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Local taxes › Clayton County › Farmersburg

City

Farmersburg

Clayton County · How cities work

$2,870 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($34.07 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,100 a yearof that goes to the city ($13.09 per $1,000)
$70,901property taxes the city levies, FY27
$267,850city 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.

  • Beau FischerFarmersburg Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Daniel TorkelsonFarmersburg City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Beau FischerFarmersburg City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Roger HenkelsFarmersburg City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Steve WatsonFarmersburg 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 Farmersburg

Homes and businesses in most of Farmersburg pay a combined $34.07 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, $13.09. Estimate your bill.

  • City of Farmersburg$13.0938%
  • Starmont schools$10.7932%
  • Clayton County$6.8920%
  • Northwest Iowa Community College$1.314%
  • Garnavillo-Garnavillo Cemetery$0.481%
  • Cass-Strawberry Point Cemetery$0.441%
  • Clayton County Assessor$0.361%
  • Clayton County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.23<1%
  • Jefferson-Guttenberg Cemetery$0.21<1%
  • Clayton-Clayton Cemetery$0.14<1%
  • Buena Vista-North Buena Vista Cem$0.05<1%
  • Monona-Luana Cemetery$0.03<1%
  • Monona-Monona Cemetery$0.03<1%

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$35.61$13.28
FY21$36.40$13.76
FY22$34.74$12.64
FY23$36.34$14.53
FY24$37.14$14.74
FY25$34.66$14.13
FY26$34.45$13.26
FY27$34.07$13.09
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$35.61$13.28
FY21$36.40$13.76
FY22$34.74$12.64
FY23$36.34$14.53
FY24$37.14$14.74
FY25$34.66$14.13
FY26$34.45$13.26
FY27$34.07$13.09

Compared with places this size3

Farmersburg’s city property tax rate of $13.09 per $1,000 is the 81st highest of 211 Iowa cities with 180–400 people. The middle of the group is $12.12.

