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Local taxes › Clay County › Royal

City

Royal

Clay County · How cities work

$2,230 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($26.48 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$860 a yearof that goes to the city ($10.20 per $1,000)
$170,959property taxes the city levies, FY27
$360,201city 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.

  • Mitch FahnlanderRoyal Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Robert SeymourRoyal City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Sara RickeRoyal City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Alec NielsenRoyal City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • James VirelliRoyal City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Jeff Van WestenRoyal 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 Royal

Homes and businesses in most of Royal pay a combined $26.48 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Clay County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $10.20. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$25.64$10.01
FY21$25.86$9.87
FY22$25.29$9.88
FY23$27.04$11.09
FY24$26.21$10.68
FY25$26.06$10.17
FY26$25.95$10.18
FY27$26.48$10.20
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$25.64$10.01
FY21$25.86$9.87
FY22$25.29$9.88
FY23$27.04$11.09
FY24$26.21$10.68
FY25$26.06$10.17
FY26$25.95$10.18
FY27$26.48$10.20

Compared with places this size3

Royal’s city property tax rate of $10.20 per $1,000 is the 40th lowest of 187 Iowa cities with 250–560 people. The middle of the group is $12.63.

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: $16.95Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Mccallsburg: $16.58Whittemore: $16.54Irwin: $16.46Titonka: $16.45Truro: $16.34Lewis: $16.25Corwith: $16.22Duncombe: $16.10Bayard: $16.05Scranton: $16.01Granville: $16.00Minburn: $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: $14.32Kimballton: $14.27Ocheyedan: $14.22Steamboat Rock: $14.19Garwin: $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: $13.21Harcourt: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Anthon: $13.05Little Rock: $13.03Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Malcom: $12.82Delmar: $12.68Galva: $12.68Badger: $12.67Martensdale: $12.63Williams: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Norway: $12.53Clearfield: $12.50Kensett: $12.47Mccausland: $12.45Spillville: $12.40Modale: $12.34Mingo: $12.31Brandon: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Bonaparte: $12.17Macedonia: $12.12Hawkeye: $12.11Kiron: $12.03Colesburg: $11.97Liscomb: $11.96Thornton: $11.86Runnells: $11.79Allerton: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Kelley: $11.69Orient: $11.66Ellsworth: $11.57Cincinnati: $11.57Delta: $11.52Terril: $11.48Westside: $11.45Holland: $11.37Churdan: $11.31Mallard: $11.28Miles: $11.28Milton: $10.98New Vienna: $10.91Letts: $10.91Birmingham: $10.87Charlotte: $10.86Yale: $10.85Richland: $10.82Batavia: $10.77Hornick: $10.74Riverdale: $10.67Bode: $10.64Union: $10.58Calamus: $10.47Lovilia: $10.46Danbury: $10.43Lytton: $10.38Radcliffe: $10.37Stacyville: $10.36Rhodes: $10.36Protivin: $10.28Andrew: $10.22Bronson: $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: $8.10Bertram: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Nichols: $8.10Luana: $7.98Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Pulaski: $7.58Beacon: $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: $2.92Royal: $10.20$2.92 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 187
#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
26Lakota$16.84261
27Marble Rock$16.78258
28Auburn$16.65253
29Mccallsburg$16.58356
30Whittemore$16.54478
31Irwin$16.46320
32Titonka$16.45491
33Truro$16.34515
34Lewis$16.25358
35Corwith$16.22259
36Duncombe$16.10374
37Bayard$16.05402
38Scranton$16.01496
39Granville$16.00302
40Minburn$15.75317
41Peterson$15.27321
42Russell$15.18475
43Zearing$14.99508
44Arlington$14.98415
45Maynard$14.85466
46Plainfield$14.84392
47Ryan$14.84348
48Otho$14.82417
49Wyoming$14.81526
50Humeston$14.80472
51Gilmore City$14.60484
52Sabula$14.38498
53Garrison$14.38345
54Halbur$14.37268
55Lorimor$14.36377
56Collins$14.32503
57Kimballton$14.27281
58Ocheyedan$14.22424
59Steamboat Rock$14.19261
60Garwin$14.08469
61Farragut$14.07480
62Mystic$14.01318
63Lime Springs$13.95467
64Dow City$13.94477
65Wesley$13.91382
66Diagonal$13.91331
67Bussey$13.83378
68Mondamin$13.82335
69Livermore$13.78382
70Fertile$13.70300
71Stockport$13.68272
72Albion$13.58444
73Lamont$13.57429
74New Albin$13.55435
75Persia$13.41292
76Lawler$13.39392
77Lacona$13.38336
78Ute$13.26326
79New Market$13.25381
80Plymouth$13.21368
81Harcourt$13.21257
82Bennett$13.16330
83Ridgeway$13.10261
84Farmersburg$13.09264
85Anthon$13.05534
86Little Rock$13.03447
87Lehigh$12.97395
88Menlo$12.92347
89Templeton$12.91337
90Malcom$12.82257
91Delmar$12.68541
92Galva$12.68416
93Badger$12.67540
94Martensdale$12.63413
95Williams$12.57299
96Maurice$12.56271
97Norway$12.53463
98Clearfield$12.50277
99Kensett$12.47256
100Mccausland$12.45314
101Spillville$12.40371
102Modale$12.34284
103Mingo$12.31314
104Brandon$12.29331
105Blakesburg$12.21273
106Bonaparte$12.17357
107Macedonia$12.12266
108Hawkeye$12.11429
109Kiron$12.03262
110Colesburg$11.97379
111Liscomb$11.96292
112Thornton$11.86394
113Runnells$11.79467
114Allerton$11.72432
115Atalissa$11.71287
116Kelley$11.69312
117Orient$11.66363
118Ellsworth$11.57495
119Cincinnati$11.57280
120Delta$11.52257
121Terril$11.48310
122Westside$11.45283
123Holland$11.37261
124Churdan$11.31359
125Mallard$11.28255
126Miles$11.28400
127Milton$10.98395
128New Vienna$10.91384
129Letts$10.91358
130Birmingham$10.87371
131Charlotte$10.86386
132Yale$10.85265
133Richland$10.82532
134Batavia$10.77434
135Hornick$10.74255
136Riverdale$10.67385
137Bode$10.64304
138Union$10.58378
139Calamus$10.47348
140Lovilia$10.46456
141Danbury$10.43315
142Lytton$10.38274
143Radcliffe$10.37540
144Stacyville$10.36436
145Rhodes$10.36269
146Protivin$10.28264
147Andrew$10.22374
148Royal$10.20379
149Bronson$10.14294
150Rudd$10.13339
151Floyd$10.02297
152Cumming$9.85527
153Breda$9.80492
154Lynnville$9.68382
155Salix$9.63303
156Farnhamville$9.18364
157Middletown$9.16365
158Alleman$9.12439
159Lester$8.94309
160Ainsworth$8.62511
161Rowley$8.31264
162Gilman$8.10530
163Bertram$8.10267
164Grandview$8.10431
165Lost Nation$8.10425
166Nichols$8.10317
167Luana$7.98303
168Delhi$7.81438
169Klemme$7.74429
170Pulaski$7.58259
171Beacon$7.56434
172Sheldahl$7.56312
173Worthington$7.50374
174Harpers Ferry$7.49273
175Marquette$7.08434
176Columbus City$6.94385
177Donahue$6.83336
178Libertyville$6.60278
179Crawfordsville$6.44278
180New Virginia$5.97499
181Holy Cross$5.91348
182Conesville$5.86350
183University Park$5.27476
184Orleans$4.13503
185Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
186Wahpeton$3.19337
187West Okoboji$2.92311

