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Local taxes › Crawford County › Charter Oak

City

Charter Oak

Crawford County · How cities work

$3,250 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($38.56 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,800 a yearof that goes to the city ($21.32 per $1,000)
$257,994property taxes the city levies, FY27
$608,081city 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.

  • Alec CastilloCharter Oak City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Peggy StaleyCharter Oak Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Randy UlmerCharter Oak City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Wayne CopelandCharter Oak City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Nathan MohrCharter Oak City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Russell MaackCharter Oak City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Tracy HelmholdCharter Oak 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 Charter Oak

Homes and businesses in most of Charter Oak pay a combined $38.56 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Crawford County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $21.32. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$34.77$16.15
FY21$35.55$16.85
FY22$34.65$16.31
FY23$30.79$12.83
FY24$36.66$18.54
FY25$37.00$18.99
FY26$39.02$21.16
FY27$38.56$21.32
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$34.77$16.15
FY21$35.55$16.85
FY22$34.65$16.31
FY23$30.79$12.83
FY24$36.66$18.54
FY25$37.00$18.99
FY26$39.02$21.16
FY27$38.56$21.32

Compared with places this size3

Charter Oak’s city property tax rate of $21.32 per $1,000 is the 5th highest of 197 Iowa cities with 350–780 people. The middle of the group is $12.88.

