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Local taxes › Cherokee County › Cleghorn

City

Cleghorn

Cherokee County · How cities work

$2,460 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($29.27 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$880 a yearof that goes to the city ($10.49 per $1,000)
$80,076property taxes the city levies, FY27
$285,067city 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.

  • Jennifer HuffCleghorn City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Tom DilockerCleghorn City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Joe SchlengerCleghorn City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Kevin ChristensenCleghorn City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Stephanie HillCleghorn City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Tim PetersenCleghorn Mayor · 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 Cleghorn

Homes and businesses in most of Cleghorn pay a combined $29.27 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, $10.49. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$29.93$14.73
FY21$25.59$10.08
FY22$28.29$10.08
FY23$28.11$10.11
FY24$28.79$10.12
FY25$29.57$10.41
FY26$28.99$10.55
FY27$29.27$10.49
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$29.93$14.73
FY21$25.59$10.08
FY22$28.29$10.08
FY23$28.11$10.11
FY24$28.79$10.12
FY25$29.57$10.41
FY26$28.99$10.55
FY27$29.27$10.49

Compared with places this size3

Cleghorn’s city property tax rate of $10.49 per $1,000 is the 72nd lowest of 197 Iowa cities with 160–350 people. The middle of the group is $11.78.

Fenton: $22.05Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Elliott: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Coin: $19.59Garden Grove: $19.20Fort Atkinson: $19.19Hastings: $18.95Cumberland: $18.42Jamaica: $18.24Massena: $18.23Hillsboro: $17.68Ringsted: $17.65Pierson: $17.12Pisgah: $17.09Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Prescott: $16.53Irwin: $16.46Montour: $16.37Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Granville: $16.00Minburn: $15.75Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Kamrar: $15.47Peterson: $15.27Greeley: $15.23Riverton: $14.94Marathon: $14.89Ryan: $14.84Ladora: $14.74Magnolia: $14.68Bagley: $14.63Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Garrison: $14.38Halbur: $14.37Crystal Lake: $14.36Kimballton: $14.27Steamboat Rock: $14.19Westgate: $14.05Mystic: $14.01Diagonal: $13.91Mondamin: $13.82Fertile: $13.70Stockport: $13.68Kellerton: $13.60Quimby: $13.58Meservey: $13.43Persia: $13.41Lacona: $13.38Leland: $13.31Ute: $13.26Harcourt: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Silver City: $12.87Patterson: $12.84Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Blencoe: $12.57Williams: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Clearfield: $12.50Kensett: $12.47Mccausland: $12.45Aurora: $12.40Modale: $12.34Mingo: $12.31Brandon: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Cushing: $12.18Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Macedonia: $12.12Paton: $12.09Decatur: $12.08Kiron: $12.03Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Liscomb: $11.96New Providence: $11.88Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Joice: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Cantril: $11.69Kelley: $11.69Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Cincinnati: $11.57Delta: $11.52Terril: $11.48Westside: $11.45College Springs: $11.44Holland: $11.37Mallard: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Rake: $11.05Frederika: $10.99Alexander: $10.90Goose Lake: $10.89Yale: $10.85Lambs Grove: $10.78Hornick: $10.74Woden: $10.68Bode: $10.64Calamus: $10.47Danbury: $10.43Lytton: $10.38Stockton: $10.37Rhodes: $10.36Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $10.28Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24Bronson: $10.14Hancock: $10.13Rudd: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Melvin: $10.05Defiance: $10.05Floyd: $10.02Barnum: $9.96Panama: $9.85Grafton: $9.83Ionia: $9.65Salix: $9.63Van Wert: $9.62Kirkville: $9.59Luxemburg: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Elberon: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Lester: $8.94Blairsburg: $8.93Oakville: $8.89Harvey: $8.71Washta: $8.65Moorland: $8.61Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Rowley: $8.31South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Bertram: $8.10Fostoria: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Nichols: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Luana: $7.98Lockridge: $7.92Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Lidderdale: $7.68Pulaski: $7.58Sheldahl: $7.56Fredonia: $7.55Harpers Ferry: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Donahue: $6.83Packwood: $6.77Libertyville: $6.60Keswick: $6.49Crawfordsville: $6.44Holy Cross: $5.91Oakland Acres: $5.88Conesville: $5.86Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87Wahpeton: $3.19West Okoboji: $2.92Sherrill: $2.66Rickardsville: $2.27Cleghorn: $10.49$2.27 lowest$22.05 highestmiddle
