Quasqueton$13.12587
87Farmington$13.10583
88Anthon$13.05534
89Little Rock$13.03447
90Lehigh$12.97395
91Menlo$12.92347
92Templeton$12.91337
93Brighton$12.88592
94Goldfield$12.73617
95Delmar$12.68541
96Galva$12.68416
97Badger$12.67540
98Martensdale$12.63413
99Williams$12.57299
100Norway$12.53463
101Everly$12.51570
102Mccausland$12.45314
103Spillville$12.40371
104Mingo$12.31314
105Brandon$12.29331
106Moravia$12.27625
107Bonaparte$12.17357
108Hawkeye$12.11429
109Colesburg$11.97379
110Liscomb$11.96292
111Albert City$11.88627
112Thornton$11.86394
113Runnells$11.79467
114Allerton$11.72432
115Atalissa$11.71287
116Kelley$11.69312
117Orient$11.66363
118Ellsworth$11.57495
119Terril$11.48310
120Churdan$11.31359
121Miles$11.28400
122Sutherland$11.25628
123Arcadia$11.23588
124Milton$10.98395
125Ireton$10.93571
126New Vienna$10.91384
127Letts$10.91358
128Birmingham$10.87371
129Charlotte$10.86386
130Richland$10.82532
131Grand Mound$10.78608
132Batavia$10.77434
133Riverdale$10.67385
134Bode$10.64304
135Union$10.58378
136Calamus$10.47348
137Lovilia$10.46456
138Danbury$10.43315
139Radcliffe$10.37540
140Stacyville$10.36436
141Andrew$10.22374
142Royal$10.20379
143Bronson$10.14294
144Rudd$10.13339
145Floyd$10.02297
146What Cheer$10.01595
147Cumming$9.85527
148Breda$9.80492
149Doon$9.78640
150Lynnville$9.68382
151Salix$9.63303
152Farnhamville$9.18364
153Middletown$9.16365
154Alleman$9.12439
155Lester$8.94309
156Crescent$8.72626
157Ainsworth$8.62511
158Gilman$8.10530
159Grandview$8.10431
160Kellogg$8.10597
161Lost Nation$8.10425
162Nichols$8.10317
163Luana$7.98303
164Agency$7.94623
165Delhi$7.81438
166Klemme$7.74429
167Beacon$7.56434
168Sheldahl$7.56312
169Worthington$7.50374
170Marquette$7.08434
171Columbus City$6.94385
172Donahue$6.83336
173Keystone$6.80616
174New Virginia$5.97499
175Holy Cross$5.91348
176Conesville$5.86350
177University Park$5.27476
178Orleans$4.13503
179Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
180Wahpeton$3.19337
181West Okoboji$2.92311

The $8.10 limit

Lamont’s general levy is $8.00 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.10 below the limit.4 440 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.23 · FY26 $8.23 · FY27 $8.00 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $5.57 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$4.31 · $37,895
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.27 · $11,148

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$70,34859%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$37,89532%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$11,1489%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Lamont’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 47¢ of every dollar47¢Public Works: 16¢ of every dollar16¢Culture and Recreation: 15¢ of every dollar15¢Public Safety: 12¢ of every dollar12¢General Government: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Everything 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 (290–640 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (180)
Business Type / Enterprise47¢39¢
Public Works16¢19¢
Culture and Recreation15¢9¢
Public Safety12¢9¢
General Government9¢14¢
Everything else1¢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$106,22129%
  • Public Safety$88,96324%
  • General Government$84,74323%
  • Culture and Recreation$82,38222%
  • Community and Economic Development$8,1502%
  • Health and Social Services$2,1001%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($372,688 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$90,690$75,512
Public Safety$85,537$57,275
Health and Social Services$2,000$1,600
General Government$62,786$52,140
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$54,819$48,487
Community and Economic Development$3,941$13,308
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$404,343$294,960

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$822,240
$623,663

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Lamont owes

$291,556 at June 30, 2026: $680 per resident. 610th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$412,638
$291,556
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$291,556$680
2025$308,481$719
2024$346,818$808
2023$364,102$849
2022$380,866$888
2021$396,834$925
2020$412,638$962
2019$279,001$650
2018$25,001$58
2017$37,501$87
2016$50,001$117
2015$37,000$86
2014$49,000$114
2013$89,280$208
2012$89,280$208
2011$100,222$234
2010$31,025$72
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$291,556$680
2025$308,481$719
2024$346,818$808
2023$364,102$849
2022$380,866$888
2021$396,834$925
2020$412,638$962
2019$279,001$650
2018$25,001$58
2017$37,501$87
2016$50,001$117
2015$37,000$86
2014$49,000$114
2013$89,280$208
2012$89,280$208
2011$100,222$234
2010$31,025$72

Up 840% since 2010.

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. Lamont’s latest audit has them: Annual Examination, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2019 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Annual Examination for the period ending Sunday, June 30, 2019 (PDF), released Monday, December 2, 2019, by the Auditor of State.

2 earlier reports for Lamont

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? 10

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: $64,743 in FY25, up 17% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 7% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$56,072$55,046$56,500$56,807
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)––$7,224$7,936

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.

$132,097
$1,340
  • State grants$1,340100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$132,097
FY20$980
FY21$11,932
FY22$1,159
FY23$1,319
FY24$1,391
FY25$1,340
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$132,097
FY20$980
FY21$11,932
FY22$1,159
FY23$1,319
FY24$1,391
FY25$1,340

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−19%$55,563 → $56,807, up 2% 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 37% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 9% more.

$57,766
$55,557

Federal grants, for comparison: $65,643 in FY24.

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)11.

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

3 seats: the top 3 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Lamont; 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.

  • Lamont City Council At-Large (2 seats)
    Now held by Mark E. Adams, JoDee Devlin
  • Lamont Mayor
    Now held by Michael J. Cook

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here12.

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 ballot13.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress14

Dan Zumbach (Sen. 34)Chad Ingels (Rep. 68)

U.S. House:District 2

Buchanan CountyStarmont schools