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Local taxes › Cherokee County › Cherokee

City

Cherokee

Cherokee County · How cities work

$2,810 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($33.31 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,250 a yearof that goes to the city ($14.82 per $1,000)
$2.9Mproperty taxes the city levies, FY27
$10.0Mcity 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.

  • Dan MorrowCherokee City Council Ward 2 · elected November 4, 2025
  • Emily UlrichCherokee City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Tony PuffettCherokee Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Amy LoughlinCherokee City Council Ward 1 · elected November 7, 2023
  • John NitzCherokee City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Wayne PingelCherokee City Council Ward 3 · 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 Cherokee

Homes and businesses in most of Cherokee pay a combined $33.31 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Cherokee County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $14.82. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$35.10$15.89
FY21$34.32$15.59
FY22$33.84$15.54
FY23$34.01$15.98
FY24$34.86$16.49
FY25$36.34$17.34
FY26$34.99$16.74
FY27$33.31$14.82
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$35.10$15.89
FY21$34.32$15.59
FY22$33.84$15.54
FY23$34.01$15.98
FY24$34.86$16.49
FY25$36.34$17.34
FY26$34.99$16.74
FY27$33.31$14.82

Compared with places this size3

Cherokee’s city property tax rate of $14.82 per $1,000 is the 28th lowest of 60 Iowa cities with 3,600–7,800 people. The middle of the group is $14.87.

Red Oak: $20.65Oelwein: $20.16Albia: $19.70Eagle Grove: $19.32Independence: $19.01Iowa Falls: $18.86West Liberty: $18.68Chariton: $18.37Atlantic: $17.48Knoxville: $17.46Clarinda: $17.25Centerville: $16.85Algona: $16.75Webster City: $16.51Vinton: $16.25Winterset: $16.15Cresco: $16.13Humboldt: $16.00Anamosa: $15.95Charles City: $15.95Forest City: $15.77Decorah: $15.52Sheldon: $15.33Estherville: $15.27Washington: $15.21Harlan: $15.07Shenandoah: $15.02Creston: $14.99Manchester: $14.96Jefferson: $14.88Hampton: $14.86Carlisle: $14.82Glenwood: $14.77Waukon: $14.76Nevada: $14.58Monticello: $14.49Osceola: $14.37Windsor Heights: $14.30Osage: $14.29Orange City: $14.01Hiawatha: $13.78Rock Valley: $13.76Sergeant Bluff: $13.70Emmetsburg: $13.70Mount Vernon: $13.50Adel: $13.43Maquoketa: $12.85Camanche: $12.75Le Claire: $12.64Tiffin: $11.80Huxley: $11.68Polk City: $11.00Carter Lake: $10.67Dyersville: $10.27Spirit Lake: $10.17Clear Lake: $9.85Asbury: $8.32Eldridge: $8.13Evansdale: $8.00Cherokee: $14.82$8.00 lowest$20.65 highestmiddle
See all 60
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Red Oak$20.655,420
2Oelwein$20.165,788
3Albia$19.703,579
4Eagle Grove$19.323,615
5Independence$19.016,266
6Iowa Falls$18.864,993
7West Liberty$18.683,724
8Chariton$18.374,278
9Atlantic$17.486,717
10Knoxville$17.467,440
11Clarinda$17.255,334
12Centerville$16.855,345
13Algona$16.755,341
14Webster City$16.517,763
15Vinton$16.254,962
16Winterset$16.155,421
17Cresco$16.133,890
18Humboldt$16.004,774
19Anamosa$15.955,845
20Charles City$15.957,081
21Forest City$15.774,199
22Decorah$15.527,454
23Sheldon$15.335,584
24Estherville$15.275,796
25Washington$15.217,281
26Harlan$15.074,898
27Shenandoah$15.024,878
28Creston$14.997,421
29Manchester$14.965,283
30Jefferson$14.884,148
31Hampton$14.864,340
32Carlisle$14.824,381
33Cherokee$14.825,186
34Glenwood$14.775,250
35Waukon$14.763,799
36Nevada$14.587,082
37Monticello$14.494,095
38Osceola$14.375,585
39Windsor Heights$14.305,106
40Osage$14.293,559
41Orange City$14.016,547
42Hiawatha$13.787,347
43Rock Valley$13.764,024
44Sergeant Bluff$13.705,335
45Emmetsburg$13.703,632
46Mount Vernon$13.504,518
47Adel$13.436,763
48Maquoketa$12.856,064
49Camanche$12.754,536
50Le Claire$12.644,776
51Tiffin$11.806,695
52Huxley$11.684,737
53Polk City$11.006,430
54Carter Lake$10.673,752
55Dyersville$10.274,559
56Spirit Lake$10.175,548
57Clear Lake$9.857,602
58Asbury$8.326,051
59Eldridge$8.136,967
60Evansdale$8.004,515

The $8.10 limit

Cherokee’s general levy is $7.86 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.24 below the limit.4 677 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.26 · FY26 $8.10 · FY27 $7.86 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $6.96 more5

  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$3.46 · $675,920
  • Debt Service Levy$2.42 · $491,678
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$0.91 · $177,252
  • Aviation Authority$0.18 · $35,195

Tax increment financing (TIF)

$8.0M of taxable value in Cherokee is in TIF districts’ increment (4% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.6 It budgeted $123,024 in TIF revenue for FY25.

