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Local taxes › Clayton County › Elkader

City

Elkader

Clayton County · How cities work

$4,160 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($49.38 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$2,280 a yearof that goes to the city ($27.11 per $1,000)
$1.6Mproperty taxes the city levies, FY27
$2.8Mcity 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.

  • Anthony HauberElkader City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Curtis RuhserElkader City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Roger BuchholzElkader City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Bob GarmsElkader City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Josh R. PopeElkader Mayor · elected November 7, 2023
  • Randy HenningElkader 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 Elkader

Homes and businesses in most of Elkader pay a combined $49.38 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Clayton County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $27.11. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$39.72$18.11
FY21$41.09$19.67
FY22$41.00$19.98
FY23$44.66$23.49
FY24$47.77$25.94
FY25$49.03$26.99
FY26$52.69$30.46
FY27$49.38$27.11
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$39.72$18.11
FY21$41.09$19.67
FY22$41.00$19.98
FY23$44.66$23.49
FY24$47.77$25.94
FY25$49.03$26.99
FY26$52.69$30.46
FY27$49.38$27.11

Compared with places this size3

Elkader’s city property tax rate of $27.11 per $1,000 is the 1st highest of 145 Iowa cities with 810–1,800 people. The middle of the group is $13.29.

Laurens: $24.16Villisca: $19.74Traer: $19.56Corning: $19.36Lake City: $19.32Allison: $19.06Corydon: $18.22Dysart: $17.95Greene: $17.91Lansing: $17.67Strawberry Point: $17.58Rockwell: $17.54Gowrie: $17.17Colo: $17.14Mapleton: $16.90George: $16.89Manson: $16.87Fayette: $16.85Eddyville: $16.82Nashua: $16.81Ackley: $16.63Buffalo Center: $16.58Roland: $16.51Monona: $16.41Aplington: $16.34Panora: $16.14Mechanicsville: $16.12Dike: $15.94Armstrong: $15.87Holstein: $15.81State Center: $15.80Pleasantville: $15.80Earlham: $15.55Shell Rock: $15.52Brooklyn: $15.49Newell: $15.49Mount Ayr: $15.32Riceville: $15.31Neola: $15.30Sidney: $15.19Logan: $15.05Griswold: $15.01Readlyn: $14.99Tripoli: $14.99Woodbine: $14.80Bedford: $14.66Lenox: $14.65Manning: $14.62Dunlap: $14.56Maxwell: $14.50Coon Rapids: $14.49Nora Springs: $14.25Kingsley: $14.25Urbana: $14.20Primghar: $14.18Sheffield: $14.16Hartley: $14.11Woodward: $14.05Guthrie Center: $14.04Alton: $13.87Montezuma: $13.79Victor: $13.72Gilbert: $13.71Edgewood: $13.64Donnellson: $13.63Clarksville: $13.53Avoca: $13.51Janesville: $13.43Glidden: $13.43Calmar: $13.39Baxter: $13.32Manly: $13.29Anita: $13.28Conrad: $13.23Springville: $13.22Keota: $13.21Shellsburg: $13.20De Soto: $13.18Treynor: $13.03Odebolt: $13.00Akron: $12.93Leon: $12.93Danville: $12.87Underwood: $12.85New Sharon: $12.80Slater: $12.79Malvern: $12.79Buffalo: $12.68Sanborn: $12.62West Point: $12.39Hinton: $12.38Preston: $12.38Remsen: $12.32Hubbard: $12.30Reinbeck: $12.10Winfield: $12.04Elkhart: $12.00Afton: $11.96Tabor: $11.88Wellman: $11.88Aurelia: $11.84Blue Grass: $11.79Palo: $11.49Prairie City: $11.38Marcus: $11.31Dunkerton: $11.30Mediapolis: $11.27Melcher-Dallas: $11.21University Heights: $11.12Hamburg: $10.95Clarence: $10.94Farley: $10.91Oakland: $10.85Moville: $10.67Cambridge: $10.53Swisher: $10.39Schleswig: $10.39Elk Run Heights: $10.33Walcott: $10.29Fredericksburg: $10.27Lake Park: $10.25Inwood: $10.22Central City: $10.01Newhall: $9.99Graettinger: $9.81Long Grove: $9.59Lake View: $9.39Paullina: $9.21Fairbank: $9.00Winthrop: $8.94Walford: $8.72Keosauqua: $8.58Princeton: $8.24Lone Tree: $8.13Riverside: $8.02Hills: $7.94Larchwood: $7.52North English: $7.49Sloan: $7.49Sully: $7.41Fruitland: $7.21Lawton: $7.10Wayland: $7.07Arnolds Park: $4.95Elkader: $27.11$4.95 lowest$27.11 highestmiddle
