Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Emily RyanRowley City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Kyle HunterRowley City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Sue WebsterRowley Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Jeff TaylorRowley City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Kathy HemsathRowley City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Terri JanaszakRowley 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
Where a property tax dollar goes in Rowley
The combined rate in most of Rowley is $31.26 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). The city sets only its own piece. Estimate your bill.
- Independence schools$12.9641%
- City of Rowley$8.3127%
- Buchanan County$6.8022%
- Hawkeye Community. College$1.364%
- Buchanan People'S Memorial Hospital$1.083%
- Buchanan County Assessor$0.542%
- Buchanan County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.21<1%
Compared with places this size
Rowley’s city property tax rate of $8.31 per $1,000 is the 32nd lowest of 211 Iowa cities with 180–400 people. The middle of the group is $12.12.
See all 211
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanhope | $29.10 | 354 |
| 2 | Fenton | $22.05 | 250 |
| 3 | Soldier | $21.92 | 176 |
| 4 | Coulter | $21.80 | 220 |
| 5 | Chelsea | $21.61 | 207 |
| 6 | Elliott | $21.61 | 328 |
| 7 | Smithland | $21.12 | 184 |
| 8 | Earling | $20.47 | 394 |
| 9 | Volga | $20.23 | 200 |
| 10 | Alta Vista | $19.88 | 219 |
| 11 | Arthur | $19.86 | 218 |
| 12 | Fort Atkinson | $19.19 | 300 |
| 13 | Salem | $19.15 | 380 |
| 14 | Cumberland | $18.42 | 248 |
| 15 | Jamaica | $18.24 | 196 |
| 16 | Massena | $18.23 | 352 |
| 17 | Callender | $17.78 | 361 |
| 18 | Casey | $17.72 | 387 |
| 19 | Vail | $17.66 | 383 |
| 20 | Ringsted | $17.65 | 346 |
| 21 | Pierson | $17.12 | 335 |
| 22 | Pisgah | $17.09 | 248 |
| 23 | Lohrville | $16.95 | 366 |
| 24 | Lakota | $16.84 | 261 |
| 25 | Marble Rock | $16.78 | 258 |
| 26 | Auburn | $16.65 | 253 |
| 27 | Mccallsburg | $16.58 | 356 |
| 28 | Prescott | $16.53 | 186 |
| 29 | Irwin | $16.46 | 320 |
| 30 | Montour | $16.37 | 199 |
| 31 | Lewis | $16.25 | 358 |
| 32 | Corwith | $16.22 | 259 |
| 33 | Deep River | $16.18 | 243 |
| 34 | Waucoma | $16.17 | 235 |
| 35 | Duncombe | $16.10 | 374 |
| 36 | Granville | $16.00 | 302 |
| 37 | Minburn | $15.75 | 317 |
| 38 | Moorhead | $15.68 | 186 |
| 39 | Onslow | $15.63 | 198 |
| 40 | Linden | $15.62 | 206 |
| 41 | Kamrar | $15.47 | 178 |
| 42 | Peterson | $15.27 | 321 |
| 43 | Greeley | $15.23 | 216 |
| 44 | Riverton | $14.94 | 243 |
| 45 | Marathon | $14.89 | 221 |
| 46 | Plainfield | $14.84 | 392 |
| 47 | Ryan | $14.84 | 348 |
| 48 | Ladora | $14.74 | 223 |
| 49 | Magnolia | $14.68 | 194 |
| 50 | Bagley | $14.63 | 230 |
| 51 | Davis City | $14.45 | 178 |
| 52 | Lucas | $14.40 | 176 |
| 53 | Garrison | $14.38 | 345 |
| 54 | Halbur | $14.37 | 268 |
| 55 | Lorimor | $14.36 | 377 |
| 56 | Crystal Lake | $14.36 | 243 |
| 57 | Kimballton | $14.27 | 281 |
| 58 | Steamboat Rock | $14.19 | 261 |
| 59 | Westgate | $14.05 | 190 |
| 60 | Mystic | $14.01 | 318 |
| 61 | Wesley | $13.91 | 382 |
| 62 | Diagonal | $13.91 | 331 |
| 63 | Bussey | $13.83 | 378 |
| 64 | Mondamin | $13.82 | 335 |
| 65 | Livermore | $13.78 | 382 |
| 66 | Fertile | $13.70 | 300 |
| 67 | Stockport | $13.68 | 272 |
| 68 | Kellerton | $13.60 | 241 |
| 69 | Quimby | $13.58 | 245 |
| 70 | Meservey | $13.43 | 212 |