See all 197
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Fenton$22.05250
2Soldier$21.92176
3Coulter$21.80220
4Chelsea$21.61207
5Elliott$21.61328
6Smithland$21.12184
7Volga$20.23200
8Alta Vista$19.88219
9Arthur$19.86218
10Coin$19.59171
11Garden Grove$19.20173
12Fort Atkinson$19.19300
13Hastings$18.95157
14Cumberland$18.42248
15Jamaica$18.24196
16Massena$18.23352
17Hillsboro$17.68158
18Ringsted$17.65346
19Pierson$17.12335
20Pisgah$17.09248
21Lakota$16.84261
22Marble Rock$16.78258
23Auburn$16.65253
24Prescott$16.53186
25Irwin$16.46320
26Montour$16.37199
27Corwith$16.22259
28Deep River$16.18243
29Waucoma$16.17235
30Granville$16.00302
31Minburn$15.75317
32Little Sioux$15.74170
33Moorhead$15.68186
34Onslow$15.63198
35Linden$15.62206
36Kamrar$15.47178
37Peterson$15.27321
38Greeley$15.23216
39Riverton$14.94243
40Marathon$14.89221
41Ryan$14.84348
42Ladora$14.74223
43Magnolia$14.68194
44Bagley$14.63230
45Davis City$14.45178
46Lucas$14.40176
47Garrison$14.38345
48Halbur$14.37268
49Crystal Lake$14.36243
50Kimballton$14.27281
51Steamboat Rock$14.19261
52Westgate$14.05190
53Mystic$14.01318
54Diagonal$13.91331
55Mondamin$13.82335
56Fertile$13.70300
57Stockport$13.68272
58Kellerton$13.60241
59Quimby$13.58245
60Meservey$13.43212
61Persia$13.41292
62Lacona$13.38336
63Leland$13.31240
64Ute$13.26326
65Harcourt$13.21257
66Bennett$13.16330
67Ridgeway$13.10261
68Farmersburg$13.09264
69Portsmouth$13.05187
70Clutier$13.03209
71Menlo$12.92347
72Templeton$12.91337
73Silver City$12.87244
74Patterson$12.84176
75Martelle$12.83250
76Malcom$12.82257
77Blencoe$12.57223
78Williams$12.57299
79Maurice$12.56271
80Clearfield$12.50277
81Kensett$12.47256
82Mccausland$12.45314
83Aurora$12.40165
84Modale$12.34284
85Mingo$12.31314
86Brandon$12.29331
87Blakesburg$12.21273
88Cushing$12.18225
89Hanlontown$12.17200
90Stout$12.14194
91Macedonia$12.12266
92Paton$12.09217
93Decatur$12.08174
94Kiron$12.03262
95Rembrandt$12.03199
96Shambaugh$11.98161
97Liscomb$11.96292
98New Providence$11.88233
99Parnell$11.78190
100Reasnor$11.76157
101Joice$11.72206
102Atalissa$11.71287
103Cantril$11.69224
104Kelley$11.69312
105Wadena$11.65201
106Exline$11.60157
107Cincinnati$11.57280
108Delta$11.52257
109Terril$11.48310
110Westside$11.45283
111College Springs$11.44172
112Holland$11.37261
113Mallard$11.28255
114Renwick$11.16228
115Dundee$11.14193
116Randolph$11.08183
117Rake$11.05179
118Frederika$10.99206
119Alexander$10.90165
120Goose Lake$10.89250
121Yale$10.85265
122Lambs Grove$10.78174
123Hornick$10.74255
124Woden$10.68183
125Bode$10.64304
126Cleghorn$10.49235
127Calamus$10.47348
128Danbury$10.43315
129Lytton$10.38274
130Stockton$10.37171
131Rhodes$10.36269
132Dedham$10.28221
133Deloit$10.28246
134Protivin$10.28264
135Meriden$10.28175
136Drakesville$10.24170
137Bronson$10.14294
138Hancock$10.13199
139Rudd$10.13339
140La Motte$10.09235
141Melvin$10.05196
142Defiance$10.05248
143Floyd$10.02297
144Barnum$9.96186
145Panama$9.85234
146Grafton$9.83212
147Ionia$9.65220
148Salix$9.63303
149Van Wert$9.62175
150Kirkville$9.59159
151Luxemburg$9.58240
152Rippey$9.42217
153Elberon$9.16178
154Dixon$9.03204
155Lester$8.94309
156Blairsburg$8.93175
157Oakville$8.89198
158Harvey$8.71242
159Washta$8.65206
160Moorland$8.61169
161Ollie$8.44196
162Thor$8.38182
163Rowley$8.31264
164South English$8.27196
165Thurman$8.26162
166Boxholm$8.11177
167Bertram$8.10267
168Fostoria$8.10229
169Low Moor$8.10242
170Nichols$8.10317
171Laurel$8.10214
172Lineville$8.10194
173Luana$7.98303
174Lockridge$7.92245
175Mount Auburn$7.86162
176Haverhill$7.86164
177Grand River$7.86192
178Olds$7.86174
179Lidderdale$7.68162
180Pulaski$7.58259
181Sheldahl$7.56312
182Fredonia$7.55227
183Harpers Ferry$7.49273
184Alvord$7.41216
185Donahue$6.83336
186Packwood$6.77186
187Libertyville$6.60278
188Keswick$6.49238
189Crawfordsville$6.44278
190Holy Cross$5.91348
191Oakland Acres$5.88178
192Conesville$5.86350
193Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
194Wahpeton$3.19337
195West Okoboji$2.92311
196Sherrill$2.66176
197Rickardsville$2.27204

