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Local taxes › Dallas County › Bouton

City

Bouton

Dallas County · How cities work

$3,620 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($42.94 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,620 a yearof that goes to the city ($19.25 per $1,000)
$55,756property taxes the city levies, FY27
$206,626city budget, all funds, FY272

Who runs it

The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.

  • Andrew J. SchechingerBouton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Julie JensenBouton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Michael MinerBouton Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Nick KeublerBouton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Robert SlaughterBouton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Timothy HudspethBouton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Elizabeth JamesBouton City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Jesse JamesBouton City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Meagan JamesBouton City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Tim HudspethBouton 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 Bouton

Homes and businesses in most of Bouton pay a combined $42.94 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Dallas County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $19.25. Estimate your bill.

  • City of Bouton$19.2545%
  • Perry schools$18.5443%
  • Dallas County$3.408%
  • Des Moines Area Community College$0.812%
  • Dallas County Hospital$0.571%
  • Dallas County Assessor$0.31<1%
  • Dallas County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.07<1%

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$43.16$16.81
FY21$41.90$16.25
FY22$38.52$13.59
FY23$39.93$15.88
FY24$39.01$15.47
FY25$40.54$17.36
FY26$44.16$20.31
FY27$42.94$19.25
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$43.16$16.81
FY21$41.90$16.25
FY22$38.52$13.59
FY23$39.93$15.88
FY24$39.01$15.47
FY25$40.54$17.36
FY26$44.16$20.31
FY27$42.94$19.25

Compared with places this size3

Bouton’s city property tax rate of $19.25 per $1,000 is the 12th highest of 157 Iowa cities with 80–190 people. The middle of the group is $10.35.