Stanhope: $29.10Exira: $24.81Rolfe: $22.67Dayton: $22.51Oxford Junction: $20.84Earling: $20.47Correctionville: $19.84Pomeroy: $19.60Salem: $19.15Dumont: $19.04Seymour: $18.78Dexter: $18.69Fonda: $18.52Massena: $18.23Kanawha: $18.11Swea City: $18.04Alden: $17.90Elma: $17.82Callender: $17.78Casey: $17.72Dows: $17.70New Hartford: $17.69Vail: $17.66Emerson: $17.54Walnut: $17.46Murray: $17.44Thompson: $17.25Ashton: $17.17Burt: $17.10Latimer: $16.96Lohrville: $16.95Elk Horn: $16.78Oxford: $16.70Mccallsburg: $16.58Whittemore: $16.54Bancroft: $16.52Titonka: $16.45Early: $16.35Truro: $16.34Lewis: $16.25Duncombe: $16.10Bayard: $16.05Scranton: $16.01Ruthven: $15.84Minden: $15.77Walker: $15.74Russell: $15.18Stanwood: $15.12Stratford: $15.03Zearing: $14.99Arlington: $14.98Maynard: $14.85Plainfield: $14.84Ryan: $14.84Otho: $14.82Wyoming: $14.81Humeston: $14.80Hopkinton: $14.79Essex: $14.76Gilmore City: $14.60Garnavillo: $14.52Sabula: $14.38Lorimor: $14.36Collins: $14.32Clermont: $14.30Moulton: $14.25Ocheyedan: $14.22Mcgregor: $14.20Olin: $14.19Garwin: $14.08Farragut: $14.07Elgin: $14.05Lime Springs: $13.95Dow City: $13.94Wesley: $13.91Ossian: $13.88Bussey: $13.83Livermore: $13.78Redfield: $13.73Sioux Rapids: $13.63Albion: $13.58Gladbrook: $13.58Lamont: $13.57New Albin: $13.55Rockford: $13.52Boyden: $13.39Lawler: $13.39Van Horne: $13.27New Market: $13.25Plymouth: $13.21Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Anthon: $13.05Little Rock: $13.03Coggon: $12.99Lehigh: $12.97Earlville: $12.90Brighton: $12.88Montrose: $12.78Goldfield: $12.73Wellsburg: $12.68Delmar: $12.68Galva: $12.68Badger: $12.67Martensdale: $12.63Stanton: $12.62Hospers: $12.58Norway: $12.53Everly: $12.51Hazleton: $12.48Spillville: $12.40Alburnett: $12.30Moravia: $12.27Hedrick: $12.22Carson: $12.22Wheatland: $12.18Bonaparte: $12.17Schaller: $12.14Hawkeye: $12.11Colesburg: $11.97Lowden: $11.93Albert City: $11.88Thornton: $11.86Runnells: $11.79Allerton: $11.72Orient: $11.66Merrill: $11.64Ellsworth: $11.57Morning Sun: $11.50Battle Creek: $11.49Wall Lake: $11.43West Bend: $11.42Dakota City: $11.39Churdan: $11.31Miles: $11.28Sutherland: $11.25Arcadia: $11.23Whiting: $11.21Shelby: $11.17Blairstown: $11.04Manilla: $11.01Milton: $10.98Ireton: $10.93New Vienna: $10.91Letts: $10.91Fontanelle: $10.88Birmingham: $10.87Charlotte: $10.86Richland: $10.82Grand Mound: $10.78Batavia: $10.77Riverdale: $10.67Union: $10.58Calamus: $10.47Lovilia: $10.46Melbourne: $10.38Radcliffe: $10.37Stacyville: $10.36Ventura: $10.22Andrew: $10.22Milo: $10.20Royal: $10.20Hartford: $10.16What Cheer: $10.01Cumming: $9.85Breda: $9.80Doon: $9.78Lynnville: $9.68Farnhamville: $9.18Middletown: $9.16Alleman: $9.12Crescent: $8.72Ainsworth: $8.62Grand Junction: $8.57Gilman: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Kellogg: $8.10Lakeside: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Agency: $7.94Fremont: $7.86Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Beacon: $7.56Worthington: $7.50Marquette: $7.08Columbus City: $6.94Raymond: $6.85Keystone: $6.80Shueyville: $6.79New Virginia: $5.97Holy Cross: $5.91Conesville: $5.86University Park: $5.27Orleans: $4.13Okoboji: $3.83Charter Oak: $21.32$3.83 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 197
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Stanhope$29.10354
2Exira$24.81766
3Rolfe$22.67505
4Dayton$22.51766
5Charter Oak$21.32521
6Oxford Junction$20.84424
7Earling$20.47394
8Correctionville$19.84759
9Pomeroy$19.60511
10Salem$19.15380
11Dumont$19.04614
12Seymour$18.78646
13Dexter$18.69631
14Fonda$18.52636
15Massena$18.23352
16Kanawha$18.11638
17Swea City$18.04545
18Alden$17.90738
19Elma$17.82493
20Callender$17.78361
21Casey$17.72387
22Dows$17.70509
23New Hartford$17.69555
24Vail$17.66383
25Emerson$17.54401
26Walnut$17.46728
27Murray$17.44609
28Thompson$17.25478
29Ashton$17.17434
30Burt$17.10404
31Latimer$16.96477
32Lohrville$16.95366
33Elk Horn$16.78631
34Oxford$16.70715
35Mccallsburg$16.58356
36Whittemore$16.54478
37Bancroft$16.52677
38Titonka$16.45491
39Early$16.35571
40Truro$16.34515
41Lewis$16.25358
42Duncombe$16.10374
43Bayard$16.05402
44Scranton$16.01496
45Ruthven$15.84710
46Minden$15.77581
47Walker$15.74671
48Russell$15.18475
49Stanwood$15.12612
50Stratford$15.03688
51Zearing$14.99508
52Arlington$14.98415
53Maynard$14.85466
54Plainfield$14.84392
55Ryan$14.84348
56Otho$14.82417
57Wyoming$14.81526
58Humeston$14.80472
59Hopkinton$14.79622
60Essex$14.76721
61Gilmore City$14.60484
62Garnavillo$14.52751
63Sabula$14.38498
64Lorimor$14.36377
65Collins$14.32503
66Clermont$14.30571
67Moulton$14.25596
68Ocheyedan$14.22424
69Mcgregor$14.20725
70Olin$14.19652
71Garwin$14.08469
72Farragut$14.07480
73Elgin$14.05676
74Lime Springs$13.95467
75Dow City$13.94477
76Wesley$13.91382
77Ossian$13.88777
78Bussey$13.83378
79Livermore$13.78382
80Redfield$13.73719
81Sioux Rapids$13.63722
82Albion$13.58444
83Gladbrook$13.58775
84Lamont$13.57429
85New Albin$13.55435
86Rockford$13.52722
87Boyden$13.39694
88Lawler$13.39392
89Van Horne$13.27768
90New Market$13.25381
91Plymouth$13.21368
92Quasqueton$13.12587
93Farmington$13.10583
94Anthon$13.05534
95Little Rock$13.03447
96Coggon$12.99691
97Lehigh$12.97395
98Earlville$12.90713
99Brighton$12.88592
100Montrose$12.78734
101Goldfield$12.73617
102Wellsburg$12.68709
103Delmar$12.68541
104Galva$12.68416
105Badger$12.67540
106Martensdale$12.63413
107Stanton$12.62664
108Hospers$12.58703
109Norway$12.53463
110Everly$12.51570
111Hazleton$12.48711
112Spillville$12.40371
113Alburnett$12.30672
114Moravia$12.27625
115Hedrick$12.22717
116Carson$12.22772
117Wheatland$12.18765
118Bonaparte$12.17357
119Schaller$12.14702
120Hawkeye$12.11429
121Colesburg$11.97379
122Lowden$11.93767
123Albert City$11.88627
124Thornton$11.86394
125Runnells$11.79467
126Allerton$11.72432
127Orient$11.66363
128Merrill$11.64713
129Ellsworth$11.57495
130Morning Sun$11.50702
131Battle Creek$11.49683
132Wall Lake$11.43739
133West Bend$11.42770
134Dakota City$11.39764
135Churdan$11.31359
136Miles$11.28400
137Sutherland$11.25628
138Arcadia$11.23588
139Whiting$11.21725
140Shelby$11.17730
141Blairstown$11.04705
142Manilla$11.01756
143Milton$10.98395
144Ireton$10.93571
145New Vienna$10.91384
146Letts$10.91358
147Fontanelle$10.88684
148Birmingham$10.87371
149Charlotte$10.86386
150Richland$10.82532
151Grand Mound$10.78608
152Batavia$10.77434
153Riverdale$10.67385
154Union$10.58378
155Calamus$10.47348
156Lovilia$10.46456
157Melbourne$10.38771
158Radcliffe$10.37540
159Stacyville$10.36436
160Ventura$10.22701
161Andrew$10.22374
162Milo$10.20762
163Royal$10.20379
164Hartford$10.16729
165What Cheer$10.01595
166Cumming$9.85527
167Breda$9.80492
168Doon$9.78640
169Lynnville$9.68382
170Farnhamville$9.18364
171Middletown$9.16365
172Alleman$9.12439
173Crescent$8.72626
174Ainsworth$8.62511
175Grand Junction$8.57715
176Gilman$8.10530
177Grandview$8.10431
178Kellogg$8.10597
179Lakeside$8.10695
180Lost Nation$8.10425
181Agency$7.94623
182Fremont$7.86688
183Delhi$7.81438
184Klemme$7.74429
185Beacon$7.56434
186Worthington$7.50374
187Marquette$7.08434
188Columbus City$6.94385
189Raymond$6.85754
190Keystone$6.80616
191Shueyville$6.79725
192New Virginia$5.97499
193Holy Cross$5.91348
194Conesville$5.86350
195University Park$5.27476
196Orleans$4.13503
197Okoboji$3.83729

