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Local taxes › Cerro Gordo County › Thornton

City

Thornton

Cerro Gordo County · How cities work

$2,660 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($31.62 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,000 a yearof that goes to the city ($11.86 per $1,000)
$145,413property taxes the city levies, FY27
$775,517city 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.

  • Mike JensenThornton Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Randall A. BohmanThornton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Steven BergeThornton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Brad WillmanThornton City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Jared DietzenbachThornton City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • William HicokThornton 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

Who gets a property owner’s tax bill in Thornton

Homes and businesses in most of Thornton pay a combined $31.62 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, $11.86. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

CombinedCity’s own
0$10$20$30$40’20’22’24’26’27CombinedCity’s own
0$10$20$30$40’20’21’22’23’24’25’26’27CombinedCity’s own
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$29.81$11.30
FY21$30.64$11.65
FY22$30.71$11.89
FY23$30.79$12.26
FY24$30.75$12.07
FY25$31.04$12.88
FY26$31.86$12.09
FY27$31.62$11.86
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$29.81$11.30
FY21$30.64$11.65
FY22$30.71$11.89
FY23$30.79$12.26
FY24$30.75$12.07
FY25$31.04$12.88
FY26$31.86$12.09
FY27$31.62$11.86

Compared with places this size3

Thornton’s city property tax rate of $11.86 per $1,000 is the 73rd lowest of 180 Iowa cities with 260–590 people. The middle of the group is $12.65.

