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Local taxes › Cherokee County › Meriden

City

Meriden

Cherokee County · How cities work

$2,450 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($29.05 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$870 a yearof that goes to the city ($10.28 per $1,000)
$38,890property taxes the city levies, FY27
$262,639city 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.

  • Cynthia RicklefsMeriden City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Douglas DirksMeriden City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • James ThatcherMeriden Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Nicole GlassmakerMeriden City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Trevor R. StevensonMeriden City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Adam SchossowMeriden City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Jim ThatcherMeriden 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 Meriden

Homes and businesses in most of Meriden pay a combined $29.05 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, $10.28. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$27.74$12.53
FY21$28.14$12.64
FY22$30.78$12.57
FY23$30.57$12.57
FY24$31.57$12.90
FY25$32.15$12.99
FY26$29.84$11.40
FY27$29.05$10.28
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$27.74$12.53
FY21$28.14$12.64
FY22$30.78$12.57
FY23$30.57$12.57
FY24$31.57$12.90
FY25$32.15$12.99
FY26$29.84$11.40
FY27$29.05$10.28

Compared with places this size3

Meriden’s city property tax rate of $10.28 per $1,000 is the 79th lowest of 200 Iowa cities with 120–260 people. The middle of the group is $11.22.

Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Fenton: $22.05Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Coin: $19.59Rowan: $19.53Chester: $19.30Bouton: $19.25Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Cumberland: $18.42Jamaica: $18.24Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Pisgah: $17.09Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Prescott: $16.53Monmouth: $16.41Blockton: $16.37Montour: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Woodburn: $15.59Kamrar: $15.47Greeley: $15.23Goodell: $15.16Riverton: $14.94Marathon: $14.89Ladora: $14.74Magnolia: $14.68Bagley: $14.63Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Crystal Lake: $14.36Steamboat Rock: $14.19Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Kellerton: $13.60Quimby: $13.58Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Meservey: $13.43Leland: $13.31Harcourt: $13.21Calumet: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Silver City: $12.87Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Clemons: $12.69Blencoe: $12.57Kensett: $12.47Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Bridgewater: $12.29Cushing: $12.18Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Webb: $12.10Paton: $12.09Decatur: $12.08Kiron: $12.03Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92East Peru: $11.89New Providence: $11.88Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Ledyard: $11.74Joice: $11.72Cantril: $11.69Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54Delta: $11.52College Springs: $11.44Holland: $11.37Mallard: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Somers: $10.99Frederika: $10.99Havelock: $10.95Alexander: $10.90Goose Lake: $10.89Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Hornick: $10.74Woden: $10.68Cleghorn: $10.49Barnes City: $10.44Stockton: $10.37Randall: $10.35Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24Hancock: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Melvin: $10.05Defiance: $10.05Barnum: $9.96Panama: $9.85Grafton: $9.83Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Ionia: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Luxemburg: $9.58Superior: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Hamilton: $9.35Floris: $9.29Mitchell: $9.22Westphalia: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Welton: $8.86Luther: $8.83Harvey: $8.71Washta: $8.65Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Fostoria: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Westfield: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Lockridge: $7.92Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Mcclelland: $7.79Lidderdale: $7.68Pulaski: $7.58Bernard: $7.56Fredonia: $7.55Braddyville: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Franklin: $7.31Weldon: $7.18Brunsville: $6.95Packwood: $6.77Houghton: $6.73Williamson: $6.72Keswick: $6.49Lincoln: $6.32Gravity: $6.18Ackworth: $5.90Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Harper: $5.29Panorama Park: $4.62Sherrill: $2.66Centralia: $2.41Rickardsville: $2.27New Liberty: $2.27Meriden: $10.28$2.27 lowest$25.07 highestmiddle
