Local taxes › Buena Vista County › Lakeside

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Lakeside

Buena Vista County · How cities work

$3,170 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($37.66 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$680 a yearof that goes to the city ($8.10 per $1,000)
$270,930property taxes the city levies, FY27
$780,064city 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.

  • Charlie LarsonLakeside City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Diane FulcherLakeside City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Steve BrashearsLakeside City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Troy MaylandLakeside Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Douglas WhiteLakeside City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Jared EggersLakeside 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 Lakeside

Homes and businesses in most of Lakeside pay a combined $37.66 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Buena Vista County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $8.10. Estimate your bill.

  • Storm Lake schools$19.1051%
  • City of Lakeside$8.1022%
  • Buena Vista County$7.3620%
  • Iowa Central Community College$1.574%
  • Buena Vista County Assessor$0.602%
  • Buena Vista Regional Medical Center$0.421%
  • Hayes-Storm Lake Cemetery$0.32<1%
  • Buena Vista County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.19<1%

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$32.72$8.10
FY21$35.15$8.10
FY22$34.91$8.10
FY23$34.25$7.59
FY24$35.54$7.84
FY25$35.21$7.61
FY26$36.58$7.54
FY27$37.66$8.10
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$32.72$8.10
FY21$35.15$8.10
FY22$34.91$8.10
FY23$34.25$7.59
FY24$35.54$7.84
FY25$35.21$7.61
FY26$36.58$7.54
FY27$37.66$8.10

Compared with places this size3

Lakeside’s city property tax rate of $8.10 per $1,000 is the 18th lowest of 186 Iowa cities with 470–1,000 people. The middle of the group is $12.95.

