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Local taxes › Cedar County › Bennett

City

Bennett

Cedar County · How cities work

$2,640 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($31.30 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,110 a yearof that goes to the city ($13.16 per $1,000)
$152,099property taxes the city levies, FY27
$428,815city 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.

  • Christina EicherBennett City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • JoAnn SchneeklothBennett City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Joe SparksBennett Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Nathan WolfBennett City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • John HulickBennett City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Steven BoedekerBennett 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 Bennett

Homes and businesses in most of Bennett pay a combined $31.30 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Cedar County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $13.16. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$31.78$14.16
FY21$30.88$12.73
FY22$30.07$12.34
FY23$30.65$12.47
FY24$31.37$12.99
FY25$30.82$11.43
FY26$32.44$13.54
FY27$31.30$13.16
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$31.78$14.16
FY21$30.88$12.73
FY22$30.07$12.34
FY23$30.65$12.47
FY24$31.37$12.99
FY25$30.82$11.43
FY26$32.44$13.54
FY27$31.30$13.16

Compared with places this size3

Bennett’s city property tax rate of $13.16 per $1,000 is the 84th highest of 201 Iowa cities with 220–500 people. The middle of the group is $12.47.

Stanhope: $29.10Fenton: $22.05Coulter: $21.80Elliott: $21.61Oxford Junction: $20.84Earling: $20.47Fort Atkinson: $19.19Salem: $19.15Cumberland: $18.42Massena: $18.23Elma: $17.82Callender: $17.78Casey: $17.72Vail: $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: $16.45Lewis: $16.25Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Duncombe: $16.10Bayard: $16.05Granville: $16.00Minburn: $15.75Peterson: $15.27Russell: $15.18Arlington: $14.98Riverton: $14.94Marathon: $14.89Maynard: $14.85Plainfield: $14.84Ryan: $14.84Otho: $14.82Humeston: $14.80Ladora: $14.74Bagley: $14.63Gilmore City: $14.60Garrison: $14.38Halbur: $14.37Lorimor: $14.36Crystal Lake: $14.36Kimballton: $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: $13.21Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Little Rock: $13.03Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Silver City: $12.87Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Galva: $12.68Martensdale: $12.63Blencoe: $12.57Williams: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Norway: $12.53Clearfield: $12.50Kensett: $12.47Mccausland: $12.45Spillville: $12.40Modale: $12.34Mingo: $12.31Brandon: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Cushing: $12.18Bonaparte: $12.17Macedonia: $12.12Hawkeye: $12.11Kiron: $12.03Colesburg: $11.97Liscomb: $11.96New Providence: $11.88Thornton: $11.86Runnells: $11.79Allerton: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Cantril: $11.69Kelley: $11.69Orient: $11.66Ellsworth: $11.57Cincinnati: $11.57Delta: $11.52Terril: $11.48Westside: $11.45Holland: $11.37Churdan: $11.31Mallard: $11.28Miles: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Milton: $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: $10.36Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $10.28Andrew: $10.22Royal: $10.20Bronson: $10.14Rudd: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Defiance: $10.05Floyd: $10.02Panama: $9.85Breda: $9.80Lynnville: $9.68Ionia: $9.65Salix: $9.63Luxemburg: $9.58Farnhamville: $9.18Middletown: $9.16Alleman: $9.12Lester: $8.94Harvey: $8.71Rowley: $8.31Bertram: $8.10Fostoria: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Nichols: $8.10Luana: $7.98Lockridge: $7.92Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Pulaski: $7.58Beacon: $7.56Sheldahl: $7.56Fredonia: $7.55Worthington: $7.50Harpers Ferry: $7.49Marquette: $7.08Columbus City: $6.94Donahue: $6.83Libertyville: $6.60Keswick: $6.49Crawfordsville: $6.44Holy Cross: $5.91Conesville: $5.86University Park: $5.27Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87Wahpeton: $3.19West Okoboji: $2.92Bennett: $13.16$2.92 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 201
