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Local taxes › Cerro Gordo County › Rock Falls

City

Rock Falls

Cerro Gordo County · How cities work

$2,220 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($26.42 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$810 a yearof that goes to the city ($9.61 per $1,000)
$63,144property taxes the city levies, FY27
$98,100city 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.

  • Denny PaulsonRock Falls City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Mark BroszRock Falls City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Scott EnnisRock Falls City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Tim DoddRock Falls Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Chad KahlerRock Falls City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Jordan NavratilRock Falls 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 Rock Falls

Homes and businesses in most of Rock Falls pay a combined $26.42 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Cerro Gordo County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $9.61. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$24.85$6.58
FY21$23.94$6.58
FY22$24.02$6.70
FY23$24.15$7.02
FY24$24.56$7.21
FY25$23.43$7.07
FY26$25.91$8.91
FY27$26.42$9.61
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$24.85$6.58
FY21$23.94$6.58
FY22$24.02$6.70
FY23$24.15$7.02
FY24$24.56$7.21
FY25$23.43$7.07
FY26$25.91$8.91
FY27$26.42$9.61

Compared with places this size3

Rock Falls’s city property tax rate of $9.61 per $1,000 is the 70th lowest of 173 Iowa cities with 100–210 people. The middle of the group is $10.68.

Castana: $34.13Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Whitten: $22.65Soldier: $21.92Chelsea: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Coin: $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: $15.47Goodell: $15.16Marne: $15.03Baldwin: $14.91Magnolia: $14.68Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Ferguson: $13.53Lanesboro: $13.53Meservey: $13.43Calumet: $13.16Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Clemons: $12.69Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Bridgewater: $12.29Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Arion: $12.14Webb: $12.10Decatur: $12.08Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92East Peru: $11.89Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Ledyard: $11.74Joice: $11.72Toronto: $11.68Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54College Springs: $11.44Melrose: $11.27Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Masonville: $11.00Somers: $10.99Frederika: $10.99Havelock: $10.95Alexander: $10.90Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Woden: $10.68Pacific Junction: $10.56Barnes City: $10.44Stockton: $10.37Randall: $10.35Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24North Washington: $10.23Dawson: $10.19Hancock: $10.13Melvin: $10.05Barnum: $9.96Grafton: $9.83Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Rutland: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Kirkville: $9.59Superior: $9.58Martinsburg: $9.49Larrabee: $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: $8.81Macksburg: $8.81Washta: $8.65Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Andover: $8.28South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Rome: $8.10Westfield: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Morrison: $7.86Mount 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: $7.68Westwood: $7.67Bernard: $7.56Braddyville: $7.49Franklin: $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: $1.78Rock Falls: $9.61$1.78 lowest$34.13 highestmiddle
See all 173
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Castana$34.13103
2Brayton$25.07138
3Harris$23.13145
4Whitten$22.6598
5Soldier$21.92176
6Chelsea$21.61207
7Smithland$21.12184
8Volga$20.23200
9Coin$19.59171
10Rowan$19.53118
11Chester$19.30134
12Bouton$19.25125
13Ricketts$19.22105
14Garden Grove$19.20173
15Hastings$18.95157
16Swaledale$18.62136
17Jamaica$18.24196
18Hillsboro$17.68158
19Bristow$17.39139
20Woolstock$17.26141
21Prescott$16.53186
22Monmouth$16.41129
23Blockton$16.37123
24Montour$16.37199
25Geneva$16.25137
26Waterville$16.25112
27Little Sioux$15.74170
28Moorhead$15.68186
29Onslow$15.63198
30Linden$15.62206
31Woodburn$15.59133
32Kamrar$15.47178
33Goodell$15.16139
34Marne$15.03109
35Baldwin$14.9199
36Magnolia$14.68194
37Davis City$14.45178
38Lucas$14.40176
39Westgate$14.05190
40Palmer$13.89137
41Ayrshire$13.55128
42Searsboro$13.55129
43Ferguson$13.5398
44Lanesboro$13.53112
45Meservey$13.43212
46Calumet$13.16144
47Portsmouth$13.05187
48Clutier$13.03209
49Delaware$12.86139
50Patterson$12.84176
51Clemons$12.69135
52Millersburg$12.40135
53Aurora$12.40165
54Bridgewater$12.29145
55Hanlontown$12.17200
56Stout$12.14194
57Arion$12.1499
58Webb$12.10139
59Decatur$12.08174
60Rembrandt$12.03199
61Shambaugh$11.98161
62Lone Rock$11.92143
63East Peru$11.89119
64Henderson$11.85140
65Parnell$11.78190
66Reasnor$11.76157
67Ledyard$11.74118
68Joice$11.72206
69Toronto$11.68101
70Wadena$11.65201
71Exline$11.60157
72Beaman$11.54155
73College Springs$11.44172
74Melrose$11.27110
75Linn Grove$11.15155
76Dundee$11.14193
77Randolph$11.08183
78Leighton$11.07153
79Rake$11.05179
80Masonville$11.0098
81Somers$10.99121
82Frederika$10.99206
83Havelock$10.95127
84Alexander$10.90165
85Lambs Grove$10.78174
86Wallingford$10.75154
87Woden$10.68183
88Pacific Junction$10.5699
89Barnes City$10.44152
90Stockton$10.37171
91Randall$10.35156
92Meriden$10.28175
93Drakesville$10.24170
94North Washington$10.23107
95Dawson$10.19110
96Hancock$10.13199
97Melvin$10.05196
98Barnum$9.96186
99Grafton$9.83212
100Clare$9.81133
101Tingley$9.81146
102Rutland$9.65116
103Van Wert$9.62175
104Rock Falls$9.61143
105Kirkville$9.59159
106Superior$9.58127
107Martinsburg$9.49109
108Larrabee$9.41116
109Hamilton$9.35125
110Floris$9.29119
111Mitchell$9.22118
112Westphalia$9.18133
113Elberon$9.16178
114Dixon$9.03204
115Blairsburg$8.93175
116Prairieburg$8.91156
117Oakville$8.89198
118Welton$8.86124
119Archer$8.84116
120Luther$8.83147
121Fraser$8.81107
122Macksburg$8.81103
123Washta$8.65206
124Moorland$8.61169
125Pilot Mound$8.54155
126Ollie$8.44196
127Thor$8.38182
128Andover$8.28106
129South English$8.27196
130Thurman$8.26162
131Boxholm$8.11177
132Rome$8.10112
133Westfield$8.10121
134Laurel$8.10214
135Lineville$8.10194
136Vincent$8.09125
137Morrison$7.86101
138Mount Auburn$7.86162
139Haverhill$7.86164
140Grand River$7.86192
141Olds$7.86174
142Castalia$7.86141
143Dickens$7.86146
144Rose Hill$7.86156
145West Chester$7.82147
146Cromwell$7.81104
147Mcclelland$7.79147
148Luzerne$7.69111
149Lidderdale$7.68162
150Westwood$7.6796
151Bernard$7.56117
152Braddyville$7.49142
153Franklin$7.31133
154Weldon$7.18134
155Brunsville$6.95128
156Packwood$6.77186
157Houghton$6.73129
158Williamson$6.72126
159Lincoln$6.32119
160Gravity$6.18149
161Ackworth$5.90117
162Oakland Acres$5.88178
163Springbrook$5.79145
164Maysville$5.77155
165Harper$5.29117
166Panorama Park$4.62142
167Keomah Village$3.15107
168Mcintire$2.78115
169Sherrill$2.66176
170Centralia$2.41117
171Rickardsville$2.27204
172New Liberty$2.27141
173North Buena Vista$1.78107