Exira: $24.81Rolfe: $22.67Dayton: $22.51Charter Oak: $21.32Correctionville: $19.84Pomeroy: $19.60Allison: $19.06Dumont: $19.04Seymour: $18.78Dexter: $18.69Fonda: $18.52Kanawha: $18.11Swea City: $18.04Greene: $17.91Alden: $17.90Elma: $17.82Dows: $17.70New Hartford: $17.69Lansing: $17.67Walnut: $17.46Murray: $17.44Thompson: $17.25Gowrie: $17.17Colo: $17.14Latimer: $16.96Adair: $16.84Eddyville: $16.82Elk Horn: $16.78Oxford: $16.70Buffalo Center: $16.58Whittemore: $16.54Bancroft: $16.52Titonka: $16.45Eldon: $16.42Early: $16.35Truro: $16.34Mechanicsville: $16.12Scranton: $16.01Armstrong: $15.87Ruthven: $15.84Minden: $15.77Walker: $15.74Newell: $15.49Riceville: $15.31Neola: $15.30Russell: $15.18Gilbertville: $15.15Stanwood: $15.12Stratford: $15.03Griswold: $15.01Zearing: $14.99Readlyn: $14.99Maynard: $14.85Wyoming: $14.81Humeston: $14.80Hopkinton: $14.79Essex: $14.76Gilmore City: $14.60Dunlap: $14.56Garnavillo: $14.52Maxwell: $14.50Sabula: $14.38Collins: $14.32Clermont: $14.30Moulton: $14.25Mcgregor: $14.20Olin: $14.19Primghar: $14.18Garwin: $14.08Farragut: $14.07Elgin: $14.05Lime Springs: $13.95Dow City: $13.94Ossian: $13.88Redfield: $13.73Victor: $13.72Edgewood: $13.64Sioux Rapids: $13.63Donnellson: $13.63Gladbrook: $13.58Rockford: $13.52Boyden: $13.39Baxter: $13.32Anita: $13.28Van Horne: $13.27Keota: $13.21Shellsburg: $13.20De Soto: $13.18Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Anthon: $13.05Odebolt: $13.00Coggon: $12.99Earlville: $12.90Brighton: $12.88Danville: $12.87Underwood: $12.85Montrose: $12.78Goldfield: $12.73Wellsburg: $12.68Delmar: $12.68Badger: $12.67Stanton: $12.62Hospers: $12.58Everly: $12.51Hazleton: $12.48West Point: $12.39Hinton: $12.38Preston: $12.38Alburnett: $12.30Hubbard: $12.30Moravia: $12.27Hedrick: $12.22Carson: $12.22Wheatland: $12.18Schaller: $12.14Winfield: $12.04Afton: $11.96Lowden: $11.93Tabor: $11.88Albert City: $11.88Aurelia: $11.84Runnells: $11.79Merrill: $11.64Ellsworth: $11.57Morning Sun: $11.50Battle Creek: $11.49Wall Lake: $11.43West Bend: $11.42Dakota City: $11.39Dunkerton: $11.30Sutherland: $11.25Arcadia: $11.23Whiting: $11.21Shelby: $11.17Blairstown: $11.04Manilla: $11.01Hamburg: $10.95Clarence: $10.94Ireton: $10.93Fontanelle: $10.88Richland: $10.82Grand Mound: $10.78Cambridge: $10.53Swisher: $10.39Schleswig: $10.39Melbourne: $10.38Radcliffe: $10.37Fredericksburg: $10.27Ventura: $10.22Inwood: $10.22Milo: $10.20Hartford: $10.16What Cheer: $10.01Newhall: $9.99Cumming: $9.85Graettinger: $9.81Breda: $9.80Doon: $9.78Long Grove: $9.59Paullina: $9.21Winthrop: $8.94Crescent: $8.72Ainsworth: $8.62Keosauqua: $8.58Grand Junction: $8.57Princeton: $8.24Gilman: $8.10Kellogg: $8.10Agency: $7.94Hills: $7.94Fremont: $7.86Larchwood: $7.52North English: $7.49Sully: $7.41Fruitland: $7.21Lawton: $7.10Wayland: $7.07Raymond: $6.85Keystone: $6.80Shueyville: $6.79New Virginia: $5.97University Park: $5.27Orleans: $4.13Okoboji: $3.83Lakeside: $8.10$3.83 lowest$24.81 highestmiddle
See all 186
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Exira$24.81766
2Rolfe$22.67505
3Dayton$22.51766
4Charter Oak$21.32521
5Correctionville$19.84759
6Pomeroy$19.60511
7Allison$19.06937
8Dumont$19.04614
9Seymour$18.78646
10Dexter$18.69631
11Fonda$18.52636
12Kanawha$18.11638
13Swea City$18.04545
14Greene$17.91971
15Alden$17.90738
16Elma$17.82493
17Dows$17.70509
18New Hartford$17.69555
19Lansing$17.67959
20Walnut$17.46728
21Murray$17.44609
22Thompson$17.25478
23Gowrie$17.17943
24Colo$17.14856
25Latimer$16.96477
26Adair$16.84792
27Eddyville$16.82965
28Elk Horn$16.78631
29Oxford$16.70715
30Buffalo Center$16.58839
31Whittemore$16.54478
32Bancroft$16.52677
33Titonka$16.45491
34Eldon$16.42788
35Early$16.35571
36Truro$16.34515
37Mechanicsville$16.12974
38Scranton$16.01496
39Armstrong$15.87847
40Ruthven$15.84710
41Minden$15.77581
42Walker$15.74671
43Newell$15.49850
44Riceville$15.31807
45Neola$15.30917
46Russell$15.18475
47Gilbertville$15.15792
48Stanwood$15.12612
49Stratford$15.03688
50Griswold$15.01975
51Zearing$14.99508
52Readlyn$14.99857
53Maynard$14.85466
54Wyoming$14.81526
55Humeston$14.80472
56Hopkinton$14.79622
57Essex$14.76721
58Gilmore City$14.60484
59Dunlap$14.561,030
60Garnavillo$14.52751
61Maxwell$14.50862
62Sabula$14.38498
63Collins$14.32503
64Clermont$14.30571
65Moulton$14.25596
66Mcgregor$14.20725
67Olin$14.19652
68Primghar$14.18893
69Garwin$14.08469
70Farragut$14.07480
71Elgin$14.05676
72Lime Springs$13.95467
73Dow City$13.94477
74Ossian$13.88777
75Redfield$13.73719
76Victor$13.72852
77Edgewood$13.64908
78Sioux Rapids$13.63722
79Donnellson$13.63859
80Gladbrook$13.58775
81Rockford$13.52722
82Boyden$13.39694
83Baxter$13.32983
84Anita$13.28953
85Van Horne$13.27768
86Keota$13.21888
87Shellsburg$13.20987
88De Soto$13.18937
89Quasqueton$13.12587
90Farmington$13.10583
91Anthon$13.05534
92Odebolt$13.00967
93Coggon$12.99691
94Earlville$12.90713
95Brighton$12.88592
96Danville$12.87910
97Underwood$12.85973
98Montrose$12.78734
99Goldfield$12.73617
100Wellsburg$12.68709
101Delmar$12.68541
102Badger$12.67540
103Stanton$12.62664
104Hospers$12.58703
105Everly$12.51570
106Hazleton$12.48711
107West Point$12.39903
108Hinton$12.38959
109Preston$12.38940
110Alburnett$12.30672
111Hubbard$12.30837
112Moravia$12.27625
113Hedrick$12.22717
114Carson$12.22772
115Wheatland$12.18765
116Schaller$12.14702
117Winfield$12.041,006
118Afton$11.96864
119Lowden$11.93767
120Tabor$11.88983
121Albert City$11.88627
122Aurelia$11.84970
123Runnells$11.79467
124Merrill$11.64713
125Ellsworth$11.57495
126Morning Sun$11.50702
127Battle Creek$11.49683
128Wall Lake$11.43739
129West Bend$11.42770
130Dakota City$11.39764
131Dunkerton$11.30840
132Sutherland$11.25628
133Arcadia$11.23588
134Whiting$11.21725
135Shelby$11.17730
136Blairstown$11.04705
137Manilla$11.01756
138Hamburg$10.95863
139Clarence$10.94991
140Ireton$10.93571
141Fontanelle$10.88684
142Richland$10.82532
143Grand Mound$10.78608
144Cambridge$10.53844
145Swisher$10.39909
146Schleswig$10.39820
147Melbourne$10.38771
148Radcliffe$10.37540
149Fredericksburg$10.27983
150Ventura$10.22701
151Inwood$10.22962
152Milo$10.20762
153Hartford$10.16729
154What Cheer$10.01595
155Newhall$9.99887
156Cumming$9.85527
157Graettinger$9.81810
158Breda$9.80492
159Doon$9.78640
160Long Grove$9.59849
161Paullina$9.21979
162Winthrop$8.94814
163Crescent$8.72626
164Ainsworth$8.62511
165Keosauqua$8.58944
166Grand Junction$8.57715
167Princeton$8.24917
168Gilman$8.10530
169Lakeside$8.10695
170Kellogg$8.10597
171Agency$7.94623
172Hills$7.94911
173Fremont$7.86688
174Larchwood$7.52954
175North English$7.491,030
176Sully$7.41891
177Fruitland$7.21928
178Lawton$7.10949
179Wayland$7.07935
180Raymond$6.85754
181Keystone$6.80616
182Shueyville$6.79725
183New Virginia$5.97499
184University Park$5.27476
185Orleans$4.13503
186Okoboji$3.83729

