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Local taxes › Clayton County › Monona

City

Monona

Clayton County · How cities work

$3,150 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($37.42 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,380 a yearof that goes to the city ($16.41 per $1,000)
$915,419property taxes the city levies, FY27
$2.6Mcity 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.

  • Jamie L. WelshMonona City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Kevin Brainard Sr.Monona Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Preston LandtMonona City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • William Bill BendaMonona City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Bridget SchleinMonona City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Erin FriedleyMonona City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • John B. ElledgeMonona 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 Monona

Homes and businesses in most of Monona pay a combined $37.42 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, $16.41. Estimate your bill.

  • City of Monona$16.4144%
  • Starmont schools$10.7929%
  • Clayton County$6.8918%
  • Iowa Valley Community College$1.705%
  • Garnavillo-Garnavillo Cemetery$0.481%
  • Cass-Strawberry Point Cemetery$0.441%
  • Clayton County Assessor$0.36<1%
  • Boardman-Elkader Cemetery$0.18<1%
  • Clayton-Clayton Cemetery$0.14<1%
  • Monona-Luana Cemetery$0.03<1%

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$36.90$14.53
FY21$37.20$14.53
FY22$36.65$14.53
FY23$36.37$14.53
FY24$37.44$15.00
FY25$36.05$15.48
FY26$38.21$16.98
FY27$37.42$16.41
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$36.90$14.53
FY21$37.20$14.53
FY22$36.65$14.53
FY23$36.37$14.53
FY24$37.44$15.00
FY25$36.05$15.48
FY26$38.21$16.98
FY27$37.42$16.41

Compared with places this size3

Monona’s city property tax rate of $16.41 per $1,000 is the 23rd highest of 125 Iowa cities with 980–2,200 people. The middle of the group is $13.79.