The $8.10 limit

Rock Falls’s general levy is $7.69 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.41 below the limit.4 740 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $7.02 · FY24 $7.21 · FY25 $7.07 · FY26 $7.11 · FY27 $7.69 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $1.92 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.92 · $12,613

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$50,45280%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$12,61320%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Rock Falls’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 44¢ of every dollar44¢Public Works: 29¢ of every dollar29¢General Government: 16¢ of every dollar16¢Public Safety: 7¢ of every dollar7¢Culture and Recreation: 2¢ of every dollarEverything else: 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 173 Iowa cities closest in size (100–210 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (173)
Business Type / Enterprise44¢28¢
Public Works29¢25¢
General Government16¢23¢
Public Safety7¢9¢
Culture and Recreation2¢8¢
Everything else1¢2¢

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$56,60058%
  • Public Works$28,70029%
  • Public Safety$4,8005%
  • Culture and Recreation$4,5005%
  • Health and Social Services$3,0003%
  • Community and Economic Development$5001%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($87,902 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$49,500$40,475
Public Safety$8,500$315
Health and Social Services$2,500$2,210
General Government$45,500$24,972
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$15,500$2,333
Community and Economic Development$0$0
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$65,000$57,060

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$177,742

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Rock Falls owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.7

$0
$0
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$0$0
2016$0$0
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$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$0$0
2016$0$0
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $698,812 (5% of $14.0M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. Rock Falls’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Sunday, March 31, 2019 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Sunday, March 31, 2019 (PDF), released Friday, November 8, 2019, 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: $11,380 in FY25, up 5% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 17% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$10,191$10,460$10,769$10,828
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$598$524$940$552

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.

$402
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$402
    FY21$0
    FY22$0
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$402
    FY21$0
    FY22$0
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−21%$10,870 → $10,828, down 0% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 21% 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 43% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 14% more.

    $33,510
    $31,515

    Federal grants, for comparison: $10,691 in FY23.

    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

    3 seats: the top 3 win.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Rock Falls; 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.

    • Rock Falls City Council At-Large (2 seats)
      Now held by Chad Kahler, Jordan Navratil

    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

    Doug Campbell (Sen. 30)Christian A. Hermanson (Rep. 59)

    U.S. House:District 2

    Cerro Gordo CountyCentral Springs schools