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Local taxes › Cass County › Massena

City

Massena

Cass County · How cities work

$3,200 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($38.01 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,540 a yearof that goes to the city ($18.23 per $1,000)
$175,485property taxes the city levies, FY27
$1.5Mcity 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.

  • Doug VenteicherMassena City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jackson BissellMassena City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Phil PrzychodzinMassena Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Adam McCunnMassena City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Kevin McCunnMassena City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Micah LeeMassena 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 Massena

Homes and businesses in most of Massena pay a combined $38.01 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Cass County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $18.23. Estimate your bill.

  • City of Massena$18.2348%
  • Cam schools$11.4130%
  • Cass County$4.7512%
  • Iowa Western Community College$1.474%
  • Cass County Hospital$1.404%
  • Cass County Assessor$0.521%
  • Cass County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.23<1%

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$35.65$16.12
FY21$38.21$18.25
FY22$37.81$17.86
FY23$37.24$18.21
FY24$38.41$19.80
FY25$38.79$20.18
FY26$37.53$20.55
FY27$38.01$18.23
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$35.65$16.12
FY21$38.21$18.25
FY22$37.81$17.86
FY23$37.24$18.21
FY24$38.41$19.80
FY25$38.79$20.18
FY26$37.53$20.55
FY27$38.01$18.23

Compared with places this size3

Massena’s city property tax rate of $18.23 per $1,000 is the 12th highest of 201 Iowa cities with 240–530 people. The middle of the group is $12.63.