Stanhope: $29.10Fenton: $22.05Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Elliott: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Earling: $20.47Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Fort Atkinson: $19.19Salem: $19.15Cumberland: $18.42Jamaica: $18.24Massena: $18.23Callender: $17.78Casey: $17.72Vail: $17.66Ringsted: $17.65Pierson: $17.12Pisgah: $17.09Lohrville: $16.95Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Mccallsburg: $16.58Prescott: $16.53Irwin: $16.46Montour: $16.37Lewis: $16.25Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Duncombe: $16.10Granville: $16.00Minburn: $15.75Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Kamrar: $15.47Peterson: $15.27Greeley: $15.23Riverton: $14.94Marathon: $14.89Plainfield: $14.84Ryan: $14.84Ladora: $14.74Magnolia: $14.68Bagley: $14.63Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Garrison: $14.38Halbur: $14.37Lorimor: $14.36Crystal Lake: $14.36Kimballton: $14.27Steamboat Rock: $14.19Westgate: $14.05Mystic: $14.01Wesley: $13.91Diagonal: $13.91Bussey: $13.83Mondamin: $13.82Livermore: $13.78Fertile: $13.70Stockport: $13.68Kellerton: $13.60Quimby: $13.58Meservey: $13.43Persia: $13.41Lawler: $13.39Lacona: $13.38Leland: $13.31Ute: $13.26New Market: $13.25Plymouth: $13.21Harcourt: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Silver City: $12.87Patterson: $12.84Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Blencoe: $12.57Williams: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Clearfield: $12.50Kensett: $12.47Mccausland: $12.45Spillville: $12.40Modale: $12.34Mingo: $12.31Brandon: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Cushing: $12.18Bonaparte: $12.17Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Macedonia: $12.12Paton: $12.09Kiron: $12.03Rembrandt: $12.03Colesburg: $11.97Liscomb: $11.96New Providence: $11.88Thornton: $11.86Parnell: $11.78Joice: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Cantril: $11.69Kelley: $11.69Orient: $11.66Wadena: $11.65Cincinnati: $11.57Delta: $11.52Terril: $11.48Westside: $11.45Holland: $11.37Churdan: $11.31Mallard: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Rake: $11.05Frederika: $10.99Milton: $10.98New Vienna: $10.91Letts: $10.91Goose Lake: $10.89Birmingham: $10.87Charlotte: $10.86Yale: $10.85Hornick: $10.74Woden: $10.68Riverdale: $10.67Bode: $10.64Union: $10.58Cleghorn: $10.49Calamus: $10.47Danbury: $10.43Lytton: $10.38Rhodes: $10.36Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $10.28Andrew: $10.22Royal: $10.20Bronson: $10.14Hancock: $10.13Rudd: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Melvin: $10.05Defiance: $10.05Floyd: $10.02Barnum: $9.96Panama: $9.85Grafton: $9.83Lynnville: $9.68Ionia: $9.65Salix: $9.63Luxemburg: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Farnhamville: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Middletown: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Lester: $8.94Oakville: $8.89Harvey: $8.71Washta: $8.65Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Rowley: $8.31South English: $8.27Boxholm: $8.11Bertram: $8.10Fostoria: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Nichols: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Luana: $7.98Lockridge: $7.92Grand River: $7.86Pulaski: $7.58Sheldahl: $7.56Fredonia: $7.55Worthington: $7.50Harpers Ferry: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Columbus City: $6.94Donahue: $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: $2.27Farmersburg: $13.09$2.27 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 211
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Stanhope$29.10354
2Fenton$22.05250
3Soldier$21.92176
4Coulter$21.80220
5Chelsea$21.61207
6Elliott$21.61328
7Smithland$21.12184
8Earling$20.47394
9Volga$20.23200
10Alta Vista$19.88219
11Arthur$19.86218
12Fort Atkinson$19.19300
13Salem$19.15380
14Cumberland$18.42248
15Jamaica$18.24196
16Massena$18.23352
17Callender$17.78361
18Casey$17.72387
19Vail$17.66383
20Ringsted$17.65346
21Pierson$17.12335
22Pisgah$17.09248
23Lohrville$16.95366
24Lakota$16.84261
25Marble Rock$16.78258
26Auburn$16.65253
27Mccallsburg$16.58356
28Prescott$16.53186
29Irwin$16.46320
30Montour$16.37199
31Lewis$16.25358
32Corwith$16.22259
33Deep River$16.18243
34Waucoma$16.17235
35Duncombe$16.10374
36Granville$16.00302
37Minburn$15.75317
38Moorhead$15.68186
39Onslow$15.63198
40Linden$15.62206
41Kamrar$15.47178
42Peterson$15.27321
43Greeley$15.23216
44Riverton$14.94243
45Marathon$14.89221
46Plainfield$14.84392
47Ryan$14.84348
48Ladora$14.74223
49Magnolia$14.68194
50Bagley$14.63230
51Davis City$14.45178
52Lucas$14.40176
53Garrison$14.38345
54Halbur$14.37268
55Lorimor$14.36377
56Crystal Lake$14.36243
57Kimballton$14.27281
58Steamboat Rock$14.19261
59Westgate$14.05190
60Mystic$14.01318
61Wesley$13.91382
62Diagonal$13.91331
63Bussey$13.83378
64Mondamin$13.82335
65Livermore$13.78382
66Fertile$13.70300
67Stockport$13.68272
68Kellerton$13.60241
69Quimby$13.58245
70Meservey$13.43212
71Persia$13.41292
72Lawler$13.39392
73Lacona$13.38336
74Leland$13.31240
75Ute$13.26326
76New Market$13.25381
77Plymouth$13.21368
78Harcourt$13.21257
79Bennett$13.16330
80Ridgeway$13.10261
81Farmersburg$13.09264
82Portsmouth$13.05187
83Clutier$13.03209
84Lehigh$12.97395
85Menlo$12.92347
86Templeton$12.91337
87Silver City$12.87244
88Patterson$12.84176
89Martelle$12.83250
90Malcom$12.82257
91Blencoe$12.57223
92Williams$12.57299
93Maurice$12.56271
94Clearfield$12.50277
95Kensett$12.47256
96Mccausland$12.45314
97Spillville$12.40371
98Modale$12.34284
99Mingo$12.31314
100Brandon$12.29331
101Blakesburg$12.21273
102Cushing$12.18225
103Bonaparte$12.17357
104Hanlontown$12.17200
105Stout$12.14194
106Macedonia$12.12266
107Paton$12.09217
108Kiron$12.03262
109Rembrandt$12.03199
110Colesburg$11.97379
111Liscomb$11.96292
112New Providence$11.88233
113Thornton$11.86394
114Parnell$11.78190
115Joice$11.72206
116Atalissa$11.71287
117Cantril$11.69224
118Kelley$11.69312
119Orient$11.66363
120Wadena$11.65201
121Cincinnati$11.57280
122Delta$11.52257
123Terril$11.48310
124Westside$11.45283
125Holland$11.37261
126Churdan$11.31359
127Mallard$11.28255
128Renwick$11.16228
129Dundee$11.14193
130Randolph$11.08183
131Rake$11.05179
132Frederika$10.99206
133Milton$10.98395
134New Vienna$10.91384
135Letts$10.91358
136Goose Lake$10.89250
137Birmingham$10.87371
138Charlotte$10.86386
139Yale$10.85265
140Hornick$10.74255
141Woden$10.68183
142Riverdale$10.67385
143Bode$10.64304
144Union$10.58378
145Cleghorn$10.49235
146Calamus$10.47348
147Danbury$10.43315
148Lytton$10.38274
149Rhodes$10.36269
150Dedham$10.28221
151Deloit$10.28246
152Protivin$10.28264
153Andrew$10.22374
154Royal$10.20379
155Bronson$10.14294
156Hancock$10.13199
157Rudd$10.13339
158La Motte$10.09235
159Melvin$10.05196
160Defiance$10.05248
161Floyd$10.02297
162Barnum$9.96186
163Panama$9.85234
164Grafton$9.83212
165Lynnville$9.68382
166Ionia$9.65220
167Salix$9.63303
168Luxemburg$9.58240
169Rippey$9.42217
170Farnhamville$9.18364
171Elberon$9.16178
172Middletown$9.16365
173Dixon$9.03204
174Lester$8.94309
175Oakville$8.89198
176Harvey$8.71242
177Washta$8.65206
178Ollie$8.44196
179Thor$8.38182
180Rowley$8.31264
181South English$8.27196
182Boxholm$8.11177
183Bertram$8.10267
184Fostoria$8.10229
185Low Moor$8.10242
186Nichols$8.10317
187Laurel$8.10214
188Lineville$8.10194
189Luana$7.98303
190Lockridge$7.92245
191Grand River$7.86192
192Pulaski$7.58259
193Sheldahl$7.56312
194Fredonia$7.55227
195Worthington$7.50374
196Harpers Ferry$7.49273
197Alvord$7.41216
198Columbus City$6.94385
199Donahue$6.83336
200Packwood$6.77186
201Libertyville$6.60278
202Keswick$6.49238
203Crawfordsville$6.44278
204Holy Cross$5.91348
205Oakland Acres$5.88178
206Conesville$5.86350
207Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
208Wahpeton$3.19337
209West Okoboji$2.92311
210Sherrill$2.66176
211Rickardsville$2.27204

