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Local taxes › Clarke County › Murray

City

Murray

Clarke County · How cities work

$3,620 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($42.95 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,470 a yearof that goes to the city ($17.44 per $1,000)
$278,740property taxes the city levies, FY27
$2.9Mcity 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.

  • Bethany RiemenschneiderMurray City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Robert L MyersMurray City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Roy StroudMurray Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Ben HeathMurray City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Pat ONeilMurray City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Steve JurshakMurray 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 Murray

Homes and businesses in most of Murray pay a combined $42.95 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Clarke County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $17.44. Estimate your bill.

  • City of Murray$17.4441%
  • Murray schools$13.0030%
  • Clarke County$7.8818%
  • Clarke County Hospital$2.506%
  • Southwestern Community College$1.072%
  • Clarke County Assessor$0.742%
  • Clarke County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.31<1%

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$42.64$15.93
FY21$47.19$21.57
FY22$39.48$18.97
FY23$37.92$17.77
FY24$42.93$17.77
FY25$39.19$18.12
FY26$44.12$18.12
FY27$42.95$17.44
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$42.64$15.93
FY21$47.19$21.57
FY22$39.48$18.97
FY23$37.92$17.77
FY24$42.93$17.77
FY25$39.19$18.12
FY26$44.12$18.12
FY27$42.95$17.44

Compared with places this size3

Murray’s city property tax rate of $17.44 per $1,000 is the 19th highest of 179 Iowa cities with 410–910 people. The middle of the group is $12.88.