See all 145
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Elkader$27.111,192
2Laurens$24.161,253
3Villisca$19.741,106
4Traer$19.561,547
5Corning$19.361,509
6Lake City$19.321,656
7Allison$19.06937
8Corydon$18.221,563
9Dysart$17.951,266
10Greene$17.91971
11Lansing$17.67959
12Strawberry Point$17.581,141
13Rockwell$17.541,044
14Gowrie$17.17943
15Colo$17.14856
16Mapleton$16.901,114
17George$16.891,106
18Manson$16.871,646
19Fayette$16.851,193
20Eddyville$16.82965
21Nashua$16.811,515
22Ackley$16.631,538
23Buffalo Center$16.58839
24Roland$16.511,376
25Monona$16.411,462
26Aplington$16.341,088
27Panora$16.141,096
28Mechanicsville$16.12974
29Dike$15.941,293
30Armstrong$15.87847
31Holstein$15.811,475
32State Center$15.801,403
33Pleasantville$15.801,696
34Earlham$15.551,411
35Shell Rock$15.521,265
36Brooklyn$15.491,474
37Newell$15.49850
38Mount Ayr$15.321,616
39Riceville$15.31807
40Neola$15.30917
41Sidney$15.191,048
42Logan$15.051,351
43Griswold$15.01975
44Readlyn$14.99857
45Tripoli$14.991,208
46Woodbine$14.801,707
47Bedford$14.661,474
48Lenox$14.651,355
49Manning$14.621,390
50Dunlap$14.561,030
51Maxwell$14.50862
52Coon Rapids$14.491,258
53Nora Springs$14.251,330
54Kingsley$14.251,394
55Urbana$14.201,635
56Primghar$14.18893
57Sheffield$14.161,123
58Hartley$14.111,584
59Woodward$14.051,383
60Guthrie Center$14.041,579
61Alton$13.871,248
62Montezuma$13.791,421
63Victor$13.72852
64Gilbert$13.711,397
65Edgewood$13.64908
66Donnellson$13.63859
67Clarksville$13.531,238
68Avoca$13.511,685
69Janesville$13.431,052
70Glidden$13.431,140
71Calmar$13.391,100
72Baxter$13.32983
73Manly$13.291,233
74Anita$13.28953
75Conrad$13.231,098
76Springville$13.221,161
77Keota$13.21888
78Shellsburg$13.20987
79De Soto$13.18937
80Treynor$13.031,104
81Odebolt$13.00967
82Akron$12.931,545
83Leon$12.931,779
84Danville$12.87910
85Underwood$12.85973
86New Sharon$12.801,249
87Slater$12.791,626
88Malvern$12.791,056
89Buffalo$12.681,163
90Sanborn$12.621,463
91West Point$12.39903
92Hinton$12.38959
93Preston$12.38940
94Remsen$12.321,681
95Hubbard$12.30837
96Reinbeck$12.101,673
97Winfield$12.041,006
98Elkhart$12.001,079
99Afton$11.96864
100Tabor$11.88983
101Wellman$11.881,531
102Aurelia$11.84970
103Blue Grass$11.791,707
104Palo$11.491,554
105Prairie City$11.381,722
106Marcus$11.311,069
107Dunkerton$11.30840
108Mediapolis$11.271,679
109Melcher-Dallas$11.211,193
110University Heights$11.121,188
111Hamburg$10.95863
112Clarence$10.94991
113Farley$10.911,723
114Oakland$10.851,519
115Moville$10.671,707
116Cambridge$10.53844
117Swisher$10.39909
118Schleswig$10.39820
119Elk Run Heights$10.331,061
120Walcott$10.291,556
121Fredericksburg$10.27983
122Lake Park$10.251,155
123Inwood$10.22962
124Central City$10.011,254
125Newhall$9.99887
126Graettinger$9.81810
127Long Grove$9.59849
128Lake View$9.391,120
129Paullina$9.21979
130Fairbank$9.001,133
131Winthrop$8.94814
132Walford$8.721,357
133Keosauqua$8.58944
134Princeton$8.24917
135Lone Tree$8.131,341
136Riverside$8.021,063
137Hills$7.94911
138Larchwood$7.52954
139North English$7.491,030
140Sloan$7.491,078
141Sully$7.41891
142Fruitland$7.21928
143Lawton$7.10949
144Wayland$7.07935
145Arnolds Park$4.951,214

The $8.10 limit

Elkader’s general levy is $7.94 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.16 below the limit.4 505 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.34 · FY26 $8.17 · FY27 $7.94 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $19.17 more5

  • Debt Service Levy$11.64 · $691,376
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$5.06 · $289,873
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$2.47 · $141,726

Tax increment financing (TIF)

$2.1M of taxable value in Elkader is in TIF districts’ increment (4% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.6 It budgeted $25,000 in TIF revenue for FY25.

$331,811
$77,795

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 $32,543 of the city’s own.