Elkader: $27.11Laurens: $24.16Pocahontas: $20.79Rockwell City: $20.74Villisca: $19.74Sac City: $19.69Traer: $19.56Corning: $19.36Lake City: $19.32Corydon: $18.22Dysart: $17.95Britt: $17.72Strawberry Point: $17.58Rockwell: $17.54Mapleton: $16.90George: $16.89Manson: $16.87Fayette: $16.85Nashua: $16.81Ackley: $16.63Audubon: $16.52Roland: $16.51Aplington: $16.34Durant: $16.24Lamoni: $16.15Panora: $16.14Dike: $15.94Holstein: $15.81State Center: $15.80Pleasantville: $15.80Earlham: $15.55Shell Rock: $15.52Brooklyn: $15.49Stuart: $15.48Mount Ayr: $15.32Granger: $15.22Sigourney: $15.20Guttenberg: $15.19Sidney: $15.19Logan: $15.05Griswold: $15.01Tripoli: $14.99Sumner: $14.83Woodbine: $14.80Bedford: $14.66Lenox: $14.65Manning: $14.62Van Meter: $14.60Dunlap: $14.56Coon Rapids: $14.49Nora Springs: $14.25Kingsley: $14.25Urbana: $14.20Sheffield: $14.16Parkersburg: $14.15Hartley: $14.11Ida Grove: $14.10Woodward: $14.05Guthrie Center: $14.04Alton: $13.87Lake Mills: $13.82Montezuma: $13.79Gilbert: $13.71Clarksville: $13.53Avoca: $13.51Janesville: $13.43Glidden: $13.43Calmar: $13.39Baxter: $13.32Wapello: $13.29Manly: $13.29Conrad: $13.23Springville: $13.22Shellsburg: $13.20Greenfield: $13.13Treynor: $13.03Akron: $12.93Leon: $12.93New Sharon: $12.80Slater: $12.79Malvern: $12.79Buffalo: $12.68Sanborn: $12.62New London: $12.56Dallas Center: $12.42Remsen: $12.32Monroe: $12.28Denver: $12.27Alta: $12.13Reinbeck: $12.10Winfield: $12.04Elkhart: $12.00Atkins: $11.99Tabor: $11.88Wellman: $11.88Blue Grass: $11.79Columbus Junction: $11.71Palo: $11.49Prairie City: $11.38Marcus: $11.31Northwood: $11.28Mediapolis: $11.27Melcher-Dallas: $11.21University Heights: $11.12Ogden: $10.99Clarence: $10.94Farley: $10.91Oakland: $10.85Moville: $10.67Elk Run Heights: $10.33Walcott: $10.29Fredericksburg: $10.27Lake Park: $10.25Central City: $10.01Epworth: $9.42Lake View: $9.39Paullina: $9.21Fairbank: $9.00Walford: $8.72Lone Tree: $8.13Riverside: $8.02North English: $7.49Sloan: $7.49Arnolds Park: $4.95Monona: $16.41$4.95 lowest$27.11 highestmiddle
See all 125
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Elkader$27.111,192
2Laurens$24.161,253
3Pocahontas$20.791,848
4Rockwell City$20.742,185
5Villisca$19.741,106
6Sac City$19.691,992
7Traer$19.561,547
8Corning$19.361,509
9Lake City$19.321,656
10Corydon$18.221,563
11Dysart$17.951,266
12Britt$17.722,001
13Strawberry Point$17.581,141
14Rockwell$17.541,044
15Mapleton$16.901,114
16George$16.891,106
17Manson$16.871,646
18Fayette$16.851,193
19Nashua$16.811,515
20Ackley$16.631,538
21Audubon$16.522,008
22Roland$16.511,376
23Monona$16.411,462
24Aplington$16.341,088
25Durant$16.241,798
26Lamoni$16.152,072
27Panora$16.141,096
28Dike$15.941,293
29Holstein$15.811,475
30State Center$15.801,403
31Pleasantville$15.801,696
32Earlham$15.551,411
33Shell Rock$15.521,265
34Brooklyn$15.491,474
35Stuart$15.481,887
36Mount Ayr$15.321,616
37Granger$15.222,095
38Sigourney$15.201,974
39Guttenberg$15.191,804
40Sidney$15.191,048
41Logan$15.051,351
42Griswold$15.01975
43Tripoli$14.991,208
44Sumner$14.832,032
45Woodbine$14.801,707
46Bedford$14.661,474
47Lenox$14.651,355
48Manning$14.621,390
49Van Meter$14.601,840
50Dunlap$14.561,030
51Coon Rapids$14.491,258
52Nora Springs$14.251,330
53Kingsley$14.251,394
54Urbana$14.201,635
55Sheffield$14.161,123
56Parkersburg$14.151,986
57Hartley$14.111,584
58Ida Grove$14.101,988
59Woodward$14.051,383
60Guthrie Center$14.041,579
61Alton$13.871,248
62Lake Mills$13.822,077
63Montezuma$13.791,421
64Gilbert$13.711,397
65Clarksville$13.531,238
66Avoca$13.511,685
67Janesville$13.431,052
68Glidden$13.431,140
69Calmar$13.391,100
70Baxter$13.32983
71Wapello$13.292,026
72Manly$13.291,233
73Conrad$13.231,098
74Springville$13.221,161
75Shellsburg$13.20987
76Greenfield$13.131,988
77Treynor$13.031,104
78Akron$12.931,545
79Leon$12.931,779
80New Sharon$12.801,249
81Slater$12.791,626
82Malvern$12.791,056
83Buffalo$12.681,163
84Sanborn$12.621,463
85New London$12.561,853
86Dallas Center$12.421,993
87Remsen$12.321,681
88Monroe$12.282,021
89Denver$12.271,955
90Alta$12.132,039
91Reinbeck$12.101,673
92Winfield$12.041,006
93Elkhart$12.001,079
94Atkins$11.992,168
95Tabor$11.88983
96Wellman$11.881,531
97Blue Grass$11.791,707
98Columbus Junction$11.711,794
99Palo$11.491,554
100Prairie City$11.381,722
101Marcus$11.311,069
102Northwood$11.282,047
103Mediapolis$11.271,679
104Melcher-Dallas$11.211,193
105University Heights$11.121,188
106Ogden$10.991,970
107Clarence$10.94991
108Farley$10.911,723
109Oakland$10.851,519
110Moville$10.671,707
111Elk Run Heights$10.331,061
112Walcott$10.291,556
113Fredericksburg$10.27983
114Lake Park$10.251,155
115Central City$10.011,254
116Epworth$9.422,042
117Lake View$9.391,120
118Paullina$9.21979
119Fairbank$9.001,133
120Walford$8.721,357
121Lone Tree$8.131,341
122Riverside$8.021,063
123North English$7.491,030
124Sloan$7.491,078
125Arnolds Park$4.951,214

The $8.10 limit

Monona’s general levy is $8.44 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.34 above the limit; it has to come down in steps.4 40 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.78 · FY26 $8.69 · FY27 $8.44 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $7.97 more5

  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$3.45 · $190,942
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$3.23 · $178,729
  • Debt Service Levy$1.29 · $77,727

Tax increment financing (TIF)

$5.1M of taxable value in Monona is in TIF districts’ increment (8% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.6 It budgeted $207,730 in TIF revenue for FY25.

$156,819
$140,301

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 $77,254 of the city’s own.