Stanhope: $29.10Rolfe: $22.67Fenton: $22.05Elliott: $21.61Charter Oak: $21.32Oxford Junction: $20.84Earling: $20.47Pomeroy: $19.60Fort Atkinson: $19.19Salem: $19.15Cumberland: $18.42Elma: $17.82Callender: $17.78Casey: $17.72Dows: $17.70Vail: $17.66Ringsted: $17.65Emerson: $17.54Thompson: $17.25Ashton: $17.17Pierson: $17.12Burt: $17.10Pisgah: $17.09Latimer: $16.96Lohrville: $16.95Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Mccallsburg: $16.58Whittemore: $16.54Irwin: $16.46Titonka: $16.45Truro: $16.34Lewis: $16.25Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Duncombe: $16.10Bayard: $16.05Scranton: $16.01Granville: $16.00Minburn: $15.75Peterson: $15.27Russell: $15.18Zearing: $14.99Arlington: $14.98Riverton: $14.94Maynard: $14.85Plainfield: $14.84Ryan: $14.84Otho: $14.82Wyoming: $14.81Humeston: $14.80Gilmore City: $14.60Sabula: $14.38Garrison: $14.38Halbur: $14.37Lorimor: $14.36Crystal Lake: $14.36Collins: $14.32Kimballton: $14.27Ocheyedan: $14.22Steamboat Rock: $14.19Garwin: $14.08Farragut: $14.07Mystic: $14.01Lime Springs: $13.95Dow City: $13.94Wesley: $13.91Diagonal: $13.91Bussey: $13.83Mondamin: $13.82Livermore: $13.78Fertile: $13.70Stockport: $13.68Kellerton: $13.60Albion: $13.58Quimby: $13.58Lamont: $13.57New Albin: $13.55Persia: $13.41Lawler: $13.39Lacona: $13.38Leland: $13.31Ute: $13.26New Market: $13.25Plymouth: $13.21Harcourt: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Little Rock: $13.03Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Silver City: $12.87Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Galva: $12.68Martensdale: $12.63Williams: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Norway: $12.53Clearfield: $12.50Kensett: $12.47Mccausland: $12.45Spillville: $12.40Modale: $12.34Mingo: $12.31Brandon: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Bonaparte: $12.17Macedonia: $12.12Hawkeye: $12.11Kiron: $12.03Colesburg: $11.97Liscomb: $11.96Thornton: $11.86Runnells: $11.79Allerton: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Kelley: $11.69Orient: $11.66Ellsworth: $11.57Cincinnati: $11.57Delta: $11.52Terril: $11.48Westside: $11.45Holland: $11.37Churdan: $11.31Mallard: $11.28Miles: $11.28Milton: $10.98New Vienna: $10.91Letts: $10.91Goose Lake: $10.89Birmingham: $10.87Charlotte: $10.86Yale: $10.85Batavia: $10.77Hornick: $10.74Riverdale: $10.67Bode: $10.64Union: $10.58Cleghorn: $10.49Calamus: $10.47Lovilia: $10.46Danbury: $10.43Lytton: $10.38Stacyville: $10.36Rhodes: $10.36Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $10.28Andrew: $10.22Royal: $10.20Bronson: $10.14Rudd: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Defiance: $10.05Floyd: $10.02Cumming: $9.85Breda: $9.80Lynnville: $9.68Salix: $9.63Luxemburg: $9.58Farnhamville: $9.18Middletown: $9.16Alleman: $9.12Lester: $8.94Harvey: $8.71Ainsworth: $8.62Rowley: $8.31Bertram: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Nichols: $8.10Luana: $7.98Lockridge: $7.92Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Pulaski: $7.58Beacon: $7.56Sheldahl: $7.56Worthington: $7.50Harpers Ferry: $7.49Marquette: $7.08Columbus City: $6.94Donahue: $6.83Libertyville: $6.60Keswick: $6.49Crawfordsville: $6.44New Virginia: $5.97Holy Cross: $5.91Conesville: $5.86University Park: $5.27Orleans: $4.13Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87Wahpeton: $3.19West Okoboji: $2.92Massena: $18.23$2.92 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 201
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Stanhope$29.10354
2Rolfe$22.67505
3Fenton$22.05250
4Elliott$21.61328
5Charter Oak$21.32521
6Oxford Junction$20.84424
7Earling$20.47394
8Pomeroy$19.60511
9Fort Atkinson$19.19300
10Salem$19.15380
11Cumberland$18.42248
12Massena$18.23352
13Elma$17.82493
14Callender$17.78361
15Casey$17.72387