Stanhope: $29.10Rolfe: $22.67Elliott: $21.61Charter Oak: $21.32Oxford Junction: $20.84Earling: $20.47Pomeroy: $19.60Fort Atkinson: $19.19Salem: $19.15Massena: $18.23Swea City: $18.04Elma: $17.82Callender: $17.78Casey: $17.72Dows: $17.70New Hartford: $17.69Vail: $17.66Ringsted: $17.65Emerson: $17.54Thompson: $17.25Ashton: $17.17Pierson: $17.12Burt: $17.10Latimer: $16.96Lohrville: $16.95Mccallsburg: $16.58Whittemore: $16.54Irwin: $16.46Titonka: $16.45Early: $16.35Truro: $16.34Lewis: $16.25Duncombe: $16.10Bayard: $16.05Scranton: $16.01Granville: $16.00Minden: $15.77Minburn: $15.75Peterson: $15.27Russell: $15.18Zearing: $14.99Arlington: $14.98Maynard: $14.85Plainfield: $14.84Ryan: $14.84Otho: $14.82Wyoming: $14.81Humeston: $14.80Gilmore City: $14.60Sabula: $14.38Garrison: $14.38Halbur: $14.37Lorimor: $14.36Collins: $14.32Clermont: $14.30Kimballton: $14.27Ocheyedan: $14.22Garwin: $14.08Farragut: $14.07Mystic: $14.01Lime Springs: $13.95Dow City: $13.94Wesley: $13.91Diagonal: $13.91Bussey: $13.83Mondamin: $13.82Livermore: $13.78Fertile: $13.70Stockport: $13.68Albion: $13.58Lamont: $13.57New Albin: $13.55Persia: $13.41Lawler: $13.39Lacona: $13.38Ute: $13.26New Market: $13.25Plymouth: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Anthon: $13.05Little Rock: $13.03Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Delmar: $12.68Galva: $12.68Badger: $12.67Martensdale: $12.63Williams: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Norway: $12.53Everly: $12.51Clearfield: $12.50Mccausland: $12.45Spillville: $12.40Modale: $12.34Mingo: $12.31Brandon: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Bonaparte: $12.17Macedonia: $12.12Hawkeye: $12.11Colesburg: $11.97Liscomb: $11.96Runnells: $11.79Allerton: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Kelley: $11.69Orient: $11.66Ellsworth: $11.57Cincinnati: $11.57Terril: $11.48Westside: $11.45Churdan: $11.31Miles: $11.28Arcadia: $11.23Milton: $10.98Ireton: $10.93New Vienna: $10.91Letts: $10.91Birmingham: $10.87Charlotte: $10.86Yale: $10.85Richland: $10.82Batavia: $10.77Riverdale: $10.67Bode: $10.64Union: $10.58Calamus: $10.47Lovilia: $10.46Danbury: $10.43Lytton: $10.38Radcliffe: $10.37Stacyville: $10.36Rhodes: $10.36Protivin: $10.28Andrew: $10.22Royal: $10.20Bronson: $10.14Rudd: $10.13Floyd: $10.02Cumming: $9.85Breda: $9.80Lynnville: $9.68Salix: $9.63Farnhamville: $9.18Middletown: $9.16Alleman: $9.12Lester: $8.94Ainsworth: $8.62Rowley: $8.31Gilman: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Bertram: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Nichols: $8.10Luana: $7.98Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Beacon: $7.56Sheldahl: $7.56Worthington: $7.50Harpers Ferry: $7.49Marquette: $7.08Columbus City: $6.94Donahue: $6.83Libertyville: $6.60Crawfordsville: $6.44New Virginia: $5.97Holy Cross: $5.91Conesville: $5.86University Park: $5.27Orleans: $4.13Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87Wahpeton: $3.19West Okoboji: $2.92Thornton: $11.86$2.92 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 180
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Stanhope$29.10354
2Rolfe$22.67505
3Elliott$21.61328
4Charter Oak$21.32521
5Oxford Junction$20.84424
6Earling$20.47394
7Pomeroy$19.60511
8Fort Atkinson$19.19300
9Salem$19.15380
10Massena$18.23352
11Swea City$18.04545
12Elma$17.82493
13Callender$17.78361
14Casey$17.72387
15Dows$17.70509
16New Hartford$17.69555
17Vail$17.66383
18Ringsted$17.65346
19Emerson$17.54401
20Thompson$17.25478
21Ashton$17.17434
22Pierson$17.12335
23Burt$17.10404
24Latimer$16.96477
25Lohrville$16.95366
26Mccallsburg$16.58356
27Whittemore$16.54478
28Irwin$16.46320
29Titonka$16.45491
30Early$16.35571
31Truro$16.34515
32Lewis$16.25358
33Duncombe$16.10374
34Bayard$16.05402
35Scranton$16.01496
36Granville$16.00302
37Minden$15.77581
38Minburn$15.75317
39Peterson$15.27321
40Russell$15.18475
41Zearing$14.99508
42Arlington$14.98415
43Maynard$14.85466
44Plainfield$14.84392
45Ryan$14.84348
46Otho$14.82417
47Wyoming$14.81526
48Humeston$14.80472
49Gilmore City$14.60484
50Sabula$14.38498
51Garrison$14.38345
52Halbur$14.37268
53Lorimor$14.36377
54Collins$14.32503
55Clermont$14.30571
56Kimballton$14.27281
57Ocheyedan$14.22424
58Garwin$14.08469
59Farragut$14.07480
60Mystic$14.01318
61Lime Springs$13.95467
62Dow City$13.94477
63Wesley$13.91382
64Diagonal$13.91331
65Bussey$13.83378
66Mondamin$13.82335
67Livermore$13.78382
68Fertile$13.70300
69Stockport$13.68272
70Albion$13.58444
71Lamont$13.57429
72New Albin$13.55435
73Persia$13.41292
74Lawler$13.39392
75Lacona$13.38336
76Ute$13.26326
77New Market$13.25381
78Plymouth$13.21368
79Bennett$13.16330
80Quasqueton$13.12587
81Farmington$13.10583
82Farmersburg$13.09264
83Anthon$13.05534
84Little Rock$13.03447
85Lehigh$12.97395
86Menlo$12.92347
87Templeton$12.91337
88Delmar$12.68541
89Galva$12.68416
90Badger$12.67540
91Martensdale$12.63413
92Williams$12.57299
93Maurice$12.56271
94Norway$12.53463
95Everly$12.51570
96Clearfield$12.50277
97Mccausland$12.45314
98Spillville$12.40371
99Modale$12.34284
100Mingo$12.31314
101Brandon$12.29331
102Blakesburg$12.21273
103Bonaparte$12.17357
104Macedonia$12.12266
105Hawkeye$12.11429
106Colesburg$11.97379
107Liscomb$11.96292
108Thornton$11.86394
109Runnells$11.79467
110Allerton$11.72432
111Atalissa$11.71287
112Kelley$11.69312
113Orient$11.66363
114Ellsworth$11.57495
115Cincinnati$11.57280
116Terril$11.48310
117Westside$11.45283
118Churdan$11.31359
119Miles$11.28400
120Arcadia$11.23588
121Milton$10.98395
122Ireton$10.93571
123New Vienna$10.91384
124Letts$10.91358
125Birmingham$10.87371
126Charlotte$10.86386
127Yale$10.85265
128Richland$10.82532
129Batavia$10.77434
130Riverdale$10.67385
131Bode$10.64304
132Union$10.58378
133Calamus$10.47348
134Lovilia$10.46456
135Danbury$10.43315
136Lytton$10.38274
137Radcliffe$10.37540
138Stacyville$10.36436
139Rhodes$10.36269
140Protivin$10.28264
141Andrew$10.22374
142Royal$10.20379
143Bronson$10.14294
144Rudd$10.13339
145Floyd$10.02297
146Cumming$9.85527
147Breda$9.80492
148Lynnville$9.68382
149Salix$9.63303
150Farnhamville$9.18364
151Middletown$9.16365
152Alleman$9.12439
153Lester$8.94309
154Ainsworth$8.62511
155Rowley$8.31264
156Gilman$8.10530
157Lost Nation$8.10425
158Bertram$8.10267
159Grandview$8.10431
160Nichols$8.10317
161Luana$7.98303
162Delhi$7.81438
163Klemme$7.74429
164Beacon$7.56434
165Sheldahl$7.56312
166Worthington$7.50374
167Harpers Ferry$7.49273
168Marquette$7.08434
169Columbus City$6.94385
170Donahue$6.83336
171Libertyville$6.60278
172Crawfordsville$6.44278
173New Virginia$5.97499
174Holy Cross$5.91348
175Conesville$5.86350
176University Park$5.27476
177Orleans$4.13503
178Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
179Wahpeton$3.19337
180West Okoboji$2.92311

