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Local taxes › Buena Vista County › Linn Grove

City

Linn Grove

Buena Vista County · How cities work

$2,780 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($33.06 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$940 a yearof that goes to the city ($11.15 per $1,000)
$58,078property taxes the city levies, FY27
$152,900city 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.

  • Aaron AndersonLinn Grove Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Denny GraesingLinn Grove City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Eugene JohnsonLinn Grove City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jud GraesingLinn Grove City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Steven C. JessenLinn Grove City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Wade WithersLinn Grove City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Steven JessenLinn Grove 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 Linn Grove

Homes and businesses in most of Linn Grove pay a combined $33.06 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, $11.15. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$29.11$8.65
FY21$30.54$9.51
FY22$30.52$9.38
FY23$32.67$11.54
FY24$33.53$11.63
FY25$31.26$9.27
FY26$31.50$9.26
FY27$33.06$11.15
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$29.11$8.65
FY21$30.54$9.51
FY22$30.52$9.38
FY23$32.67$11.54
FY24$33.53$11.63
FY25$31.26$9.27
FY26$31.50$9.26
FY27$33.06$11.15

Compared with places this size3

Linn Grove’s city property tax rate of $11.15 per $1,000 is the 81st highest of 180 Iowa cities with 100–230 people. The middle of the group is $10.76.

Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Coin: $19.59Rowan: $19.53Chester: $19.30Bouton: $19.25Ricketts: $19.22Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Jamaica: $18.24Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Prescott: $16.53Monmouth: $16.41Blockton: $16.37Montour: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Waterville: $16.25Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Woodburn: $15.59Kamrar: $15.47Greeley: $15.23Goodell: $15.16Marne: $15.03Marathon: $14.89Ladora: $14.74Magnolia: $14.68Bagley: $14.63Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Lanesboro: $13.53Meservey: $13.43Calumet: $13.16Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Clemons: $12.69Blencoe: $12.57Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Bridgewater: $12.29Cushing: $12.18Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Webb: $12.10Paton: $12.09Decatur: $12.08Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92East Peru: $11.89Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Ledyard: $11.74Joice: $11.72Cantril: $11.69Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54College Springs: $11.44Melrose: $11.27Renwick: $11.16Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Somers: $10.99Frederika: $10.99Havelock: $10.95Alexander: $10.90Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Woden: $10.68Barnes City: $10.44Stockton: $10.37Randall: $10.35Dedham: $10.28Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24North Washington: $10.23Dawson: $10.19Hancock: $10.13Melvin: $10.05Barnum: $9.96Grafton: $9.83Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Ionia: $9.65Rutland: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Superior: $9.58Martinsburg: $9.49Rippey: $9.42Larrabee: $9.41Hamilton: $9.35Floris: $9.29Mitchell: $9.22Westphalia: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Welton: $8.86Archer: $8.84Luther: $8.83Fraser: $8.81Washta: $8.65Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Andover: $8.28South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Fostoria: $8.10Rome: $8.10Westfield: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Cromwell: $7.81Mcclelland: $7.79Luzerne: $7.69Lidderdale: $7.68Bernard: $7.56Fredonia: $7.55Braddyville: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Franklin: $7.31Weldon: $7.18Brunsville: $6.95Packwood: $6.77Houghton: $6.73Williamson: $6.72Lincoln: $6.32Gravity: $6.18Ackworth: $5.90Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Harper: $5.29Panorama Park: $4.62Keomah Village: $3.15Mcintire: $2.78Sherrill: $2.66Centralia: $2.41Rickardsville: $2.27New Liberty: $2.27North Buena Vista: $1.78Linn Grove: $11.15$1.78 lowest$25.07 highestmiddle
See all 180
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Brayton$25.07138
2Harris$23.13145
3Soldier$21.92176
4Coulter$21.80220
5Chelsea$21.61207
6Smithland$21.12184
7Volga$20.23200
8Alta Vista$19.88219
9Arthur$19.86218
10Coin$19.59171
11Rowan$19.53118
12Chester$19.30134
13Bouton$19.25125
14Ricketts$19.22105
15Garden Grove$19.20173
16Hastings$18.95157
17Swaledale$18.62136
18Jamaica$18.24196
19Hillsboro$17.68158
20Bristow$17.39139
21Woolstock$17.26141
22Prescott$16.53186
23Monmouth$16.41129
24Blockton$16.37123
25Montour$16.37199
26Geneva$16.25137
27Waterville$16.25112
28Little Sioux$15.74170
29Moorhead$15.68186
30Onslow$15.63198
31Linden$15.62206
32Woodburn$15.59133
33Kamrar$15.47178
34Greeley$15.23216
35Goodell$15.16139
36Marne$15.03109
37Marathon$14.89221
38Ladora$14.74223
39Magnolia$14.68194
40Bagley$14.63230
41Davis City$14.45178
42Lucas$14.40176
43Westgate$14.05190
44Palmer$13.89137
45Ayrshire$13.55128
46Searsboro$13.55129
47Lanesboro$13.53112
48Meservey$13.43212
49Calumet$13.16144
50Portsmouth$13.05187
51Clutier$13.03209
52Delaware$12.86139
53Patterson$12.84176
54Clemons$12.69135
55Blencoe$12.57223
56Millersburg$12.40135
57Aurora$12.40165
58Bridgewater$12.29145
59Cushing$12.18225
60Hanlontown$12.17200
61Stout$12.14194
62Webb$12.10139
63Paton$12.09217
64Decatur$12.08174
65Rembrandt$12.03199
66Shambaugh$11.98161
67Lone Rock$11.92143
68East Peru$11.89119
69Henderson$11.85140
70Parnell$11.78190
71Reasnor$11.76157
72Ledyard$11.74118
73Joice$11.72206
74Cantril$11.69224
75Wadena$11.65201
76Exline$11.60157
77Beaman$11.54155
78College Springs$11.44172
79Melrose$11.27110
80Renwick$11.16228
81Linn Grove$11.15155
82Dundee$11.14193
83Randolph$11.08183
84Leighton$11.07153
85Rake$11.05179
86Somers$10.99121
87Frederika$10.99206
88Havelock$10.95127
89Alexander$10.90165
90Lambs Grove$10.78174
91Wallingford$10.75154
92Woden$10.68183
93Barnes City$10.44152
94Stockton$10.37171
95Randall$10.35156
96Dedham$10.28221
97Meriden$10.28175
98Drakesville$10.24170
99North Washington$10.23107
100Dawson$10.19110
101Hancock$10.13199
102Melvin$10.05196
103Barnum$9.96186
104Grafton$9.83212
105Clare$9.81133
106Tingley$9.81146
107Ionia$9.65220
108Rutland$9.65116
109Van Wert$9.62175
110Rock Falls$9.61143
111Kirkville$9.59159
112Superior$9.58127
113Martinsburg$9.49109
114Rippey$9.42217
115Larrabee$9.41116
116Hamilton$9.35125
117Floris$9.29119
118Mitchell$9.22118
119Westphalia$9.18133
120Elberon$9.16178
121Dixon$9.03204
122Blairsburg$8.93175
123Prairieburg$8.91156
124Oakville$8.89198
125Welton$8.86124
126Archer$8.84116
127Luther$8.83147
128Fraser$8.81107
129Washta$8.65206
130Moorland$8.61169
131Pilot Mound$8.54155
132Ollie$8.44196
133Thor$8.38182
134Andover$8.28106
135South English$8.27196
136Thurman$8.26162
137Boxholm$8.11177
138Fostoria$8.10229
139Rome$8.10112
140Westfield$8.10121
141Laurel$8.10214
142Lineville$8.10194
143Vincent$8.09125
144Mount Auburn$7.86162
145Haverhill$7.86164
146Grand River$7.86192
147Olds$7.86174
148Castalia$7.86141
149Dickens$7.86146
150Rose Hill$7.86156
151West Chester$7.82147
152Cromwell$7.81104
153Mcclelland$7.79147
154Luzerne$7.69111
155Lidderdale$7.68162
156Bernard$7.56117
157Fredonia$7.55227
158Braddyville$7.49142
159Alvord$7.41216
160Franklin$7.31133
161Weldon$7.18134
162Brunsville$6.95128
163Packwood$6.77186
164Houghton$6.73129
165Williamson$6.72126
166Lincoln$6.32119
167Gravity$6.18149
168Ackworth$5.90117
169Oakland Acres$5.88178
170Springbrook$5.79145
171Maysville$5.77155
172Harper$5.29117
173Panorama Park$4.62142
174Keomah Village$3.15107
175Mcintire$2.78115
176Sherrill$2.66176
177Centralia$2.41117
178Rickardsville$2.27204
179New Liberty$2.27141
180North Buena Vista$1.78107