The $8.10 limit

Royal’s general levy is $8.10 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, at the limit.4 247 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $7.94 · FY26 $8.10 · FY27 $8.10 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $2.10 more5

  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$2.10 · $35,199

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$135,61479%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$35,19921%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Royal’s budget goes, FY26

Public Works: 54¢ of every dollar54¢Business Type / Enterprise: 20¢ of every dollar20¢General Government: 14¢ of every dollar14¢Public Safety: 4¢ of every dollarDebt Service: 4¢ of every dollarEverything else: 3¢ 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 186 Iowa cities closest in size (250–560 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (186)
Public Works54¢19¢
Business Type / Enterprise20¢39¢
General Government14¢15¢
Public Safety4¢9¢
Debt Service4¢4¢
Everything else3¢8¢

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$237,50066%
  • General Government$69,00019%
  • Culture and Recreation$32,0009%
  • Public Safety$21,7016%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($98,750 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$219,945$218,519
Public Safety$19,720$19,720
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$64,500$55,281
Debt Service$21,055$9,248
Culture and Recreation$18,600$16,474
Community and Economic Development$0$0
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$150,000$147,376

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$821,684

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Royal owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.7

$446,780
$0
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$30,000$79
2024$60,000$158
2023$88,000$232
2022$116,000$306
2021$144,000$380
2020$172,000$454
2019$199,000$525
2018$226,000$596
2017$253,000$668
2016$280,000$739
2015$305,000$805
2014$330,000$871
2013$355,000$937
2012$380,000$1,003
2011$418,796$1,105
2010$446,780$1,179
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$30,000$79
2024$60,000$158
2023$88,000$232
2022$116,000$306
2021$144,000$380
2020$172,000$454
2019$199,000$525
2018$226,000$596
2017$253,000$668
2016$280,000$739
2015$305,000$805
2014$330,000$871
2013$355,000$937
2012$380,000$1,003
2011$418,796$1,105
2010$446,780$1,179

Down 100% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $1.4M (5% of $27.6M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. Royal’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2022 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Thursday, June 30, 2022 (PDF), released Friday, March 31, 2023, by a CPA firm.

2 earlier reports for Royal

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: $44,282 in FY25, down 7% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 26% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$44,493$42,909$44,043$44,282

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.

$8,016
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$3,804
    FY20$1,488
    FY21$0
    FY22$0
    FY23$8,016
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$3,804
    FY20$1,488
    FY21$0
    FY22$0
    FY23$8,016
    FY24$0
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−26%$47,419 → $44,282, down 7% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 26% 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 15% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 9% less.

    $89,182
    $85,646

    Federal grants, for comparison: $37,500 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 Royal; 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.

    • Royal City Council - At-Large (3 seats)
      Now held by Alec Nielsen, Jeff Van Westen, James Virelli
    • Royal Mayor
      Now held by Mitch Fahnlander

    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

    Lynn Evans (Sen. 3)Megan Jones (Rep. 6)

    U.S. House:District 4

    Clay CountyClay Central-Everly schools