The $8.10 limit

Charter Oak’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 $7.86 · FY26 $8.10 · FY27 $8.10 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $13.22 more5

  • Debt Service Levy$6.07 · $73,374
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$5.44 · $65,724
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.71 · $20,651

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$97,88138%
  • Debt Service Levy$73,37428%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$65,72426%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$20,6518%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Charter Oak’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 33¢ of every dollar33¢Public Works: 25¢ of every dollar25¢General Government: 19¢ of every dollar19¢Culture and Recreation: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Debt Service: 7¢ of every dollar7¢Everything else: 6¢ 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 196 Iowa cities closest in size (350–780 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (196)
Business Type / Enterprise33¢41¢
Public Works25¢18¢
General Government19¢12¢
Culture and Recreation9¢8¢
Debt Service7¢5¢
Everything else6¢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.

  • Public Works$217,31836%
  • General Government$166,64027%
  • Culture and Recreation$89,35315%
  • Debt Service$78,07013%
  • Public Safety$44,7007%
  • Community and Economic Development$12,0002%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($340,737 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$182,740$111,771
Public Safety$141,024$50,703
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$169,353$123,982
Debt Service$68,861$75,481
Culture and Recreation$122,125$78,067
Community and Economic Development$0$7,903
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$501,857$163,599

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$1.2M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Charter Oak owes

$177,032 at June 30, 2026: $331 per resident. 664th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$566,318
$177,032
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$177,032$331
2025$257,228$481
2024$338,510$633
2023$304,678$569
2022$370,828$693
2021$471,369$881
2020$566,318$1,059
2019$239,130$447
2018$286,812$536
2017$334,370$625
2016$465,110$869
2015$215,637$403
2014$281,245$526
2013$293,752$549
2012$381,014$712
2011$268,839$503
2010$329,137$615
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$177,032$331
2025$257,228$481
2024$338,510$633
2023$304,678$569
2022$370,828$693
2021$471,369$881
2020$566,318$1,059
2019$239,130$447
2018$286,812$536
2017$334,370$625
2016$465,110$869
2015$215,637$403
2014$281,245$526
2013$293,752$549
2012$381,014$712
2011$268,839$503
2010$329,137$615

Down 46% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $110,917, 9% of the limit of about $1.2M (5% of $24.7M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

3 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsWater2039$66,115
General Obligation2019 Street Project2027$61,800
General ObligationReplacement tanker truck fire department2029$49,117

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. Charter Oak’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 8, 2024, by the Auditor of State.

2 earlier reports for Charter Oak

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: $76,080 in FY25, up 11% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 11% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$73,132$73,622$75,570$76,080
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)––––

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−6%$64,851 → $76,080, up 17% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 6% 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 61% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 29% more.

$72,891
$72,849

Federal grants, for comparison: $35,736 in FY23.

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 · 3

2 seats: the top 2 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Charter Oak; 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.

  • Charter Oak City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Russell Maack, Nathan Mohr, Tracy Helmhold
  • Charter Oak Mayor
    Now held by Peggy Staley

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

Jason Schultz (Sen. 6)Steven C. Holt (Rep. 12)

U.S. House:District 4

Crawford CountyCharter Oak-Ute schools