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Stanhope$29.10354
2Fenton$22.05250
3Coulter$21.80220
4Elliott$21.61328
5Oxford Junction$20.84424
6Earling$20.47394
7Fort Atkinson$19.19300
8Salem$19.15380
9Cumberland$18.42248
10Massena$18.23352
11Elma$17.82493
12Callender$17.78361
13Casey$17.72387
14Vail$17.66383
15Ringsted$17.65346
16Emerson$17.54401
17Thompson$17.25478
18Ashton$17.17434
19Pierson$17.12335
20Burt$17.10404
21Pisgah$17.09248
22Latimer$16.96477
23Lohrville$16.95366
24Lakota$16.84261
25Marble Rock$16.78258
26Auburn$16.65253
27Mccallsburg$16.58356
28Whittemore$16.54478
29Irwin$16.46320
30Titonka$16.45491
31Lewis$16.25358
32Corwith$16.22259
33Deep River$16.18243
34Waucoma$16.17235
35Duncombe$16.10374
36Bayard$16.05402
37Granville$16.00302
38Minburn$15.75317
39Peterson$15.27321
40Russell$15.18475
41Arlington$14.98415
42Riverton$14.94243
43Marathon$14.89221
44Maynard$14.85466
45Plainfield$14.84392
46Ryan$14.84348
47Otho$14.82417
48Humeston$14.80472
49Ladora$14.74223
50Bagley$14.63230
51Gilmore City$14.60484
52Garrison$14.38345
53Halbur$14.37268
54Lorimor$14.36377
55Crystal Lake$14.36243
56Kimballton$14.27281
57Ocheyedan$14.22424
58Steamboat Rock$14.19261
59Garwin$14.08469
60Farragut$14.07480
61Mystic$14.01318
62Lime Springs$13.95467
63Dow City$13.94477
64Wesley$13.91382
65Diagonal$13.91331
66Bussey$13.83378
67Mondamin$13.82335
68Livermore$13.78382
69Fertile$13.70300
70Stockport$13.68272
71Kellerton$13.60241
72Albion$13.58444
73Quimby$13.58245
74Lamont$13.57429
75New Albin$13.55435
76Persia$13.41292
77Lawler$13.39392
78Lacona$13.38336
79Leland$13.31240
80Ute$13.26326
81New Market$13.25381
82Plymouth$13.21368
83Harcourt$13.21257
84Bennett$13.16330
85Ridgeway$13.10261
86Farmersburg$13.09264
87Little Rock$13.03447
88Lehigh$12.97395
89Menlo$12.92347
90Templeton$12.91337
91Silver City$12.87244
92Martelle$12.83250
93Malcom$12.82257
94Galva$12.68416
95Martensdale$12.63413
96Blencoe$12.57223
97Williams$12.57299
98Maurice$12.56271
99Norway$12.53463
100Clearfield$12.50277
101Kensett$12.47256
102Mccausland$12.45314
103Spillville$12.40371
104Modale$12.34284
105Mingo$12.31314
106Brandon$12.29331
107Blakesburg$12.21273
108Cushing$12.18225
109Bonaparte$12.17357
110Macedonia$12.12266
111Hawkeye$12.11429
112Kiron$12.03262
113Colesburg$11.97379
114Liscomb$11.96292
115New Providence$11.88233
116Thornton$11.86394
117Runnells$11.79467
118Allerton$11.72432
119Atalissa$11.71287
120Cantril$11.69224
121Kelley$11.69312
122Orient$11.66363
123Ellsworth$11.57495
124Cincinnati$11.57280
125Delta$11.52257
126Terril$11.48310
127Westside$11.45283
128Holland$11.37261
129Churdan$11.31359
130Mallard$11.28255
131Miles$11.28400
132Renwick$11.16228
133Milton$10.98395
134New Vienna$10.91384
135Letts$10.91358
136Goose Lake$10.89250
137Birmingham$10.87371
138Charlotte$10.86386
139Yale$10.85265
140Batavia$10.77434
141Hornick$10.74255
142Riverdale$10.67385
143Bode$10.64304
144Union$10.58378
145Cleghorn$10.49235
146Calamus$10.47348
147Lovilia$10.46456
148Danbury$10.43315
149Lytton$10.38274
150Stacyville$10.36436
151Rhodes$10.36269
152Dedham$10.28221
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
162Panama$9.85234
163Breda$9.80492
164Lynnville$9.68382
165Ionia$9.65220
166Salix$9.63303
167Luxemburg$9.58240
168Farnhamville$9.18364
169Middletown$9.16365
170Alleman$9.12439
171Lester$8.94309
172Harvey$8.71242
173Rowley$8.31264
174Bertram$8.10267
175Fostoria$8.10229
176Grandview$8.10431
177Lost Nation$8.10425
178Low Moor$8.10242
179Nichols$8.10317
180Luana$7.98303
181Lockridge$7.92245
182Delhi$7.81438
183Klemme$7.74429
184Pulaski$7.58259
185Beacon$7.56434
186Sheldahl$7.56312
187Fredonia$7.55227
188Worthington$7.50374
189Harpers Ferry$7.49273
190Marquette$7.08434
191Columbus City$6.94385
192Donahue$6.83336
193Libertyville$6.60278
194Keswick$6.49238
195Crawfordsville$6.44278
196Holy Cross$5.91348
197Conesville$5.86350
198University Park$5.27476
199Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
200Wahpeton$3.19337
201West Okoboji$2.92311