$70,790
$64,052

What that value would raise at each government’s rate, FY277

Taxes on TIF value go to the city’s TIF fund instead of the governments that levy them, including about $99,201 of the city’s own.

  • Cherokee schools$79,956
  • Cherokee County$31,102
YearTIF revenue
FY16$2,228
FY17$22,544
FY22$70,790
FY23$64,052
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$2,228
FY17$22,544
FY22$70,790
FY23$64,052

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$1.5M53%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$675,92023%
  • Debt Service Levy$491,67817%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$177,2526%
  • Aviation Authority (under sec.330A.15)$35,1951%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Cherokee’s budget goes, FY26

Capital Projects: 33¢ of every dollar33¢Business Type / Enterprise: 21¢ of every dollar21¢Public Works: 15¢ of every dollar15¢Public Safety: 12¢ of every dollar12¢Culture and Recreation: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Everything else: 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 59 Iowa cities closest in size (3,600–7,800 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (59)
Capital Projects33¢19¢
Business Type / Enterprise21¢37¢
Public Works15¢8¢
Public Safety12¢13¢
Culture and Recreation9¢8¢
Everything else10¢15¢

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.

  • Capital Projects$4.2M42%
  • Public Safety$1.8M18%
  • Public Works$1.5M15%
  • Culture and Recreation$1.4M14%
  • Debt Service$499,0005%
  • General Government$343,4783%
  • Community and Economic Development$289,7703%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($2.9M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$1.4M$2.5M
Public Safety$1.4M$1.6M
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$545,086$552,322
Debt Service$757,508$733,002
Culture and Recreation$1.3M$1.3M
Community and Economic Development$72,829$85,955
Capital Projects$435,000$0
Business Type / Enterprise$4.2M$3.3M

What it spent each year

FY24 left out8

$12.4M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Cherokee owes

$4.1M at June 30, 2026: $783 per resident. 592nd most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).9

$10.2M
$4.1M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$4.1M$783
2025$4.6M$877
2024$4.9M$947
2023$5.4M$1,030
2022$4.3M$834
2021$5.3M$1,026
2020$5.5M$1,054
2019$6.6M$1,260
2018$7.4M$1,432
2017$8.4M$1,618
2016$6.4M$1,236
2015$6.5M$1,259
2014$7.7M$1,484
2013$7.9M$1,519
2012$8.8M$1,684
2011$10.2M$1,960
2010$9.2M$1,764
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$4.1M$783
2025$4.6M$877
2024$4.9M$947
2023$5.4M$1,030
2022$4.3M$834
2021$5.3M$1,026
2020$5.5M$1,054
2019$6.6M$1,260
2018$7.4M$1,432
2017$8.4M$1,618
2016$6.4M$1,236
2015$6.5M$1,259
2014$7.7M$1,484
2013$7.9M$1,519
2012$8.8M$1,684
2011$10.2M$1,960
2010$9.2M$1,764

Down 56% since 2010.

The 5% limit10

General obligation debt is $2.8M, 16% of the limit of about $17.4M (5% of $347.1M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

5 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
General ObligationFEMA-Wescott Park, Euclid & Willow Bridges, Hwy 59 Prj. Country Club Estates, Air Packs, Fire Pumper Trade2035$2.2M
Revenue Bonds2021 Sanitary Sewer Improvements Project2041$682,000
General Obligation2016B Capital Projects Aerial fire truck, street reconstruction2029$600,000
Revenue Bonds2017 Water Revenue Bond2037$530,000
Revenue BondsWastewater Plant Improvements2031$45,000

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 balances11. Cherokee’s latest audit has them: Financial Statement, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).

Audits12

The latest: Financial Statement for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Tuesday, December 2, 2025, by a CPA firm.

16 earlier reports for Cherokee

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? 13

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: $1.1M in FY25, up 54% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 23% more. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$720,023$715,441$734,372$738,358
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$75,110$62,205$167,854$400,164

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.

$563,995
$46,818
  • State grants$46,818100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$11,429
FY20$204,316
FY21$376,299
FY22$506,705
FY23$563,995
FY24$257,669
FY25$46,818
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$11,429
FY20$204,316
FY21$376,299
FY22$506,705
FY23$563,995
FY24$257,669
FY25$46,818

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−13%$678,613 → $738,358, up 9% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 13% less
  • Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)+416%$61,813 → $400,164, up 547% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 416% more

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 52% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 21% more.

$879,218

Federal grants, for comparison: $861,253 in FY25.

Business awards

Every award statewide

State economic development awards

1 business has state awards in CHEROKEE: $2.4M in grants, loans and tax benefits, for 392 jobs.14

  • Lopez Foods, Inc.
    High Quality Jobs Program · FY20 · Under contract: Building · 392 jobs required
    $2.4M

Community college new jobs training: 6 contracts since 2009 worth $3.6M, for 350 pledged jobs.

Awards 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)15.

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

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Cherokee; 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.

  • Cherokee City Council At-Large
    Now held by John Nitz
  • Cherokee City Council Ward 1
    Now held by Amy Loughlin
  • Cherokee City Council Ward 3
    Now held by Wayne Pingel

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here16.

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 ballot17.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress18

Lynn Evans (Sen. 3)Zach Dieken (Rep. 5)

U.S. House:District 4

Cherokee CountyCherokee schools