16Dows$17.70509
17Vail$17.66383
18Ringsted$17.65346
19Emerson$17.54401
20Thompson$17.25478
21Ashton$17.17434
22Pierson$17.12335
23Burt$17.10404
24Pisgah$17.09248
25Latimer$16.96477
26Lohrville$16.95366
27Lakota$16.84261
28Marble Rock$16.78258
29Auburn$16.65253
30Mccallsburg$16.58356
31Whittemore$16.54478
32Irwin$16.46320
33Titonka$16.45491
34Truro$16.34515
35Lewis$16.25358
36Corwith$16.22259
37Deep River$16.18243
38Waucoma$16.17235
39Duncombe$16.10374
40Bayard$16.05402
41Scranton$16.01496
42Granville$16.00302
43Minburn$15.75317
44Peterson$15.27321
45Russell$15.18475
46Zearing$14.99508
47Arlington$14.98415
48Riverton$14.94243
49Maynard$14.85466
50Plainfield$14.84392
51Ryan$14.84348
52Otho$14.82417
53Wyoming$14.81526
54Humeston$14.80472
55Gilmore City$14.60484
56Sabula$14.38498
57Garrison$14.38345
58Halbur$14.37268
59Lorimor$14.36377
60Crystal Lake$14.36243
61Collins$14.32503
62Kimballton$14.27281
63Ocheyedan$14.22424
64Steamboat Rock$14.19261
65Garwin$14.08469
66Farragut$14.07480
67Mystic$14.01318
68Lime Springs$13.95467
69Dow City$13.94477
70Wesley$13.91382
71Diagonal$13.91331
72Bussey$13.83378
73Mondamin$13.82335
74Livermore$13.78382
75Fertile$13.70300
76Stockport$13.68272
77Kellerton$13.60241
78Albion$13.58444
79Quimby$13.58245
80Lamont$13.57429
81New Albin$13.55435
82Persia$13.41292
83Lawler$13.39392
84Lacona$13.38336
85Leland$13.31240
86Ute$13.26326
87New Market$13.25381
88Plymouth$13.21368
89Harcourt$13.21257
90Bennett$13.16330
91Ridgeway$13.10261
92Farmersburg$13.09264
93Little Rock$13.03447
94Lehigh$12.97395
95Menlo$12.92347
96Templeton$12.91337
97Silver City$12.87244
98Martelle$12.83250
99Malcom$12.82257
100Galva$12.68416
101Martensdale$12.63413
102Williams$12.57299
103Maurice$12.56271
104Norway$12.53463
105Clearfield$12.50277
106Kensett$12.47256
107Mccausland$12.45314
108Spillville$12.40371
109Modale$12.34284
110Mingo$12.31314
111Brandon$12.29331
112Blakesburg$12.21273
113Bonaparte$12.17357
114Macedonia$12.12266
115Hawkeye$12.11429
116Kiron$12.03262
117Colesburg$11.97379
118Liscomb$11.96292
119Thornton$11.86394
120Runnells$11.79467
121Allerton$11.72432
122Atalissa$11.71287
123Kelley$11.69312
124Orient$11.66363
125Ellsworth$11.57495
126Cincinnati$11.57280
127Delta$11.52257
128Terril$11.48310
129Westside$11.45283
130Holland$11.37261
131Churdan$11.31359
132Mallard$11.28255
133Miles$11.28400
134Milton$10.98395
135New Vienna$10.91384
136Letts$10.91358
137Goose Lake$10.89250
138Birmingham$10.87371
139Charlotte$10.86386
140Yale$10.85265
141Batavia$10.77434
142Hornick$10.74255
143Riverdale$10.67385
144Bode$10.64304
145Union$10.58378
146Cleghorn$10.49235
147Calamus$10.47348
148Lovilia$10.46456
149Danbury$10.43315
150Lytton$10.38274
151Stacyville$10.36436
152Rhodes$10.36269
153Deloit$10.28246
154Protivin$10.28264
155Andrew$10.22374
156Royal$10.20379
157Bronson$10.14294
158Rudd$10.13339
159La Motte$10.09235
160Defiance$10.05248
161Floyd$10.02297
162Cumming$9.85527
163Breda$9.80492
164Lynnville$9.68382
165Salix$9.63303
166Luxemburg$9.58240
167Farnhamville$9.18364
168Middletown$9.16365
169Alleman$9.12439
170Lester$8.94309
171Harvey$8.71242
172Ainsworth$8.62511
173Rowley$8.31264
174Bertram$8.10267
175Grandview$8.10431
176Lost Nation$8.10425
177Low Moor$8.10242
178Nichols$8.10317
179Luana$7.98303
180Lockridge$7.92245
181Delhi$7.81438
182Klemme$7.74429
183Pulaski$7.58259
184Beacon$7.56434
185Sheldahl$7.56312
186Worthington$7.50374
187Harpers Ferry$7.49273
188Marquette$7.08434
189Columbus City$6.94385
190Donahue$6.83336
191Libertyville$6.60278
192Keswick$6.49238
193Crawfordsville$6.44278
194New Virginia$5.97499
195Holy Cross$5.91348
196Conesville$5.86350
197University Park$5.27476
198Orleans$4.13503
199Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
200Wahpeton$3.19337
201West Okoboji$2.92311