See all 200
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Brayton$25.07138
2Harris$23.13145
3Fenton$22.05250
4Soldier$21.92176
5Coulter$21.80220
6Chelsea$21.61207
7Smithland$21.12184
8Volga$20.23200
9Alta Vista$19.88219
10Arthur$19.86218
11Coin$19.59171
12Rowan$19.53118
13Chester$19.30134
14Bouton$19.25125
15Garden Grove$19.20173
16Hastings$18.95157
17Swaledale$18.62136
18Cumberland$18.42248
19Jamaica$18.24196
20Hillsboro$17.68158
21Bristow$17.39139
22Woolstock$17.26141
23Pisgah$17.09248
24Lakota$16.84261
25Marble Rock$16.78258
26Auburn$16.65253
27Prescott$16.53186
28Monmouth$16.41129
29Blockton$16.37123
30Montour$16.37199
31Geneva$16.25137
32Corwith$16.22259
33Deep River$16.18243
34Waucoma$16.17235
35Little Sioux$15.74170
36Moorhead$15.68186
37Onslow$15.63198
38Linden$15.62206
39Woodburn$15.59133
40Kamrar$15.47178
41Greeley$15.23216
42Goodell$15.16139
43Riverton$14.94243
44Marathon$14.89221
45Ladora$14.74223
46Magnolia$14.68194
47Bagley$14.63230
48Davis City$14.45178
49Lucas$14.40176
50Crystal Lake$14.36243
51Steamboat Rock$14.19261
52Westgate$14.05190
53Palmer$13.89137
54Kellerton$13.60241
55Quimby$13.58245
56Ayrshire$13.55128
57Searsboro$13.55129
58Meservey$13.43212
59Leland$13.31240
60Harcourt$13.21257
61Calumet$13.16144
62Ridgeway$13.10261
63Portsmouth$13.05187
64Clutier$13.03209
65Silver City$12.87244
66Delaware$12.86139
67Patterson$12.84176
68Martelle$12.83250
69Malcom$12.82257
70Clemons$12.69135
71Blencoe$12.57223
72Kensett$12.47256
73Millersburg$12.40135
74Aurora$12.40165
75Bridgewater$12.29145
76Cushing$12.18225
77Hanlontown$12.17200
78Stout$12.14194
79Webb$12.10139
80Paton$12.09217
81Decatur$12.08174
82Kiron$12.03262
83Rembrandt$12.03199
84Shambaugh$11.98161
85Lone Rock$11.92143
86East Peru$11.89119
87New Providence$11.88233
88Henderson$11.85140
89Parnell$11.78190
90Reasnor$11.76157
91Ledyard$11.74118
92Joice$11.72206
93Cantril$11.69224
94Wadena$11.65201
95Exline$11.60157
96Beaman$11.54155
97Delta$11.52257
98College Springs$11.44172
99Holland$11.37261
100Mallard$11.28255
101Renwick$11.16228
102Linn Grove$11.15155
103Dundee$11.14193
104Randolph$11.08183
105Leighton$11.07153
106Rake$11.05179
107Somers$10.99121
108Frederika$10.99206
109Havelock$10.95127
110Alexander$10.90165
111Goose Lake$10.89250
112Lambs Grove$10.78174
113Wallingford$10.75154
114Hornick$10.74255
115Woden$10.68183
116Cleghorn$10.49235
117Barnes City$10.44152
118Stockton$10.37171
119Randall$10.35156
120Dedham$10.28221
121Deloit$10.28246
122Meriden$10.28175
123Drakesville$10.24170
124Hancock$10.13199
125La Motte$10.09235
126Melvin$10.05196
127Defiance$10.05248
128Barnum$9.96186
129Panama$9.85234
130Grafton$9.83212
131Clare$9.81133
132Tingley$9.81146
133Ionia$9.65220
134Van Wert$9.62175
135Rock Falls$9.61143
136Kirkville$9.59159
137Luxemburg$9.58240
138Superior$9.58127
139Rippey$9.42217
140Hamilton$9.35125
141Floris$9.29119
142Mitchell$9.22118
143Westphalia$9.18133
144Elberon$9.16178
145Dixon$9.03204
146Blairsburg$8.93175
147Prairieburg$8.91156
148Oakville$8.89198
149Welton$8.86124
150Luther$8.83147
151Harvey$8.71242
152Washta$8.65206
153Moorland$8.61169
154Pilot Mound$8.54155
155Ollie$8.44196
156Thor$8.38182
157South English$8.27196
158Thurman$8.26162
159Boxholm$8.11177
160Fostoria$8.10229
161Low Moor$8.10242
162Westfield$8.10121
163Laurel$8.10214
164Lineville$8.10194
165Vincent$8.09125
166Lockridge$7.92245
167Mount Auburn$7.86162
168Haverhill$7.86164
169Grand River$7.86192
170Olds$7.86174
171Castalia$7.86141
172Dickens$7.86146
173Rose Hill$7.86156
174West Chester$7.82147
175Mcclelland$7.79147
176Lidderdale$7.68162
177Pulaski$7.58259
178Bernard$7.56117
179Fredonia$7.55227
180Braddyville$7.49142
181Alvord$7.41216
182Franklin$7.31133
183Weldon$7.18134
184Brunsville$6.95128
185Packwood$6.77186
186Houghton$6.73129
187Williamson$6.72126
188Keswick$6.49238
189Lincoln$6.32119
190Gravity$6.18149
191Ackworth$5.90117
192Oakland Acres$5.88178
193Springbrook$5.79145
194Maysville$5.77155
195Harper$5.29117
196Panorama Park$4.62142
197Sherrill$2.66176
198Centralia$2.41117
199Rickardsville$2.27204
200New Liberty$2.27141