  • Clayton County$13,158
YearTIF revenue
FY16$331,811
FY17$296,198
FY18$127,633
FY19$105,517
FY20$238,783
FY21$312,279
FY22$201,837
FY23$77,795
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$331,811
FY17$296,198
FY18$127,633
FY19$105,517
FY20$238,783
FY21$312,279
FY22$201,837
FY23$77,795

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.

  • Debt Service Levy$691,37644%
  • Consolidate General Fund$454,74329%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$289,87318%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$141,7269%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Elkader’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 24¢ of every dollar24¢Public Works: 19¢ of every dollar19¢Public Safety: 16¢ of every dollar16¢Debt Service: 16¢ of every dollar16¢Culture and Recreation: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Everything else: 15¢ of every dollar15¢

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 144 Iowa cities closest in size (810–1,800 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (144)
Business Type / Enterprise24¢41¢
Public Works19¢13¢
Public Safety16¢10¢
Debt Service16¢6¢
Culture and Recreation9¢9¢
Everything else15¢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.

  • Debt Service$699,92925%
  • Public Works$639,07823%
  • Public Safety$447,86616%
  • Culture and Recreation$435,24916%
  • General Government$334,29412%
  • Community and Economic Development$202,2987%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($962,347 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$517,304$520,197
Public Safety$342,777$653,739
Health and Social Services$1,273$0
General Government$253,920$297,900
Debt Service$366,580$370,879
Culture and Recreation$313,196$367,912
Community and Economic Development$218,299$172,499
Capital Projects$3.0M$4.4M
Business Type / Enterprise$962,436$1.0M

What it spent each year

FY24 left out8

$7.8M
$6.9M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Elkader owes

$7.4M at June 30, 2026: $6,092 per resident. 79th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).9

$8.6M
$7.4M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$7.4M$6,092
2025$7.6M$6,280
2024$6.1M$5,085
2023$6.8M$5,609
2022$7.3M$6,011
2021$7.8M$6,455
2020$5.1M$4,228
2019$5.1M$4,200
2018$5.6M$4,615
2017$6.2M$5,098
2016$6.6M$5,498
2015$6.2M$5,113
2014$7.0M$5,813
2013$7.1M$5,881
2012$7.3M$6,006
2011$8.6M$7,116
2010$7.8M$6,478
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$7.4M$6,092
2025$7.6M$6,280
2024$6.1M$5,085
2023$6.8M$5,609
2022$7.3M$6,011
2021$7.8M$6,455
2020$5.1M$4,228
2019$5.1M$4,200
2018$5.6M$4,615
2017$6.2M$5,098
2016$6.6M$5,498
2015$6.2M$5,113
2014$7.0M$5,813
2013$7.1M$5,881
2012$7.3M$6,006
2011$8.6M$7,116
2010$7.8M$6,478

Down 6% since 2010.

The 5% limit10

General obligation debt is $6.3M, 125% of the limit of about $5.0M (5% of $100.1M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

9 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
General ObligationCarter Street rehab project2041$2.2M
General ObligationKeystone Bridge project2044$2.0M
Revenue BondsWWTP2030$1.0M
General ObligationKeystone Bridge, street sweeper, fire truck, police vehicle2041$930,000
General Obligationrefinanced other debt (High St NE and sewer line)2034$540,000
General Obligationfor the purchase of a new fire truck, police vehicle and snow plow2030$376,649
General Obligationnew PW building; new police car2034$130,000
Revenue Bondssewerline on High Street NE2027$75,000
General Obligationnew ambulance2027$72,000

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

Audits12

The latest: Annual Examination for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Friday, December 12, 2025, by a CPA firm.

16 earlier reports for Elkader

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: $193,155 in FY25, up 17% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 6% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$168,720$166,372$170,774$171,701
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)–––$21,454

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.

$2.0M
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$10,804
    FY20$3,533
    FY21$2,755
    FY22$673,272
    FY23$2.0M
    FY24$930,564
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$10,804
    FY20$3,533
    FY21$2,755
    FY22$673,272
    FY23$2.0M
    FY24$930,564
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−17%$164,453 → $171,701, up 4% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 17% 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 26% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 0% more.

    $188,135
    $181,568

    Federal grants, for comparison: $270,000 in FY25.

    Business awards

    Every award statewide

    State economic development awards

    1 business has state awards in ELKADER: $560K in grants, loans and tax benefits, for 30 jobs.14

    • Mobile Track Solutions, LLC
      High Quality Jobs Program · FY23 · Under contract: Building · 30 jobs required
      $560K

    Community college new jobs training: 9 contracts since 2002 worth $2.4M, for 278 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 · 1

    3 seats: the top 3 win.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Elkader; 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.

    • Elkader City Council At-Large (2 seats)
      Now held by Randy Henning, Bob Garms
    • Elkader Mayor
      Now held by Josh R. Pope

    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

    Mike Klimesh (Sen. 32)Jason Gearhart (Rep. 64)

    U.S. House:District 2

    Clayton CountyStarmont schools