Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Carson W. FreeseDumont Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Lukas SmithDumont City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Marty G. EvansDumont City Council At-Large- To Fill Vacancy · elected November 4, 2025
- Michael DayDumont City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Michael DayDumont City Council At-Large- To Fill Vacancy · elected November 4, 2025
- Dennis BurkettDumont City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Tyler SwartDumont City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Wayne PechaDumont 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 Dumont
Homes and businesses in most of Dumont pay a combined $38.66 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Butler County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $19.04. Estimate your bill.
- City of Dumont$19.0449%
- Hampton-Dumont schools$11.1829%
- Butler County$6.2816%
- North Iowa Area Community College$1.243%
- Butler County Assessor$0.672%
- Butler County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.25<1%
Rates over time
Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Dumont pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $36.48 | $15.16 |
| FY21 | $37.74 | $15.68 |
| FY22 | $38.70 | $16.46 |
| FY23 | $38.05 | $16.19 |
| FY24 | $40.09 | $17.70 |
| FY25 | $38.95 | $17.50 |
| FY26 | $43.45 | $22.91 |
| FY27 | $38.66 | $19.04 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $36.48 | $15.16 |
| FY21 | $37.74 | $15.68 |
| FY22 | $38.70 | $16.46 |
| FY23 | $38.05 | $16.19 |
| FY24 | $40.09 | $17.70 |
| FY25 | $38.95 | $17.50 |
| FY26 | $43.45 | $22.91 |
| FY27 | $38.66 | $19.04 |
Compared with places this size3
Dumont’s city property tax rate of $19.04 per $1,000 is the 8th highest of 181 Iowa cities with 410–920 people. The middle of the group is $12.88.
See all 181
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exira | $24.81 | 766 |
| 2 | Rolfe | $22.67 | 505 |
| 3 | Dayton | $22.51 | 766 |
| 4 | Charter Oak | $21.32 | 521 |
| 5 | Oxford Junction | $20.84 | 424 |
| 6 | Correctionville | $19.84 | 759 |
| 7 | Pomeroy | $19.60 | 511 |
| 8 | Dumont | $19.04 | 614 |
| 9 | Seymour | $18.78 | 646 |
| 10 | Dexter | $18.69 | 631 |
| 11 | Fonda | $18.52 | 636 |
| 12 | Kanawha | $18.11 | 638 |
| 13 | Swea City | $18.04 | 545 |
| 14 | Alden | $17.90 | 738 |
| 15 | Elma | $17.82 | 493 |
| 16 | Dows | $17.70 | 509 |
| 17 | New Hartford | $17.69 | 555 |
| 18 | Walnut | $17.46 | 728 |
| 19 | Murray | $17.44 | 609 |
| 20 | Thompson | $17.25 | 478 |
| 21 | Ashton | $17.17 | 434 |
| 22 | Colo | $17.14 | 856 |
| 23 | Latimer | $16.96 | 477 |
| 24 | Adair | $16.84 | 792 |