| 71 | Persia | $13.41 | 292 |
| 72 | Lawler | $13.39 | 392 |
| 73 | Lacona | $13.38 | 336 |
| 74 | Leland | $13.31 | 240 |
| 75 | Ute | $13.26 | 326 |
| 76 | New Market | $13.25 | 381 |
| 77 | Plymouth | $13.21 | 368 |
| 78 | Harcourt | $13.21 | 257 |
| 79 | Bennett | $13.16 | 330 |
| 80 | Ridgeway | $13.10 | 261 |
| 81 | Farmersburg | $13.09 | 264 |
| 82 | Portsmouth | $13.05 | 187 |
| 83 | Clutier | $13.03 | 209 |
| 84 | Lehigh | $12.97 | 395 |
| 85 | Menlo | $12.92 | 347 |
| 86 | Templeton | $12.91 | 337 |
| 87 | Silver City | $12.87 | 244 |
| 88 | Patterson | $12.84 | 176 |
| 89 | Martelle | $12.83 | 250 |
| 90 | Malcom | $12.82 | 257 |
| 91 | Blencoe | $12.57 | 223 |
| 92 | Williams | $12.57 | 299 |
| 93 | Maurice | $12.56 | 271 |
| 94 | Clearfield | $12.50 | 277 |
| 95 | Kensett | $12.47 | 256 |
| 96 | Mccausland | $12.45 | 314 |
| 97 | Spillville | $12.40 | 371 |
| 98 | Modale | $12.34 | 284 |
| 99 | Mingo | $12.31 | 314 |
| 100 | Brandon | $12.29 | 331 |
| 101 | Blakesburg | $12.21 | 273 |
| 102 | Cushing | $12.18 | 225 |
| 103 | Bonaparte | $12.17 | 357 |
| 104 | Hanlontown | $12.17 | 200 |
| 105 | Stout | $12.14 | 194 |
| 106 | Macedonia | $12.12 | 266 |
| 107 | Paton | $12.09 | 217 |
| 108 | Kiron | $12.03 | 262 |
| 109 | Rembrandt | $12.03 | 199 |
| 110 | Colesburg | $11.97 | 379 |
| 111 | Liscomb | $11.96 | 292 |
| 112 | New Providence | $11.88 | 233 |
| 113 | Thornton | $11.86 | 394 |
| 114 | Parnell | $11.78 | 190 |
| 115 | Joice | $11.72 | 206 |
| 116 | Atalissa | $11.71 | 287 |
| 117 | Cantril | $11.69 | 224 |
| 118 | Kelley | $11.69 | 312 |
| 119 | Orient | $11.66 | 363 |
| 120 | Wadena | $11.65 | 201 |
| 121 | Cincinnati | $11.57 | 280 |
| 122 | Delta | $11.52 | 257 |
| 123 | Terril | $11.48 | 310 |
| 124 | Westside | $11.45 | 283 |
| 125 | Holland | $11.37 | 261 |
| 126 | Churdan | $11.31 | 359 |
| 127 | Mallard | $11.28 | 255 |
| 128 | Renwick | $11.16 | 228 |
| 129 | Dundee | $11.14 | 193 |
| 130 | Randolph | $11.08 | 183 |
| 131 | Rake | $11.05 | 179 |
| 132 | Frederika | $10.99 | 206 |
| 133 | Milton | $10.98 | 395 |
| 134 | New Vienna | $10.91 | 384 |
| 135 | Letts | $10.91 | 358 |
| 136 | Goose Lake | $10.89 | 250 |
| 137 | Birmingham | $10.87 | 371 |
| 138 | Charlotte | $10.86 | 386 |
| 139 | Yale | $10.85 | 265 |
| 140 | Hornick | $10.74 | 255 |
| 141 | Woden | $10.68 | 183 |
| 142 | Riverdale | $10.67 | 385 |
| 143 | Bode | $10.64 | 304 |
| 144 | Union | $10.58 | 378 |
| 145 | Cleghorn | $10.49 | 235 |
| 146 | Calamus | $10.47 | 348 |
| 147 | Danbury | $10.43 | 315 |
| 148 | Lytton | $10.38 | 274 |
| 149 | Rhodes | $10.36 | 269 |
| 150 | Dedham | $10.28 | 221 |
| 151 | Deloit | $10.28 | 246 |
| 152 | Protivin | $10.28 | 264 |
| 153 | Andrew | $10.22 | 374 |
| 154 | Royal | $10.20 | 379 |
| 155 | Bronson | $10.14 | 294 |
| 156 | Hancock | $10.13 | 199 |
| 157 | Rudd | $10.13 | 339 |
| 158 | La Motte | $10.09 | 235 |
| 159 | Melvin | $10.05 | 196 |
| 160 | Defiance | $10.05 | 248 |
| 161 | Floyd | $10.02 | 297 |
| 162 | Barnum | $9.96 | 186 |
| 163 | Panama | $9.85 | 234 |
| 164 | Grafton | $9.83 | 212 |
| 165 | Lynnville | $9.68 | 382 |
| 166 | Ionia | $9.65 | 220 |
| 167 | Salix | $9.63 | 303 |
| 168 | Luxemburg | $9.58 | 240 |
| 169 | Rippey | $9.42 | 217 |
| 170 | Farnhamville | $9.18 | 364 |
| 171 | Elberon | $9.16 | 178 |
| 172 | Middletown | $9.16 | 365 |
| 173 | Dixon | $9.03 | 204 |
| 174 | Lester | $8.94 | 309 |
| 175 | Oakville | $8.89 | 198 |
| 176 | Harvey | $8.71 | 242 |
| 177 | Washta | $8.65 | 206 |