The $8.10 limit

Bennett’s general levy is $7.66 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.44 below the limit.4 747 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.13 · FY26 $7.89 · FY27 $7.66 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $5.50 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$4.11 · $47,489
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.20 · $13,802
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$0.20 · $2,276

Tax increment financing (TIF)

Bennett’s TIF revenue, from its reports to the state. It budgeted $115,811 in TIF revenue for FY21.

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$88,46058%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$47,48931%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$13,8029%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$2,2761%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Bennett’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 34¢ of every dollar34¢Public Safety: 23¢ of every dollar23¢Public Works: 19¢ of every dollar19¢General Government: 14¢ of every dollar14¢Culture and Recreation: 10¢ of every dollar10¢

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 (220–500 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (199)
Business Type / Enterprise34¢39¢
Public Safety23¢9¢
Public Works19¢20¢
General Government14¢16¢
Culture and Recreation10¢8¢

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 Safety$140,70033%
  • General Government$116,75027%
  • Public Works$110,66026%
  • Culture and Recreation$60,70514%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($184,500 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$109,633$107,334
Public Safety$227,010$105,498
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$67,167$74,830
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$48,834$41,198
Community and Economic Development$42,000$0
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$129,898$110,240

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$1.0M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Bennett owes

$377,776 at June 30, 2026: $1,089 per resident. 531st most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$552,668
$377,776
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$377,776$1,089
2025$377,776$1,089
2024$344,000$991
2023$364,000$1,049
2022$384,000$1,107
2021$439,000$1,265
2020$439,000$1,265
2019$448,792$1,293
2018$552,668$1,593
2017$552,668$1,593
2016$552,668$1,593
2015$319,858$922
2014$306,582$884
2013$314,000$905
2012$159,573$460
2011$23,286$67
2010$0$0
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$377,776$1,089
2025$377,776$1,089
2024$344,000$991
2023$364,000$1,049
2022$384,000$1,107
2021$439,000$1,265
2020$439,000$1,265
2019$448,792$1,293
2018$552,668$1,593
2017$552,668$1,593
2016$552,668$1,593
2015$319,858$922
2014$306,582$884
2013$314,000$905
2012$159,573$460
2011$23,286$67
2010$0$0

Up 1522% since 2011.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $1.1M (5% of $22.1M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

2 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsSewer refurbishing2042$225,216
Revenue Bondssecond part of phase one of waste water upgrade2035$152,560

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. Bennett’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Sunday, March 31, 2024 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Sunday, March 31, 2024 (PDF), released Wednesday, January 8, 2025, by a CPA firm.

1 earlier report for Bennett

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: $43,287 in FY25, down 9% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 28% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$42,896$41,317$42,399$42,629
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$1,054$922$790$658

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.

$6,744
$1,683
  • State grants$1,683100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$5,000
FY20$1,350
FY21$6,311
FY22$6,514
FY23$1,274
FY24$6,744
FY25$1,683
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$5,000
FY20$1,350
FY21$6,311
FY22$6,514
FY23$1,274
FY24$6,744
FY25$1,683

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−25%$45,419 → $42,629, down 6% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 25% less
  • Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)−76%$2,202 → $658, down 70% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 76% 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 23% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 2% less.

$46,164
$43,587

Federal grants, for comparison: $72,193 in FY24.

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

Ballot measures · 1

Passed Yes 55.7% (44) · No 44.3% (35)

Passes with more yes votes than no.

City · 2

3 seats: the top 3 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Bennett; 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.

  • Bennett City Council At-Large (2 seats)
    Now held by Steven Boedeker, John Hulick
  • Bennett Mayor
    Now held by Joe Sparks

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

Past ballot measures

  • Public Measure DONovember 4, 2025

    Passed Yes 55.7% (44) · No 44.3% (35)

    Passes with more yes votes than no.

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

Kerry Gruenhagen (Sen. 41)Bobby Kaufmann (Rep. 82)

U.S. House:District 1

Cedar CountyBennett schools