| 25 | Elk Horn | $16.78 | 631 |
| 26 | Oxford | $16.70 | 715 |
| 27 | Buffalo Center | $16.58 | 839 |
| 28 | Whittemore | $16.54 | 478 |
| 29 | Bancroft | $16.52 | 677 |
| 30 | Titonka | $16.45 | 491 |
| 31 | Eldon | $16.42 | 788 |
| 32 | Early | $16.35 | 571 |
| 33 | Truro | $16.34 | 515 |
| 34 | Scranton | $16.01 | 496 |
| 35 | Armstrong | $15.87 | 847 |
| 36 | Ruthven | $15.84 | 710 |
| 37 | Minden | $15.77 | 581 |
| 38 | Walker | $15.74 | 671 |
| 39 | Newell | $15.49 | 850 |
| 40 | Riceville | $15.31 | 807 |
| 41 | Neola | $15.30 | 917 |
| 42 | Russell | $15.18 | 475 |
| 43 | Gilbertville | $15.15 | 792 |
| 44 | Stanwood | $15.12 | 612 |
| 45 | Stratford | $15.03 | 688 |
| 46 | Zearing | $14.99 | 508 |
| 47 | Readlyn | $14.99 | 857 |
| 48 | Arlington | $14.98 | 415 |
| 49 | Maynard | $14.85 | 466 |
| 50 | Otho | $14.82 | 417 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $14.81 | 526 |
| 52 | Humeston | $14.80 | 472 |
| 53 | Hopkinton | $14.79 | 622 |
| 54 | Essex | $14.76 | 721 |
| 55 | Gilmore City | $14.60 | 484 |
| 56 | Garnavillo | $14.52 | 751 |
| 57 | Maxwell | $14.50 | 862 |
| 58 | Sabula | $14.38 | 498 |
| 59 | Collins | $14.32 | 503 |
| 60 | Clermont | $14.30 | 571 |
| 61 | Moulton | $14.25 | 596 |
| 62 | Ocheyedan | $14.22 | 424 |
| 63 | Mcgregor | $14.20 | 725 |
| 64 | Olin | $14.19 | 652 |
| 65 | Primghar | $14.18 | 893 |
| 66 | Garwin | $14.08 | 469 |
| 67 | Farragut | $14.07 | 480 |
| 68 | Elgin | $14.05 | 676 |
| 69 | Lime Springs | $13.95 | 467 |
| 70 | Dow City | $13.94 | 477 |
| 71 | Ossian | $13.88 | 777 |
| 72 | Redfield | $13.73 | 719 |
| 73 | Victor | $13.72 | 852 |
| 74 | Edgewood | $13.64 | 908 |
| 75 | Sioux Rapids | $13.63 | 722 |
| 76 | Donnellson | $13.63 | 859 |
| 77 | Albion | $13.58 | 444 |
| 78 | Gladbrook | $13.58 | 775 |
| 79 | Lamont | $13.57 | 429 |
| 80 | New Albin | $13.55 | 435 |
| 81 | Rockford | $13.52 | 722 |
| 82 | Boyden | $13.39 | 694 |
| 83 | Van Horne | $13.27 | 768 |
| 84 | Keota | $13.21 | 888 |
| 85 | Quasqueton | $13.12 | 587 |
| 86 | Farmington | $13.10 | 583 |
| 87 | Anthon | $13.05 | 534 |
| 88 | Little Rock | $13.03 | 447 |
| 89 | Coggon | $12.99 | 691 |
| 90 | Earlville | $12.90 | 713 |
| 91 | Brighton | $12.88 | 592 |
| 92 | Danville | $12.87 | 910 |
| 93 | Montrose | $12.78 | 734 |
| 94 | Goldfield | $12.73 | 617 |
| 95 | Wellsburg | $12.68 | 709 |
| 96 | Delmar | $12.68 | 541 |
| 97 | Galva | $12.68 | 416 |
| 98 | Badger | $12.67 | 540 |
| 99 | Martensdale | $12.63 | 413 |
| 100 | Stanton | $12.62 | 664 |
| 101 | Hospers | $12.58 | 703 |
| 102 | Norway | $12.53 | 463 |
| 103 | Everly | $12.51 | 570 |
| 104 | Hazleton | $12.48 | 711 |
| 105 | West Point | $12.39 | 903 |
| 106 | Alburnett | $12.30 | 672 |