The $8.10 limit

Meriden’s general levy is $6.92 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $1.18 below the limit.4 853 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $7.86 · FY26 $7.68 · FY27 $6.92 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $3.35 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$3.35 · $12,684

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$26,20667%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$12,68433%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Meriden’s budget goes, FY26

Public Safety: 43¢ of every dollar43¢General Government: 20¢ of every dollar20¢Business Type / Enterprise: 18¢ of every dollar18¢Public Works: 17¢ of every dollar17¢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 198 Iowa cities closest in size (120–260 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (198)
Public Safety43¢9¢
General Government20¢22¢
Business Type / Enterprise18¢31¢
Public Works17¢24¢
Culture and Recreation2¢8¢
Everything else<1¢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.

  • Public Safety$136,84452%
  • Public Works$63,57224%
  • General Government$48,31318%
  • Culture and Recreation$13,5705%
  • Community and Economic Development$3400%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($66,827 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$65,400$43,242
Public Safety$3,500$744
Health and Social Services$500$0
General Government$0$60,288
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$11,200$11,582
Community and Economic Development$0$333
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$0$82,878

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$490,392

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Meriden owes

$187,783 at June 30, 2026: $1,166 per resident. 519th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$307,353
$187,783
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$187,783$1,166
2025$211,887$1,316
2024$182,000$1,130
2023$218,000$1,354
2022$218,000$1,354
2021$218,000$1,354
2020$229,000$1,422
2019$240,000$1,491
2018$250,000$1,553
2017$260,000$1,615
2016$270,000$1,677
2015$280,000$1,739
2014$289,000$1,795
2013$298,000$1,851
2012$307,353$1,909
2011$0$0
2010$21,847$136
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$187,783$1,166
2025$211,887$1,316
2024$182,000$1,130
2023$218,000$1,354
2022$218,000$1,354
2021$218,000$1,354
2020$229,000$1,422
2019$240,000$1,491
2018$250,000$1,553
2017$260,000$1,615
2016$270,000$1,677
2015$280,000$1,739
2014$289,000$1,795
2013$298,000$1,851
2012$307,353$1,909
2011$0$0
2010$21,847$136

Up 760% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $354,303 (5% of $7.1M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

2 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsSewer Renovation2036$156,000
LoansSnowplow Purchase2030$31,783

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. Meriden’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Friday, March 31, 2023 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Friday, March 31, 2023 (PDF), released Monday, February 12, 2024, by a CPA firm.

1 earlier report for Meriden

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: $22,688 in FY25, up 8% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 14% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$22,206$21,997$22,565$22,688
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$198–––

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.

$324
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$0
    FY21$0
    FY22$0
    FY23$324
    FY24$149
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$0
    FY21$0
    FY22$0
    FY23$324
    FY24$149
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−12%$20,541 → $22,688, 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 55% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 24% more.

    $25,023

    Federal grants, for comparison: $11,065 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 · 3

    3 seats: the top 3 win.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Meriden; 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.

    • Meriden City Council At-Large (2 seats)
      Now held by Adam Schossow, Jim Thatcher
    • Meriden Mayor
      Now held by James Thatcher

    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

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

    U.S. House:District 4

    Cherokee CountyMarcus-Meriden-Cleghorn schools