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Local taxes › Buena Vista County › Marathon

City

Marathon

Buena Vista County · How cities work

$3,020 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($35.91 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,250 a yearof that goes to the city ($14.89 per $1,000)
$143,987property taxes the city levies, FY27
$324,389city 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.

  • Dakota YorkMarathon City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Douglas L. EngerMarathon City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Mary BrooksMarathon Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Cassandra YartzMarathon City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Dustin KlattMarathon City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Larry RobinsonMarathon 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 Marathon

Homes and businesses in most of Marathon pay a combined $35.91 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, $14.89. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$35.11$15.69
FY21$35.24$15.60
FY22$35.12$15.66
FY23$35.17$15.60
FY24$37.25$16.67
FY25$36.94$15.90
FY26$37.21$15.70
FY27$35.91$14.89
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$35.11$15.69
FY21$35.24$15.60
FY22$35.12$15.66
FY23$35.17$15.60
FY24$37.25$16.67
FY25$36.94$15.90
FY26$37.21$15.70
FY27$35.91$14.89

Compared with places this size3

Marathon’s city property tax rate of $14.89 per $1,000 is the 37th highest of 193 Iowa cities with 150–330 people. The middle of the group is $11.60.

Fenton: $22.05Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Elliott: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Coin: $19.59Garden Grove: $19.20Fort Atkinson: $19.19Hastings: $18.95Cumberland: $18.42Jamaica: $18.24Hillsboro: $17.68Pisgah: $17.09Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Prescott: $16.53Irwin: $16.46Montour: $16.37Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Granville: $16.00Minburn: $15.75Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Kamrar: $15.47Peterson: $15.27Greeley: $15.23Riverton: $14.94Ladora: $14.74Magnolia: $14.68Bagley: $14.63Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Halbur: $14.37Crystal Lake: $14.36Kimballton: $14.27Steamboat Rock: $14.19Westgate: $14.05Mystic: $14.01Diagonal: $13.91Fertile: $13.70Stockport: $13.68Kellerton: $13.60Quimby: $13.58Meservey: $13.43Persia: $13.41Leland: $13.31Ute: $13.26Harcourt: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Silver City: $12.87Patterson: $12.84Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Blencoe: $12.57Williams: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Clearfield: $12.50Kensett: $12.47Mccausland: $12.45Aurora: $12.40Modale: $12.34Mingo: $12.31Brandon: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Cushing: $12.18Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Macedonia: $12.12Paton: $12.09Decatur: $12.08Kiron: $12.03Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Liscomb: $11.96New Providence: $11.88Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Joice: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Cantril: $11.69Kelley: $11.69Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Cincinnati: $11.57Beaman: $11.54Delta: $11.52Terril: $11.48Westside: $11.45College Springs: $11.44Holland: $11.37Mallard: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Frederika: $10.99Alexander: $10.90Goose Lake: $10.89Yale: $10.85Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Hornick: $10.74Woden: $10.68Bode: $10.64Cleghorn: $10.49Barnes City: $10.44Danbury: $10.43Lytton: $10.38Stockton: $10.37Rhodes: $10.36Randall: $10.35Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $10.28Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24Bronson: $10.14Hancock: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Melvin: $10.05Defiance: $10.05Floyd: $10.02Barnum: $9.96Panama: $9.85Grafton: $9.83Ionia: $9.65Salix: $9.63Van Wert: $9.62Kirkville: $9.59Luxemburg: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Elberon: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Lester: $8.94Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Harvey: $8.71Washta: $8.65Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Rowley: $8.31South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Bertram: $8.10Fostoria: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Nichols: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Luana: $7.98Lockridge: $7.92Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86Lidderdale: $7.68Pulaski: $7.58Sheldahl: $7.56Fredonia: $7.55Harpers Ferry: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Packwood: $6.77Libertyville: $6.60Keswick: $6.49Crawfordsville: $6.44Gravity: $6.18Oakland Acres: $5.88Maysville: $5.77Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87West Okoboji: $2.92Sherrill: $2.66Rickardsville: $2.27Marathon: $14.89$2.27 lowest$22.05 highestmiddle