The $8.10 limit

Lakeside’s general levy is $8.10 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, at the limit.4 247 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $7.59 · FY24 $7.84 · FY25 $7.61 · FY26 $7.54 · FY27 $8.10 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

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$270,930100%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Lakeside’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 48¢ of every dollar48¢Public Works: 23¢ of every dollar23¢General Government: 13¢ of every dollar13¢Culture and Recreation: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Public Safety: 7¢ 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 185 Iowa cities closest in size (470–1,000 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (185)
Business Type / Enterprise48¢41¢
Public Works23¢17¢
General Government13¢11¢
Culture and Recreation9¢9¢
Public Safety7¢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.

  • Capital Projects$260,00033%
  • Public Works$196,32325%
  • General Government$192,81525%
  • Public Safety$74,55610%
  • Culture and Recreation$55,4007%
  • Community and Economic Development$7200%
  • Health and Social Services$2500%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($534,732 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$229,181$213,737
Public Safety$43,425$50,226
Health and Social Services$600$250
General Government$139,214$120,749
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$29,556$31,547
Community and Economic Development$0$0
Capital Projects$51,339$51,511
Business Type / Enterprise$361,302$463,161

What it spent each year

FY24 left out5

$984,364
$833,941

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Lakeside owes

$428,000 at June 30, 2026: $611 per resident. 622nd most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).6

$878,000
$428,000
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$428,000$611
2025$496,000$709
2024$529,000$756
2023$529,000$756
2022$561,000$801
2021$593,000$847
2020$624,000$891
2019$685,857$980
2018$721,857$1,031
2017$878,000$1,254
2016$0$0
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$428,000$611
2025$496,000$709
2024$529,000$756
2023$529,000$756
2022$561,000$801
2021$593,000$847
2020$624,000$891
2019$685,857$980
2018$721,857$1,031
2017$878,000$1,254
2016$0$0
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0

Down 51% since 2017.

The 5% limit7

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $3.7M (5% of $73.9M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

1 obligation at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
LoansNEW SEWER LIFT STATION2037$428,000

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 balances8. Lakeside’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Tuesday, March 31, 2026, by a CPA firm.

1 earlier report for Lakeside

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: $93,412 in FY25, up 4% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 17% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$96,714$90,960$92,908$93,412
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)–$262$661–

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.

$17,677
$1,526
  • Other$1,526100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$0
FY20$0
FY21$17,677
FY22$2,108
FY23$0
FY24$0
FY25$1,526
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$0
FY20$0
FY21$17,677
FY22$2,108
FY23$0
FY24$0
FY25$1,526

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−17%$90,171 → $93,412, up 4% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 17% 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 54% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 22% more.

$110,647
$98,842

Federal grants, for comparison: $51,511 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)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 Lakeside; 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.

  • Lakeside City Council At-Large (2 seats)
    Now held by Jared Eggers, Douglas White
  • Lakeside Mayor
    Now held by Troy Mayland

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.

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