Exira: $24.81Rolfe: $22.67Dayton: $22.51Charter Oak: $21.32Oxford Junction: $20.84Correctionville: $19.84Pomeroy: $19.60Dumont: $19.04Seymour: $18.78Dexter: $18.69Fonda: $18.52Kanawha: $18.11Swea City: $18.04Alden: $17.90Elma: $17.82Dows: $17.70New Hartford: $17.69Walnut: $17.46Thompson: $17.25Ashton: $17.17Colo: $17.14Latimer: $16.96Adair: $16.84Elk Horn: $16.78Oxford: $16.70Buffalo Center: $16.58Whittemore: $16.54Bancroft: $16.52Titonka: $16.45Eldon: $16.42Early: $16.35Truro: $16.34Scranton: $16.01Armstrong: $15.87Ruthven: $15.84Minden: $15.77Walker: $15.74Newell: $15.49Riceville: $15.31Russell: $15.18Gilbertville: $15.15Stanwood: $15.12Stratford: $15.03Zearing: $14.99Readlyn: $14.99Arlington: $14.98Maynard: $14.85Otho: $14.82Wyoming: $14.81Humeston: $14.80Hopkinton: $14.79Essex: $14.76Gilmore City: $14.60Garnavillo: $14.52Maxwell: $14.50Sabula: $14.38Collins: $14.32Clermont: $14.30Moulton: $14.25Ocheyedan: $14.22Mcgregor: $14.20Olin: $14.19Primghar: $14.18Garwin: $14.08Farragut: $14.07Elgin: $14.05Lime Springs: $13.95Dow City: $13.94Ossian: $13.88Redfield: $13.73Victor: $13.72Edgewood: $13.64Sioux Rapids: $13.63Donnellson: $13.63Albion: $13.58Gladbrook: $13.58Lamont: $13.57New Albin: $13.55Rockford: $13.52Boyden: $13.39Van Horne: $13.27Keota: $13.21Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Anthon: $13.05Little Rock: $13.03Coggon: $12.99Earlville: $12.90Brighton: $12.88Danville: $12.87Montrose: $12.78Goldfield: $12.73Wellsburg: $12.68Delmar: $12.68Galva: $12.68Badger: $12.67Martensdale: $12.63Stanton: $12.62Hospers: $12.58Norway: $12.53Everly: $12.51Hazleton: $12.48West Point: $12.39Alburnett: $12.30Hubbard: $12.30Moravia: $12.27Hedrick: $12.22Carson: $12.22Wheatland: $12.18Schaller: $12.14Hawkeye: $12.11Afton: $11.96Lowden: $11.93Albert City: $11.88Runnells: $11.79Allerton: $11.72Merrill: $11.64Ellsworth: $11.57Morning Sun: $11.50Battle Creek: $11.49Wall Lake: $11.43West Bend: $11.42Dakota City: $11.39Dunkerton: $11.30Sutherland: $11.25Arcadia: $11.23Whiting: $11.21Shelby: $11.17Blairstown: $11.04Manilla: $11.01Hamburg: $10.95Ireton: $10.93Fontanelle: $10.88Richland: $10.82Grand Mound: $10.78Batavia: $10.77Cambridge: $10.53Lovilia: $10.46Swisher: $10.39Schleswig: $10.39Melbourne: $10.38Radcliffe: $10.37Stacyville: $10.36Ventura: $10.22Milo: $10.20Hartford: $10.16What Cheer: $10.01Newhall: $9.99Cumming: $9.85Graettinger: $9.81Breda: $9.80Doon: $9.78Long Grove: $9.59Alleman: $9.12Winthrop: $8.94Crescent: $8.72Ainsworth: $8.62Grand Junction: $8.57Gilman: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Kellogg: $8.10Lakeside: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Agency: $7.94Hills: $7.94Fremont: $7.86Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Beacon: $7.56Sully: $7.41Marquette: $7.08Raymond: $6.85Keystone: $6.80Shueyville: $6.79New Virginia: $5.97University Park: $5.27Orleans: $4.13Okoboji: $3.83Murray: $17.44$3.83 lowest$24.81 highestmiddle
See all 179
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Exira$24.81766
2Rolfe$22.67505
3Dayton$22.51766
4Charter Oak$21.32521
5Oxford Junction$20.84424
6Correctionville$19.84759
7Pomeroy$19.60511
8Dumont$19.04614
9Seymour$18.78646
10Dexter$18.69631
11Fonda$18.52636
12Kanawha$18.11638
13Swea City$18.04545
14Alden$17.90738
15Elma$17.82493
16Dows$17.70509
17New Hartford$17.69555
18Walnut$17.46728
19Murray$17.44609
20Thompson$17.25478
21Ashton$17.17434
22Colo$17.14856
23Latimer$16.96477
24Adair$16.84792
25Elk Horn$16.78631
26Oxford$16.70715
27Buffalo Center$16.58839
28Whittemore$16.54478
29Bancroft$16.52677
30Titonka$16.45491
31Eldon$16.42788
32Early$16.35571
33Truro$16.34515
34Scranton$16.01496
35Armstrong$15.87847
36Ruthven$15.84710
37Minden$15.77581
38Walker$15.74671
39Newell$15.49850
40Riceville$15.31807
41Russell$15.18475
42Gilbertville$15.15792
43Stanwood$15.12612
44Stratford$15.03688
45Zearing$14.99508
46Readlyn$14.99857
47Arlington$14.98415
48Maynard$14.85466
49Otho$14.82417
50Wyoming$14.81526
51Humeston$14.80472
52Hopkinton$14.79622
53Essex$14.76721
54Gilmore City$14.60484
55Garnavillo$14.52751
56Maxwell$14.50862
57Sabula$14.38498
58Collins$14.32503
59Clermont$14.30571
60Moulton$14.25596
61Ocheyedan$14.22424
62Mcgregor$14.20725
63Olin$14.19652
64Primghar$14.18893
65Garwin$14.08469
66Farragut$14.07480
67Elgin$14.05676
68Lime Springs$13.95467
69Dow City$13.94477
70Ossian$13.88777
71Redfield$13.73719
72Victor$13.72852
73Edgewood$13.64908
74Sioux Rapids$13.63722
75Donnellson$13.63859
76Albion$13.58444
77Gladbrook$13.58775
78Lamont$13.57429
79New Albin$13.55435
80Rockford$13.52722
81Boyden$13.39694
82Van Horne$13.27768
83Keota$13.21888
84Quasqueton$13.12587
85Farmington$13.10583
86Anthon$13.05534
87Little Rock$13.03447
88Coggon$12.99691
89Earlville$12.90713
90Brighton$12.88592
91Danville$12.87910
92Montrose$12.78734
93Goldfield$12.73617
94Wellsburg$12.68709
95Delmar$12.68541
96Galva$12.68416
97Badger$12.67540
98Martensdale$12.63413
99Stanton$12.62664
100Hospers$12.58703
101Norway$12.53463
102Everly$12.51570
103Hazleton$12.48711
104West Point$12.39903
105Alburnett$12.30672
106Hubbard$12.30837
107Moravia$12.27625
108Hedrick$12.22717
109Carson$12.22772
110Wheatland$12.18765
111Schaller$12.14702
112Hawkeye$12.11429
113Afton$11.96864
114Lowden$11.93767
115Albert City$11.88627
116Runnells$11.79467
117Allerton$11.72432
118Merrill$11.64713
119Ellsworth$11.57495
120Morning Sun$11.50702
121Battle Creek$11.49683
122Wall Lake$11.43739
123West Bend$11.42770
124Dakota City$11.39764
125Dunkerton$11.30840
126Sutherland$11.25628
127Arcadia$11.23588
128Whiting$11.21725
129Shelby$11.17730
130Blairstown$11.04705
131Manilla$11.01756
132Hamburg$10.95863
133Ireton$10.93571
134Fontanelle$10.88684
135Richland$10.82532
136Grand Mound$10.78608
137Batavia$10.77434
138Cambridge$10.53844
139Lovilia$10.46456
140Swisher$10.39909
141Schleswig$10.39820
142Melbourne$10.38771
143Radcliffe$10.37540
144Stacyville$10.36436
145Ventura$10.22701
146Milo$10.20762
147Hartford$10.16729
148What Cheer$10.01595
149Newhall$9.99887
150Cumming$9.85527
151Graettinger$9.81810
152Breda$9.80492
153Doon$9.78640
154Long Grove$9.59849
155Alleman$9.12439
156Winthrop$8.94814
157Crescent$8.72626
158Ainsworth$8.62511
159Grand Junction$8.57715
160Gilman$8.10530
161Grandview$8.10431
162Kellogg$8.10597
163Lakeside$8.10695
164Lost Nation$8.10425
165Agency$7.94623
166Hills$7.94911
167Fremont$7.86688
168Delhi$7.81438
169Klemme$7.74429
170Beacon$7.56434
171Sully$7.41891
172Marquette$7.08434
173Raymond$6.85754
174Keystone$6.80616
175Shueyville$6.79725
176New Virginia$5.97499
177University Park$5.27476
178Orleans$4.13503
179Okoboji$3.83729