The $8.10 limit

Massena’s general levy is $8.26 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.16 above the limit; it has to come down in steps.4 117 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.51 · FY26 $8.26 · FY27 $8.26 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $9.98 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$5.07 · $48,605
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$4.19 · $40,127
  • Unified Law Enforcement$0.71 · $6,821

Tax increment financing (TIF)

Massena’s TIF revenue, from its reports to the state. It budgeted $748,000 in TIF revenue for FY25.

$868,011
$766,481
YearTIF revenue
FY16$277,944
FY17$432,076
FY18$565,528
FY19$708,855
FY20$868,011
FY21$859,802
FY22$864,121
FY23$766,481
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$277,944
FY17$432,076
FY18$565,528
FY19$708,855
FY20$868,011
FY21$859,802
FY22$864,121
FY23$766,481

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$79,08645%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$48,60528%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$40,12723%
  • Unified Law Enforcement$6,8214%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Massena’s budget goes, FY26

Capital Projects: 65¢ of every dollar65¢Debt Service: 20¢ of every dollar20¢General Government: 5¢ of every dollarPublic Works: 4¢ of every dollarCommunity and Economic Development: 3¢ 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 199 Iowa cities closest in size (240–530 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (199)
Capital Projects65¢3¢
Debt Service20¢4¢
General Government5¢16¢
Public Works4¢20¢
Community and Economic Development3¢2¢
Everything else4¢17¢

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.

  • Debt Service$666,98045%
  • Culture and Recreation$339,55023%
  • General Government$148,07610%
  • Capital Projects$120,6258%
  • Public Works$101,4167%
  • Public Safety$91,8326%
  • Community and Economic Development$19,5001%
  • Health and Social Services$2,7600%
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$124,241$103,876
Public Safety$59,164$91,252
Health and Social Services$3,000$2,760
General Government$91,777$127,116
Debt Service$125,648$1.3M
Culture and Recreation$81,865$53,613
Community and Economic Development$41,930$33,262
Capital Projects$1.5M$417,287
Business Type / Enterprise$257,360$340,786

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$5.8M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Massena owes

$3.9M at June 30, 2026: $10,812 per resident. 11th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$3.9M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$3.9M$10,812
2025$3.2M$8,943
2024$2.8M$7,680
2023$2.3M$6,513
2022$2.7M$7,607
2021$2.3M$6,337
2020$1.3M$3,715
2019$641,000$1,786
2018$522,640$1,456
2017$786,596$2,191
2016$395,930$1,103
2015$579,147$1,613
2014$441,147$1,229
2013$141,362$394
2012$96,912$270
2011$10,000$28
2010$20,000$56
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$3.9M$10,812
2025$3.2M$8,943
2024$2.8M$7,680
2023$2.3M$6,513
2022$2.7M$7,607
2021$2.3M$6,337
2020$1.3M$3,715
2019$641,000$1,786
2018$522,640$1,456
2017$786,596$2,191
2016$395,930$1,103
2015$579,147$1,613
2014$441,147$1,229
2013$141,362$394
2012$96,912$270
2011$10,000$28
2010$20,000$56

Up 19308% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $2.0M, 190% of the limit of about $1.0M (5% of $20.6M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

9 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue Bonds2023 Water Distribution Project2065$782,730
General Obligationimprovements to city park and Clarke Avenue street improvements2031$724,000
Revenue Bonds2023 Water Distribution Project2065$684,889
General ObligationStreet Improvements2031$610,000
General ObligationStreet Improvements2029$388,000
LoansCity Park - TIF Internal Loan2027$300,000
General ObligationWater improvements2028$153,000
LoansBall Field - TIF Internal Loan2027$150,000
General ObligationHousing improvements2028$89,000

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 balances9. Massena’s latest audit has them: Annual Examination, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Annual Examination for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Tuesday, June 30, 2026, by the Auditor of State.

The report has no Schedule of Findings Iowa Funnel could read.

7 earlier reports for Massena

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: $104,883 in FY25, up 131% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 84% more. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$39,359$66,236$85,161$66,236
Road Use Tax (streets)$38,051$37,486$38,438$38,647

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.

$132,448
$1,294
  • State grants$1,294100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$876
FY20$5,901
FY21$132,448
FY22$1,045
FY23$0
FY24$974
FY25$1,294
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$876
FY20$5,901
FY21$132,448
FY22$1,045
FY23$0
FY24$974
FY25$1,294

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−32%$45,361 → $38,647, down 15% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 32% 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 21% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 3% less.

$66,414
$66,261

Federal grants, for comparison: $606,129 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 Massena; 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.

  • Massena City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Micah Lee, Kevin McCunn, Adam McCunn
  • Massena Mayor
    Now held by Phil Przychodzin

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

Tom Shipley (Sen. 9)Thomas Jay Moore (Rep. 18)

U.S. House:District 3

Cass CountyCam schools