The $8.10 limit

Farmersburg’s general levy is $7.86 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.24 below the limit.4 609 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

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

Outside the limit: $5.23 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$3.12 · $16,694
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$2.11 · $11,320

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$42,12460%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$16,69424%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$11,32016%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Farmersburg’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 33¢ of every dollar33¢Public Works: 32¢ of every dollar32¢Culture and Recreation: 13¢ of every dollar13¢General Government: 11¢ of every dollar11¢Public Safety: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Everything 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 209 Iowa cities closest in size (180–400 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (209)
Business Type / Enterprise33¢37¢
Public Works32¢21¢
Culture and Recreation13¢8¢
General Government11¢18¢
Public Safety9¢9¢
Everything else2¢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 Works$131,40049%
  • Culture and Recreation$54,60020%
  • General Government$41,74216%
  • Public Safety$32,01812%
  • Community and Economic Development$7,7003%
  • Health and Social Services$3900%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($129,315 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$60,488$51,313
Public Safety$27,203$20,350
Health and Social Services$350$200
General Government$30,426$33,810
Debt Service$7,280$7,280
Culture and Recreation$38,350$54,985
Community and Economic Development$5,230$13,846
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$127,020$157,691

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$781,545
$270,795

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Farmersburg owes

$319,000 at June 30, 2026: $1,177 per resident. 515th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$590,000
$319,000
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$319,000$1,177
2025$337,000$1,244
2024$355,000$1,310
2023$380,708$1,405
2022$467,708$1,726
2021$590,000$2,177
2020$122,000$450
2019$145,000$535
2018$168,000$620
2017$190,000$701
2016$212,000$782
2015$233,000$860
2014$253,000$934
2013$273,000$1,007
2012$292,000$1,077
2011$311,000$1,148
2010$329,000$1,214
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$319,000$1,177
2025$337,000$1,244
2024$355,000$1,310
2023$380,708$1,405
2022$467,708$1,726
2021$590,000$2,177
2020$122,000$450
2019$145,000$535
2018$168,000$620
2017$190,000$701
2016$212,000$782
2015$233,000$860
2014$253,000$934
2013$273,000$1,007
2012$292,000$1,077
2011$311,000$1,148
2010$329,000$1,214

Down 3% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $546,276 (5% of $10.9M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

1 obligation at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsSewer improvement project2041$319,000

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 balances9. Farmersburg’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Monday, March 31, 2025 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Monday, March 31, 2025 (PDF), released Wednesday, October 1, 2025, by the Auditor of State.

1 earlier report for Farmersburg

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: $26,899 in FY25, up 5% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 16% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$25,085$24,427$25,070$25,206
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)–––$1,693

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.

$154,946
$8,549
  • Revenue in Lieu of Taxes$6,16672%
  • Other$1,61019%
  • State Aid to Library$4155%
  • Liquor License$3584%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$10,840
FY20$9,676
FY21$154,946
FY22$11,318
FY23$12,803
FY24$12,253
FY25$8,549
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$10,840
FY20$9,676
FY21$154,946
FY22$11,318
FY23$12,803
FY24$12,253
FY25$8,549

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−22%$25,597 → $25,206, down 2% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 22% 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 18% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 6% less.

$39,621
$37,018

Federal grants, for comparison: $9,000 in FY24.

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

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Farmersburg; 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.

  • Farmersburg City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Steve Watson, Roger Henkels, Beau Fischer
  • Farmersburg Mayor
    Now held by Beau Fischer

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

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

U.S. House:District 2

Clayton CountyStarmont schools