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$100,37670%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$24,08917%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$15,73211%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$2,9502%

Budget and spending

Where each dollar of Thornton’s budget goes, FY26

Debt Service: 42¢ of every dollar42¢Business Type / Enterprise: 29¢ of every dollar29¢Public Works: 14¢ of every dollar14¢Public Safety: 6¢ of every dollarGeneral Government: 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 179 Iowa cities closest in size (260–590 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (179)
Debt Service42¢4¢
Business Type / Enterprise29¢39¢
Public Works14¢19¢
Public Safety6¢9¢
General Government5¢15¢
Everything else4¢9¢

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$490,39163%
  • Public Works$115,15015%
  • General Government$59,4708%
  • Culture and Recreation$55,9367%
  • Public Safety$54,5707%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($348,002 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$14,000$138,250
Public Safety$57,101$60,896
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$0$55,699
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$47,500$92,813
Community and Economic Development$0$0
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$0$287,691

What it spent each year

$1.6M
$635,349
’17’18’19’20’21’22’23

State money

What the state sends the city

Sales tax and property tax credits the state paid the city: up 7% since FY23; down 2% after inflation.

In today's dollarsActual dollars
$50,000$87,500$125,000$162,500$200,000’23’24’25’26Today's $Actual
$50,000$87,500$125,000$162,500$200,000’23’24’25’26Today's $Actual
ProgramFY27FY26FY25FY24FY23
Local option sales tax$8,331$92,482$92,735$93,361$86,443
Show the numbers
ProgramFY27FY26FY25FY24FY23
Local option sales tax$8,331$92,482$92,735$93,361$86,443

Elections

Most recent: November 4, 2025

City · 2

2 seats: the top 2 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Thornton; official results are on each county auditor’s site.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress4

Doug Campbell (Sen. 30)Jane Bloomingdale (Rep. 60)

U.S. House:District 2

Cerro Gordo CountyWest Fork schools