The $8.10 limit

Linn Grove’s general levy is $8.13 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.03 above the limit; it has to come down in steps.4 196 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.13 · FY26 $8.13 · FY27 $8.13 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $3.02 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.88 · $9,740
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.13 · $5,844
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$0.02 · $97

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$42,13973%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$9,74017%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$5,84410%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$970%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Linn Grove’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 95¢ of every dollar95¢General Government: 2¢ of every dollarPublic Works: 2¢ of every dollarCulture and Recreation: 1¢ of every dollarPublic Safety: <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 (100–230 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (180)
Business Type / Enterprise95¢28¢
General Government2¢23¢
Public Works2¢25¢
Culture and Recreation1¢8¢
Public Safety<1¢9¢

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.

  • General Government$54,50036%
  • Culture and Recreation$51,20033%
  • Public Works$37,75025%
  • Public Safety$9,4506%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($2.0M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$38,000$42,657
Public Safety$7,125$7,245
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$42,000$39,032
Debt Service$0$15,492
Culture and Recreation$25,250$16,978
Community and Economic Development$0$0
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$360,492$45,039

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$1.1M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Linn Grove owes

$1.3M at June 30, 2026: $7,766 per resident. 43rd most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$1.3M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$1.3M$7,766
2025$994,000$6,098
2024$15,492$95
2023$29,429$181
2022$43,402$266
2021$56,902$349
2020$69,945$429
2019$82,547$506
2018$94,724$581
2017$106,488$653
2016$117,855$723
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$1.3M$7,766
2025$994,000$6,098
2024$15,492$95
2023$29,429$181
2022$43,402$266
2021$56,902$349
2020$69,945$429
2019$82,547$506
2018$94,724$581
2017$106,488$653
2016$117,855$723
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0

Up 974% since 2016.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $497,539 (5% of $10.0M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

2 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
LoansWater Revenue Loan Agreement for planning, design, construction of improvements and extensions to city water main system2065$986,011
LoansWater Revenue Loan Agreement for planning, design, construction of improvements and extensions to city water main system2065$279,915

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 balances9. Linn Grove’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Friday, March 31, 2017 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Friday, March 31, 2017 (PDF), released Wednesday, September 27, 2017, by the Auditor of State.

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? 11

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: $19,272 in FY25, up 6% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 16% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$18,523$18,670$19,168$19,272
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)––––

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.

$8,834
$839
  • State grants$839100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$400
FY20$556
FY21$4,023
FY22$8,733
FY23$8,834
FY24$822
FY25$839
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$400
FY20$556
FY21$4,023
FY22$8,733
FY23$8,834
FY24$822
FY25$839

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−7%$16,519 → $19,272, up 17% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 7% 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 26% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 0% more.

$25,655
$22,918

Federal grants, for comparison: $137,600 in FY25.

Business awards

Every award statewide

Elections

Running for mayor and city council

Filing opens Monday, August 23, 2027: in 284 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)12.

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

5 seats: the top 5 win.

1 more →

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Linn Grove; 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.

  • Linn Grove City Council At-Large (5 seats)
    Now held by Steven Jessen, Eugene Johnson, Jud Graesing, Denny Graesing, Wade Withers
  • Linn Grove Mayor
    Now held by Aaron Anderson

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here13.

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 ballot14.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress15

Lynn Evans (Sen. 3)Megan Jones (Rep. 6)

U.S. House:District 4

Buena Vista CountySioux Central schools