| 107 | Hubbard | $12.30 | 837 |
| 108 | Moravia | $12.27 | 625 |
| 109 | Hedrick | $12.22 | 717 |
| 110 | Carson | $12.22 | 772 |
| 111 | Wheatland | $12.18 | 765 |
| 112 | Schaller | $12.14 | 702 |
| 113 | Hawkeye | $12.11 | 429 |
| 114 | Afton | $11.96 | 864 |
| 115 | Lowden | $11.93 | 767 |
| 116 | Albert City | $11.88 | 627 |
| 117 | Runnells | $11.79 | 467 |
| 118 | Allerton | $11.72 | 432 |
| 119 | Merrill | $11.64 | 713 |
| 120 | Ellsworth | $11.57 | 495 |
| 121 | Morning Sun | $11.50 | 702 |
| 122 | Battle Creek | $11.49 | 683 |
| 123 | Wall Lake | $11.43 | 739 |
| 124 | West Bend | $11.42 | 770 |
| 125 | Dakota City | $11.39 | 764 |
| 126 | Dunkerton | $11.30 | 840 |
| 127 | Sutherland | $11.25 | 628 |
| 128 | Arcadia | $11.23 | 588 |
| 129 | Whiting | $11.21 | 725 |
| 130 | Shelby | $11.17 | 730 |
| 131 | Blairstown | $11.04 | 705 |
| 132 | Manilla | $11.01 | 756 |
| 133 | Hamburg | $10.95 | 863 |
| 134 | Ireton | $10.93 | 571 |
| 135 | Fontanelle | $10.88 | 684 |
| 136 | Richland | $10.82 | 532 |
| 137 | Grand Mound | $10.78 | 608 |
| 138 | Batavia | $10.77 | 434 |
| 139 | Cambridge | $10.53 | 844 |
| 140 | Lovilia | $10.46 | 456 |
| 141 | Swisher | $10.39 | 909 |
| 142 | Schleswig | $10.39 | 820 |
| 143 | Melbourne | $10.38 | 771 |
| 144 | Radcliffe | $10.37 | 540 |
| 145 | Stacyville | $10.36 | 436 |
| 146 | Ventura | $10.22 | 701 |
| 147 | Milo | $10.20 | 762 |
| 148 | Hartford | $10.16 | 729 |
| 149 | What Cheer | $10.01 | 595 |
| 150 | Newhall | $9.99 | 887 |
| 151 | Cumming | $9.85 | 527 |
| 152 | Graettinger | $9.81 | 810 |
| 153 | Breda | $9.80 | 492 |
| 154 | Doon | $9.78 | 640 |
| 155 | Long Grove | $9.59 | 849 |
| 156 | Alleman | $9.12 | 439 |
| 157 | Winthrop | $8.94 | 814 |
| 158 | Crescent | $8.72 | 626 |
| 159 | Ainsworth | $8.62 | 511 |
| 160 | Grand Junction | $8.57 | 715 |
| 161 | Princeton | $8.24 | 917 |
| 162 | Gilman | $8.10 | 530 |
| 163 | Grandview | $8.10 | 431 |
| 164 | Kellogg | $8.10 | 597 |
| 165 | Lakeside | $8.10 | 695 |
| 166 | Lost Nation | $8.10 | 425 |
| 167 | Agency | $7.94 | 623 |
| 168 | Hills | $7.94 | 911 |
| 169 | Fremont | $7.86 | 688 |
| 170 | Delhi | $7.81 | 438 |
| 171 | Klemme | $7.74 | 429 |
| 172 | Beacon | $7.56 | 434 |
| 173 | Sully | $7.41 | 891 |
| 174 | Marquette | $7.08 | 434 |
| 175 | Raymond | $6.85 | 754 |
| 176 | Keystone | $6.80 | 616 |
| 177 | Shueyville | $6.79 | 725 |
| 178 | New Virginia | $5.97 | 499 |
| 179 | University Park | $5.27 | 476 |
| 180 | Orleans | $4.13 | 503 |
| 181 | Okoboji | $3.83 | 729 |
The $8.10 limit
Dumont’s general levy is $8.39 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.29 above the limit; it has to come down in steps.4 50 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.
FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.64 · FY26 $8.64 · FY27 $8.39 (before FY25, the general levy alone)
Outside the limit: $10.65 more5
- Liability, property & self insurance costs$4.48 · $59,635
- Debt Service Levy$4.25 · $56,577
- Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.92 · $25,605
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 Dumont’s budget goes, FY26
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 (410–920 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (180) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Type / Enterprise | 39¢ | 40¢ |
| General Government | 17¢ | 12¢ |
| Public Works | 14¢ | 17¢ |
| Debt Service | 12¢ | 5¢ |
| Public Safety | 8¢ | 10¢ |
| Everything else | 9¢ | 10¢ |
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 ($300,435 in FY26), so this total is low.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $147,522 | $136,895 |
| Public Safety | $56,052 | $104,210 |
| Health and Social Services | $4,778 | $430 |
| General Government | $124,526 | $133,044 |
| Debt Service | $18,292 | $18,286 |
| Culture and Recreation | $55,092 | $63,336 |
| Community and Economic Development | $2,437 | $2,410 |
| Capital Projects | $44,856 | $42,112 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $242,219 | $221,246 |
What it spent each year
FY24 left out6
Debt, reserves and audits
How local debt works · What an audit tells you
What Dumont owes
$520,000 at June 30, 2026: $820 per resident. 580th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $520,000 | $820 |
| 2025 | $109,000 | $172 |
| 2024 | $122,000 | $192 |
| 2023 | $135,000 | $213 |
| 2022 | $164,053 | $259 |
| 2021 | $192,073 | $303 |
| 2020 | $224,473 | $354 |
| 2019 | $281,031 | $443 |
| 2018 | $336,295 | $530 |
| 2017 | $390,297 | $616 |
| 2016 | $235,263 | $371 |
| 2015 | $253,276 | $399 |
| 2014 | $320,980 | $506 |
| 2013 | $293,609 | $463 |
| 2012 | $344,917 | $544 |
| 2011 | $393,000 | $620 |
| 2010 | $441,000 | $696 |
Show the numbers
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $520,000 | $820 |
| 2025 | $109,000 | $172 |
| 2024 | $122,000 | $192 |
| 2023 | $135,000 | $213 |
| 2022 | $164,053 | $259 |
| 2021 | $192,073 | $303 |
| 2020 | $224,473 | $354 |
| 2019 | $281,031 | $443 |
| 2018 | $336,295 | $530 |
| 2017 | $390,297 | $616 |
| 2016 | $235,263 | $371 |
| 2015 | $253,276 | $399 |
| 2014 | $320,980 | $506 |
| 2013 | $293,609 | $463 |
| 2012 | $344,917 | $544 |
| 2011 | $393,000 | $620 |
| 2010 | $441,000 | $696 |
Up 18% since 2010.
Money in reserve
The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. Dumont’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021 (PDF).
Audits9
The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021 (PDF), released Thursday, July 28, 2022, by a CPA firm.
2 earlier reports for Dumont
- Periodic Examination Follow-Up, period ending Tuesday, May 31, 2016Wednesday, November 9, 2016
- Periodic Examination, period ending Thursday, July 31, 2014Thursday, January 8, 2015
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: $91,602 in FY25, up 7% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 15% less. Grants are below.
Show the numbers
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $87,715 | $87,246 | $89,554 | $90,040 |
| Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”) | $2,498 | $2,185 | $1,874 | $1,562 |
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.
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $1,635 |
| FY20 | $1,533 |
| FY21 | $1,529 |
| FY22 | $1,644 |
| FY23 | $62,140 |
| FY24 | $14,749 |
| FY25 | $2,127 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $1,635 |
| FY20 | $1,533 |
| FY21 | $1,529 |
| FY22 | $1,644 |
| FY23 | $62,140 |
| FY24 | $14,749 |
| FY25 | $2,127 |
Has it kept up with prices?
Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.
- Road Use Tax (streets)−13%$82,291 → $90,040, up 9% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 13% less
- Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)−61%$3,160 → $1,562, down 51% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 61% 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 60% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 27% more.
Federal grants, for comparison: $6,529 in FY25.
Business awards
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 · 3
2 seats: the top 2 win.
- Lukas Smith Winner6128.0%
- Michael Day Winner4721.6%
- David Shear 4420.2%
- Valerie Menken 3315.1%
- Marty G. Evans 3315.1%
2 seats: the top 2 win.
- Michael Day Winner2337.7%
- Marty G. Evans Winner1524.6%
- Valerie Menken 1219.7%
- Lukas Smith 1118.0%
- Carson W. Freese Winner7668.5%
- Mary Tyrrell 3531.5%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Dumont; 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.
- Dumont City Council At-Large (3 seats)Now held by Dennis Burkett, Wayne Pecha, Tyler Swart
- Dumont MayorNow held by Carson W. Freese
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
Sandy Salmon (Sen. 29)Pat Grassley (Rep. 57)
U.S. House:District 2