| 178 | Ollie | $8.44 | 196 |
| 179 | Thor | $8.38 | 182 |
| 180 | Rowley | $8.31 | 264 |
| 181 | South English | $8.27 | 196 |
| 182 | Boxholm | $8.11 | 177 |
| 183 | Fostoria | $8.10 | 229 |
| 184 | Low Moor | $8.10 | 242 |
| 185 | Bertram | $8.10 | 267 |
| 186 | Nichols | $8.10 | 317 |
| 187 | Laurel | $8.10 | 214 |
| 188 | Lineville | $8.10 | 194 |
| 189 | Luana | $7.98 | 303 |
| 190 | Lockridge | $7.92 | 245 |
| 191 | Grand River | $7.86 | 192 |
| 192 | Pulaski | $7.58 | 259 |
| 193 | Sheldahl | $7.56 | 312 |
| 194 | Fredonia | $7.55 | 227 |
| 195 | Worthington | $7.50 | 374 |
| 196 | Harpers Ferry | $7.49 | 273 |
| 197 | Alvord | $7.41 | 216 |
| 198 | Columbus City | $6.94 | 385 |
| 199 | Donahue | $6.83 | 336 |
| 200 | Packwood | $6.77 | 186 |
| 201 | Libertyville | $6.60 | 278 |
| 202 | Keswick | $6.49 | 238 |
| 203 | Crawfordsville | $6.44 | 278 |
| 204 | Holy Cross | $5.91 | 348 |
| 205 | Oakland Acres | $5.88 | 178 |
| 206 | Conesville | $5.86 | 350 |
| 207 | Maharishi Vedic City | $3.87 | 290 |
| 208 | Wahpeton | $3.19 | 337 |
| 209 | West Okoboji | $2.92 | 311 |
| 210 | Sherrill | $2.66 | 176 |
| 211 | Rickardsville | $2.27 | 204 |
FY27 rates from the Department of Management. A higher rate isn’t always a bigger bill: it depends on how much property there is to tax. Sizes: Census Bureau 2024 estimates.
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 Rowley’s budget goes, FY26
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (209) |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | 33¢ | 21¢ |
| General Government | 26¢ | 18¢ |
| Business Type / Enterprise | 23¢ | 37¢ |
| Public Safety | 14¢ | 9¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 4¢ | 8¢ |
| Everything else | 1¢ | 2¢ |
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 209 Iowa cities closest in size (180–400 people).
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 ($50,000 in FY26), so this total is low.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $66,026 | $66,576 |
| Public Safety | $49,580 | $41,129 |
| Health and Social Services | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| General Government | $37,412 | $36,608 |
| Debt Service | $0 | $0 |
| Culture and Recreation | $17,600 | $16,794 |
| Community and Economic Development | $783 | $783 |
| Capital Projects | $0 | $0 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $19,200 | $30,869 |
What it spent each year
State money
What the state sends the city
Sales tax and property tax credits the state paid the city: up 9% since FY23; down 0% after inflation.
Show the numbers
| Program | FY27 | FY26 | FY25 | FY24 | FY23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local option sales tax | $2,788 | $37,986 | $35,663 | $35,338 | $34,911 |
Elections
Most recent: November 4, 2025
City · 2
2 seats: the top 2 win.
- Kyle Hunter Winner6980.2%
- Emily Ryan Winner1719.8%
- Sue Webster Unopposed73100.0%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Rowley; official results are on each county auditor’s site.
Related places
At the Statehouse and in Congress
Dan Zumbach (Sen. 34)Craig P. Johnson (Rep. 67)
U.S. House:District 2
Districts that cover Rowley; percentages are rough shares of its area. They write the state laws and budget Rowley works within.
City budgets and levies from the Department of Management; budgets are adopted each spring for the year starting July 1. State payments from the Department of Revenue; prices from the consumer price index.