The $8.10 limit

Cleghorn’s general levy is $7.84 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.26 below the limit.4 683 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.23 · FY26 $8.00 · FY27 $7.84 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $2.65 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.70 · $12,942
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$0.95 · $7,263

Tax increment financing (TIF)

$3.6M of taxable value in Cleghorn is in TIF districts’ increment (32% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.6 It budgeted $83,606 in TIF revenue for FY25.

$44,592
$38,528

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 $37,693 of the city’s own.

  • Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn schools$30,292
  • Cherokee County$13,970
YearTIF revenue
FY16$44,592
FY17$38,751
FY18$38,473
FY20$41,828
FY21$42,212
FY22$44,017
FY23$38,528
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$44,592
FY17$38,751
FY18$38,473
FY20$41,828
FY21$42,212
FY22$44,017
FY23$38,528

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$59,67275%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$12,94216%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$7,2639%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Cleghorn’s budget goes, FY26

Public Works: 23¢ of every dollar23¢Community and Economic Development: 20¢ of every dollar20¢General Government: 16¢ of every dollar16¢Business Type / Enterprise: 16¢ of every dollar16¢Debt Service: 11¢ of every dollar11¢Everything else: 12¢ of every dollar12¢

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 195 Iowa cities closest in size (160–350 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (195)
Public Works23¢21¢
Community and Economic Development20¢2¢
General Government16¢19¢
Business Type / Enterprise16¢35¢
Debt Service11¢3¢
Everything else12¢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.

  • Public Works$70,50025%
  • Community and Economic Development$62,52722%
  • General Government$57,00020%
  • Debt Service$45,84016%
  • Culture and Recreation$42,80015%
  • Public Safety$6,4002%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($51,000 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$76,950$98,320
Public Safety$5,400$5,331
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$46,500$43,900
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$31,090$30,985
Community and Economic Development$5,500$63,906
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$65,000$41,285

What it spent each year

FY24 left out8

$817,668
$336,075

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Cleghorn owes

$217,400 at June 30, 2026: $906 per resident. 565th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).9

$487,737
$217,400
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$217,400$906
2025$295,574$1,232
2024$375,315$1,564
2023$404,202$1,684
2022$438,204$1,826
2021$477,136$1,988
2020$487,737$2,032
2019$73,799$307
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$217,400$906
2025$295,574$1,232
2024$375,315$1,564
2023$404,202$1,684
2022$438,204$1,826
2021$477,136$1,988
2020$487,737$2,032
2019$73,799$307
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

Up 195% since 2019.

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances10. Cleghorn’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Sunday, March 31, 2024 (PDF).

Audits11

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Sunday, March 31, 2024 (PDF), released Thursday, April 24, 2025, by a CPA firm.

1 earlier report for Cleghorn

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? 12

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: $33,142 in FY25, up 10% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 12% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$32,102$32,101$32,963$33,142

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−12%$30,000 → $33,142, up 10% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 12% 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 45% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 16% more.

$38,721

Federal grants, for comparison: $24,626 in FY19.

Business awards

Every award statewide

Elections

Running for mayor and city council

Filing opens Monday, August 23, 2027: in 285 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)13.

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 · 1

2 seats: the top 2 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Cleghorn; 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.

  • Cleghorn City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Kevin Christensen, Joe Schlenger, Stephanie Hill
  • Cleghorn Mayor
    Now held by Tim Petersen

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here14.

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 ballot15.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress16

Kevin Alons (Sen. 7)Travis M. Sitzmann (Rep. 13)

U.S. House:District 4

Cherokee CountyMarcus-Meriden-Cleghorn schools