The $8.10 limit

Murray’s general levy is $8.00 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.10 below the limit.4 441 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

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

Outside the limit: $9.45 more5

  • Debt Service Levy$6.59 · $105,129
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.85 · $29,548
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.01 · $16,054

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$127,55646%
  • Debt Service Levy$105,12938%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$29,54811%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$16,0546%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Murray’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 37¢ of every dollar37¢General Government: 30¢ of every dollar30¢Culture and Recreation: 21¢ of every dollar21¢Public Works: 6¢ of every dollarDebt Service: 4¢ of every dollarEverything else: 2¢ 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 178 Iowa cities closest in size (410–910 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (178)
Business Type / Enterprise37¢40¢
General Government30¢12¢
Culture and Recreation21¢9¢
Public Works6¢17¢
Debt Service4¢5¢
Everything else2¢10¢

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$2.6M88%
  • Public Works$142,4915%
  • Debt Service$106,7374%
  • Culture and Recreation$62,5062%
  • Public Safety$50,7902%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($1.0M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$154,915$523,287
Public Safety$44,981$45,043
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$251,483$319,995
Debt Service$64,954$79,431
Culture and Recreation$39,114$72,544
Community and Economic Development$0$0
Capital Projects$200,000$188,546
Business Type / Enterprise$422,430$456,480

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$4.1M
$1.4M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Murray owes

$2.3M at June 30, 2026: $3,299 per resident. 251st most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$2.6M
$2.3M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$2.3M$3,299
2025$2.4M$3,459
2024$2.5M$3,595
2023$2.6M$3,735
2022$2.3M$3,381
2021$2.4M$3,479
2020$1.7M$2,448
2019$634,214$927
2018$302,921$443
2017$241,092$352
2016$91,185$133
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$17,911$26
2010$22,539$33
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$2.3M$3,299
2025$2.4M$3,459
2024$2.5M$3,595
2023$2.6M$3,735
2022$2.3M$3,381
2021$2.4M$3,479
2020$1.7M$2,448
2019$634,214$927
2018$302,921$443
2017$241,092$352
2016$91,185$133
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$17,911$26
2010$22,539$33

Up 9912% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $908,754, 61% of the limit of about $1.5M (5% of $29.9M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

5 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsWater Line Replacement2059$811,927
General ObligationSTREET CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR FY20/212040$663,754
Revenue BondsStorm water2059$377,374
General ObligationFY23 STREET MAINTENANCE2033$245,000
Revenue BondsWater Revenue Bond2059$158,457

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. Murray’s latest audit has them: Annual Examination, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Annual Examination for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Monday, November 24, 2025, by a CPA firm.

9 earlier reports for Murray

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: $97,141 in FY25, down 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 21% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$97,363$94,126$96,617$97,141

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.

$49,474
$22,500
  • State grants$22,500100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$49,474
FY20$0
FY21$0
FY22$0
FY23$0
FY24$0
FY25$22,500
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$49,474
FY20$0
FY21$0
FY22$0
FY23$0
FY24$0
FY25$22,500

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−21%$97,664 → $97,141, down 1% 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 27% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 1% more.

$161,831
$147,371

Federal grants, for comparison: $22,866 in FY25.

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

2 seats: the top 2 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Murray; 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.

  • Murray City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Ben Heath, Pat ONeil, Steve Jurshak
  • Murray Mayor
    Now held by Roy Stroud

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

Amy Sinclair (Sen. 12)Ray Sorensen (Rep. 23)

U.S. House:District 3

Clarke CountyMurray schools