See all 193
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Fenton$22.05250
2Soldier$21.92176
3Coulter$21.80220
4Chelsea$21.61207
5Elliott$21.61328
6Smithland$21.12184
7Volga$20.23200
8Alta Vista$19.88219
9Arthur$19.86218
10Coin$19.59171
11Garden Grove$19.20173
12Fort Atkinson$19.19300
13Hastings$18.95157
14Cumberland$18.42248
15Jamaica$18.24196
16Hillsboro$17.68158
17Pisgah$17.09248
18Lakota$16.84261
19Marble Rock$16.78258
20Auburn$16.65253
21Prescott$16.53186
22Irwin$16.46320
23Montour$16.37199
24Corwith$16.22259
25Deep River$16.18243
26Waucoma$16.17235
27Granville$16.00302
28Minburn$15.75317
29Little Sioux$15.74170
30Moorhead$15.68186
31Onslow$15.63198
32Linden$15.62206
33Kamrar$15.47178
34Peterson$15.27321
35Greeley$15.23216
36Riverton$14.94243
37Marathon$14.89221
38Ladora$14.74223
39Magnolia$14.68194
40Bagley$14.63230
41Davis City$14.45178
42Lucas$14.40176
43Halbur$14.37268
44Crystal Lake$14.36243
45Kimballton$14.27281
46Steamboat Rock$14.19261
47Westgate$14.05190
48Mystic$14.01318
49Diagonal$13.91331
50Fertile$13.70300
51Stockport$13.68272
52Kellerton$13.60241
53Quimby$13.58245
54Meservey$13.43212
55Persia$13.41292
56Leland$13.31240
57Ute$13.26326
58Harcourt$13.21257
59Bennett$13.16330
60Ridgeway$13.10261
61Farmersburg$13.09264
62Portsmouth$13.05187
63Clutier$13.03209
64Silver City$12.87244
65Patterson$12.84176
66Martelle$12.83250
67Malcom$12.82257
68Blencoe$12.57223
69Williams$12.57299
70Maurice$12.56271
71Clearfield$12.50277
72Kensett$12.47256
73Mccausland$12.45314
74Aurora$12.40165
75Modale$12.34284
76Mingo$12.31314
77Brandon$12.29331
78Blakesburg$12.21273
79Cushing$12.18225
80Hanlontown$12.17200
81Stout$12.14194
82Macedonia$12.12266
83Paton$12.09217
84Decatur$12.08174
85Kiron$12.03262
86Rembrandt$12.03199
87Shambaugh$11.98161
88Liscomb$11.96292
89New Providence$11.88233
90Parnell$11.78190
91Reasnor$11.76157
92Joice$11.72206
93Atalissa$11.71287
94Cantril$11.69224
95Kelley$11.69312
96Wadena$11.65201
97Exline$11.60157
98Cincinnati$11.57280
99Beaman$11.54155
100Delta$11.52257
101Terril$11.48310
102Westside$11.45283
103College Springs$11.44172
104Holland$11.37261
105Mallard$11.28255
106Renwick$11.16228
107Linn Grove$11.15155
108Dundee$11.14193
109Randolph$11.08183
110Leighton$11.07153
111Rake$11.05179
112Frederika$10.99206
113Alexander$10.90165
114Goose Lake$10.89250
115Yale$10.85265
116Lambs Grove$10.78174
117Wallingford$10.75154
118Hornick$10.74255
119Woden$10.68183
120Bode$10.64304
121Cleghorn$10.49235
122Barnes City$10.44152
123Danbury$10.43315
124Lytton$10.38274
125Stockton$10.37171
126Rhodes$10.36269
127Randall$10.35156
128Dedham$10.28221
129Deloit$10.28246
130Protivin$10.28264
131Meriden$10.28175
132Drakesville$10.24170
133Bronson$10.14294
134Hancock$10.13199
135La Motte$10.09235
136Melvin$10.05196
137Defiance$10.05248
138Floyd$10.02297
139Barnum$9.96186
140Panama$9.85234
141Grafton$9.83212
142Ionia$9.65220
143Salix$9.63303
144Van Wert$9.62175
145Kirkville$9.59159
146Luxemburg$9.58240
147Rippey$9.42217
148Elberon$9.16178
149Dixon$9.03204
150Lester$8.94309
151Blairsburg$8.93175
152Prairieburg$8.91156
153Oakville$8.89198
154Harvey$8.71242
155Washta$8.65206
156Moorland$8.61169
157Pilot Mound$8.54155
158Ollie$8.44196
159Thor$8.38182
160Rowley$8.31264
161South English$8.27196
162Thurman$8.26162
163Boxholm$8.11177
164Bertram$8.10267
165Fostoria$8.10229
166Low Moor$8.10242
167Nichols$8.10317
168Laurel$8.10214
169Lineville$8.10194
170Luana$7.98303
171Lockridge$7.92245
172Mount Auburn$7.86162
173Haverhill$7.86164
174Grand River$7.86192
175Olds$7.86174
176Rose Hill$7.86156
177Lidderdale$7.68162
178Pulaski$7.58259
179Sheldahl$7.56312
180Fredonia$7.55227
181Harpers Ferry$7.49273
182Alvord$7.41216
183Packwood$6.77186
184Libertyville$6.60278
185Keswick$6.49238
186Crawfordsville$6.44278
187Gravity$6.18149
188Oakland Acres$5.88178
189Maysville$5.77155
190Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
191West Okoboji$2.92311
192Sherrill$2.66176
193Rickardsville$2.27204