  • Mfl-Marmac schools$53,844
  • Clayton County$31,956
YearTIF revenue
FY16$96,303
FY17$93,774
FY18$59,974
FY19$135,314
FY20$145,438
FY21$150,881
FY22$156,819
FY23$140,301
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$96,303
FY17$93,774
FY18$59,974
FY19$135,314
FY20$145,438
FY21$150,881
FY22$156,819
FY23$140,301

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$466,38951%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$190,94221%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$178,72920%
  • Debt Service Levy$77,7279%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Monona’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 34¢ of every dollar34¢Debt Service: 16¢ of every dollar16¢Public Works: 16¢ of every dollar16¢Public Safety: 14¢ of every dollar14¢Culture and Recreation: 11¢ of every dollar11¢Everything else: 9¢ of every dollar9¢

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 124 Iowa cities closest in size (980–2,200 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (124)
Business Type / Enterprise34¢41¢
Debt Service16¢6¢
Public Works16¢12¢
Public Safety14¢11¢
Culture and Recreation11¢8¢
Everything else9¢23¢

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.

  • Capital Projects$614,39723%
  • Culture and Recreation$449,33917%
  • Public Works$417,78516%
  • Debt Service$408,94015%
  • Public Safety$393,80615%
  • General Government$220,8998%
  • Community and Economic Development$134,7535%
  • Health and Social Services$1,9710%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($949,760 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$427,587$402,250
Public Safety$295,586$297,940
Health and Social Services$4,883$3,276
General Government$206,076$174,469
Debt Service$450,017$446,435
Culture and Recreation$295,525$335,230
Community and Economic Development$48,011$35,069
Capital Projects$10,169$74,102
Business Type / Enterprise$1.5M$798,922

What it spent each year

FY24 left out8

$5.1M
$3.4M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Monona owes

$1.2M at June 30, 2026: $794 per resident. 589th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).9

$7.2M
$1.2M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$1.2M$794
2025$2.6M$1,738
2024$3.1M$2,127
2023$3.3M$2,260
2022$3.7M$2,536
2021$4.1M$2,805
2020$3.9M$2,667
2019$4.2M$2,865
2018$6.6M$4,516
2017$7.2M$4,893
2016$5.8M$3,959
2015$6.2M$4,200
2014$6.5M$4,418
2013$6.5M$4,387
2012$3.9M$2,636
2011$3.2M$2,182
2010$3.4M$2,313
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$1.2M$794
2025$2.6M$1,738
2024$3.1M$2,127
2023$3.3M$2,260
2022$3.7M$2,536
2021$4.1M$2,805
2020$3.9M$2,667
2019$4.2M$2,865
2018$6.6M$4,516
2017$7.2M$4,893
2016$5.8M$3,959
2015$6.2M$4,200
2014$6.5M$4,418
2013$6.5M$4,387
2012$3.9M$2,636
2011$3.2M$2,182
2010$3.4M$2,313

Down 66% since 2010.

The 5% limit10

General obligation debt is $49,763, under 1% of the limit of about $5.3M (5% of $106.4M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

5 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsPhase II Sanitary Sewer Improvements2036$954,000
Revenue BondsPhase I Sanitary Sewer Improvements2033$106,800
Revenue BondsPhase III Sewer Lining2043$55,000
General ObligationRedo 600 Block of Page Street from Center St. to Railroad. Sidewalk to Sidewalk TIF2027$49,763
Revenue BondsLittle Bulldog Child Care2026$2,672

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. Monona’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, March 20, 2026, by a CPA firm.

13 earlier reports for Monona

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: $216,525 in FY25, up 2% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 19% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$205,461$202,426$207,783$208,910
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$13,695$11,972$10,212$7,615

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.

$452,636
  • State grants$446,64899%
  • Employee Reimbursement of Health Insurance$5,9881%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$18,382
FY20$7,220
FY21$42,854
FY22$118,580
FY23$179,880
FY24$65,507
FY25$452,636
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$18,382
FY20$7,220
FY21$42,854
FY22$118,580
FY23$179,880
FY24$65,507
FY25$452,636

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−17%$201,013 → $208,910, up 4% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 17% less
  • Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)−49%$11,977 → $7,615, down 36% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 49% 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.

$216,034
$208,493

Federal grants, for comparison: $21,700 in FY24.

Business awards

Every award statewide

State economic development awards

Community college new jobs training: 2 contracts since 2004 worth $391K, for 57 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)14.

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

2 seats: the top 2 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Monona; 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.

  • Monona City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Bridget Schlein, Erin Friedley, John B. Elledge
  • Monona Mayor
    Now held by Kevin Brainard Sr.

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here15.

Past ballot measures

  • Public Measure EXNovember 7, 2023

    Passed Yes 66.3% (183) · No 33.7% (93)

    Passes with more yes votes than no.

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 ballot16.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress17

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

U.S. House:District 2

Clayton CountyMfl Mar Mac schoolsStarmont schools