The $8.10 limit

Marathon’s general levy is $8.10 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, at the limit.4 371 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.26 · FY26 $8.26 · FY27 $8.10 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $6.79 more5

  • Debt Service Levy$2.93 · $28,121
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$2.35 · $22,561
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.51 · $14,461
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$0.01 · $99

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$77,77654%
  • Debt Service Levy$28,12120%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$22,56116%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$14,46110%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$990%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Marathon’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 60¢ of every dollar60¢Public Works: 18¢ of every dollar18¢General Government: 8¢ of every dollar8¢Public Safety: 6¢ of every dollarCulture and Recreation: 5¢ of every dollarEverything else: 4¢ 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 191 Iowa cities closest in size (150–330 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (191)
Business Type / Enterprise60¢35¢
Public Works18¢21¢
General Government8¢20¢
Public Safety6¢10¢
Culture and Recreation5¢8¢
Everything else4¢4¢

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$104,99532%
  • General Government$68,37921%
  • Culture and Recreation$59,52018%
  • Public Safety$58,10018%
  • Debt Service$28,3959%
  • Community and Economic Development$3,5001%
  • Health and Social Services$1,5000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($527,591 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$93,950$108,197
Public Safety$47,340$56,516
Health and Social Services$2,050$1,045
General Government$50,040$45,412
Debt Service$28,395$28,394
Culture and Recreation$46,320$46,031
Community and Economic Development$160,500$84
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$3.2M$2.0M

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$2.3M
$1.4M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Marathon owes

$932,091 at June 30, 2026: $4,053 per resident. 174th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$1.1M
$932,091
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$932,091$4,053
2025$974,885$4,239
2024$1.0M$4,418
2023$1.1M$4,584
2022$121,270$527
2021$142,037$618
2020$222,595$968
2019$256,877$1,117
2018$289,742$1,260
2017$320,622$1,394
2016$349,967$1,522
2015$398,832$1,734
2014$445,321$1,936
2013$487,612$2,120
2012$531,399$2,310
2011$539,524$2,346
2010$575,190$2,501
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$932,091$4,053
2025$974,885$4,239
2024$1.0M$4,418
2023$1.1M$4,584
2022$121,270$527
2021$142,037$618
2020$222,595$968
2019$256,877$1,117
2018$289,742$1,260
2017$320,622$1,394
2016$349,967$1,522
2015$398,832$1,734
2014$445,321$1,936
2013$487,612$2,120
2012$531,399$2,310
2011$539,524$2,346
2010$575,190$2,501

Up 62% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $26,446, 4% of the limit of about $717,770 (5% of $14.4M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

3 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsUSDA SEWER LAGOON R22043$496,263
Revenue BondsUSDA LOAN SEWER LAGOON R12043$409,382
General ObligationMarathon Community Center Library, City Hall, Fire Dept and First Responders Building2027$26,446

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. Marathon’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Saturday, March 31, 2018 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Saturday, March 31, 2018 (PDF), released Wednesday, November 21, 2018, by a CPA firm.

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: $35,792 in FY25, up 17% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 6% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$22,835$22,580$23,175$23,301
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$6,674$14,633$12,648$12,491

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.

$14,979
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$848
    FY20$883
    FY21$14,979
    FY22$806
    FY23$3,453
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$848
    FY20$883
    FY21$14,979
    FY22$806
    FY23$3,453
    FY24$0
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−15%$21,869 → $23,301, up 7% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 15% less
    • Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)+15%$8,640 → $12,491, up 45% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 15% 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 8% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 14% less.

    $41,987
    $37,953

    Federal grants, for comparison: $718,364 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

    2 seats: the top 2 win.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Marathon; 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.

    • Marathon City Council At-Large (3 seats)
      Now held by Dustin Klatt, Cassandra Yartz, Larry Robinson
    • Marathon Mayor
      Now held by Mary Brooks

    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 CountyLaurens-Marathon schools