Castana: $34.13Brayton: $25.07Hansell: $23.66Harris: $23.13Whitten: $22.65Soldier: $21.92Smithland: $21.12Stanley: $20.69Coin: $19.59Rowan: $19.53Chester: $19.30Ricketts: $19.22Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Derby: $18.13Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Prescott: $16.53Monmouth: $16.41Blockton: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Waterville: $16.25Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Woodburn: $15.59Kamrar: $15.47Goodell: $15.16Marne: $15.03Baldwin: $14.91Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Palmer: $13.89Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Ferguson: $13.53Lanesboro: $13.53Calumet: $13.16Portsmouth: $13.05Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Clemons: $12.69Cylinder: $12.52Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Bridgewater: $12.29Arion: $12.14Webb: $12.10Decatur: $12.08Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92East Peru: $11.89Henderson: $11.85Reasnor: $11.76Morley: $11.74Ledyard: $11.74Toronto: $11.68Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54College Springs: $11.44Melrose: $11.27Linn Grove: $11.15Promise City: $11.13Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Masonville: $11.00Somers: $10.99Havelock: $10.95Alexander: $10.90Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Woden: $10.68Pacific Junction: $10.56Barnes City: $10.44Stockton: $10.37Randall: $10.35Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24North Washington: $10.23Dawson: $10.19Barnum: $9.96Hartwick: $9.90Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Rutland: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Superior: $9.58Webster: $9.55Martinsburg: $9.49Larrabee: $9.41Hamilton: $9.35Wiota: $9.32Floris: $9.29Mitchell: $9.22Westphalia: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Welton: $8.86Archer: $8.84Luther: $8.83Fraser: $8.81Macksburg: $8.81Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Thor: $8.38Andover: $8.28Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Carpenter: $8.10Rome: $8.10Westfield: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Morrison: $7.86Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Oyens: $7.86Olds: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Cromwell: $7.81Mcclelland: $7.79Arispe: $7.71Luzerne: $7.69Lidderdale: $7.68Westwood: $7.67Bernard: $7.56Braddyville: $7.49Franklin: $7.31Spragueville: $7.20Weldon: $7.18Brunsville: $6.95Zwingle: $6.93Packwood: $6.77Houghton: $6.73Williamson: $6.72Lincoln: $6.32Gravity: $6.18Ackworth: $5.90Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Harper: $5.29Panorama Park: $4.62Keomah Village: $3.15Mcintire: $2.78Sherrill: $2.66Centralia: $2.41New Liberty: $2.27North Buena Vista: $1.78Bouton: $19.25$1.78 lowest$34.13 highestmiddle
See all 157
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Castana$34.13103
2Brayton$25.07138
3Hansell$23.6685
4Harris$23.13145
5Whitten$22.6598
6Soldier$21.92176
7Smithland$21.12184
8Stanley$20.6986
9Coin$19.59171
10Rowan$19.53118
11Chester$19.30134
12Bouton$19.25125
13Ricketts$19.22105
14Garden Grove$19.20173
15Hastings$18.95157
16Swaledale$18.62136
17Derby$18.1389
18Hillsboro$17.68158
19Bristow$17.39139
20Woolstock$17.26141
21Prescott$16.53186
22Monmouth$16.41129
23Blockton$16.37123
24Geneva$16.25137
25Waterville$16.25112
26Little Sioux$15.74170
27Moorhead$15.68186
28Woodburn$15.59133
29Kamrar$15.47178
30Goodell$15.16139
31Marne$15.03109
32Baldwin$14.9199
33Davis City$14.45178
34Lucas$14.40176
35Palmer$13.89137
36Ayrshire$13.55128
37Searsboro$13.55129
38Ferguson$13.5398
39Lanesboro$13.53112
40Calumet$13.16144
41Portsmouth$13.05187
42Delaware$12.86139
43Patterson$12.84176
44Clemons$12.69135
45Cylinder$12.5284
46Millersburg$12.40135
47Aurora$12.40165
48Bridgewater$12.29145
49Arion$12.1499
50Webb$12.10139
51Decatur$12.08174
52Shambaugh$11.98161
53Lone Rock$11.92143
54East Peru$11.89119
55Henderson$11.85140
56Reasnor$11.76157
57Morley$11.7494
58Ledyard$11.74118
59Toronto$11.68101
60Exline$11.60157
61Beaman$11.54155
62College Springs$11.44172
63Melrose$11.27110
64Linn Grove$11.15155
65Promise City$11.1391
66Randolph$11.08183
67Leighton$11.07153
68Rake$11.05179
69Masonville$11.0098
70Somers$10.99121
71Havelock$10.95127
72Alexander$10.90165
73Lambs Grove$10.78174
74Wallingford$10.75154
75Woden$10.68183
76Pacific Junction$10.5699
77Barnes City$10.44152
78Stockton$10.37171
79Randall$10.35156
80Meriden$10.28175
81Drakesville$10.24170
82North Washington$10.23107
83Dawson$10.19110
84Barnum$9.96186
85Hartwick$9.9091
86Clare$9.81133
87Tingley$9.81146
88Rutland$9.65116
89Van Wert$9.62175
90Rock Falls$9.61143
91Kirkville$9.59159
92Superior$9.58127
93Webster$9.5594
94Martinsburg$9.49109
95Larrabee$9.41116
96Hamilton$9.35125
97Wiota$9.3291
98Floris$9.29119
99Mitchell$9.22118
100Westphalia$9.18133
101Elberon$9.16178
102Blairsburg$8.93175
103Prairieburg$8.91156
104Welton$8.86124
105Archer$8.84116
106Luther$8.83147
107Fraser$8.81107
108Macksburg$8.81103
109Moorland$8.61169
110Pilot Mound$8.54155
111Thor$8.38182
112Andover$8.28106
113Thurman$8.26162
114Boxholm$8.11177
115Carpenter$8.1092
116Rome$8.10112
117Westfield$8.10121
118Vincent$8.09125
119Morrison$7.86101
120Mount Auburn$7.86162
121Haverhill$7.86164
122Oyens$7.8688
123Olds$7.86174
124Castalia$7.86141
125Dickens$7.86146
126Rose Hill$7.86156
127West Chester$7.82147
128Cromwell$7.81104
129Mcclelland$7.79147
130Arispe$7.7195
131Luzerne$7.69111
132Lidderdale$7.68162
133Westwood$7.6796
134Bernard$7.56117
135Braddyville$7.49142
136Franklin$7.31133
137Spragueville$7.2092
138Weldon$7.18134
139Brunsville$6.95128
140Zwingle$6.9386
141Packwood$6.77186
142Houghton$6.73129
143Williamson$6.72126
144Lincoln$6.32119
145Gravity$6.18149
146Ackworth$5.90117
147Oakland Acres$5.88178
148Springbrook$5.79145
149Maysville$5.77155
150Harper$5.29117
151Panorama Park$4.62142
152Keomah Village$3.15107
153Mcintire$2.78115
154Sherrill$2.66176
155Centralia$2.41117
156New Liberty$2.27141
157North Buena Vista$1.78107

The $8.10 limit

Bouton’s general levy is $8.26 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.16 above the limit; it has to come down in steps.4 107 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.51 · FY26 $8.51 · FY27 $8.26 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $10.99 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$4.04 · $11,524
  • Debt Service Levy$3.82 · $10,886
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$3.13 · $8,907

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$23,53643%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$11,52421%
  • Debt Service Levy$10,88620%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$8,90716%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Bouton’s budget goes, FY26

Public Works: 41¢ of every dollar41¢General Government: 32¢ of every dollar32¢Public Safety: 14¢ of every dollar14¢Debt Service: 8¢ of every dollar8¢Culture and Recreation: 5¢ of every dollarEverything else: 1¢ 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 157 Iowa cities closest in size (80–190 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (157)
Public Works41¢27¢
General Government32¢24¢
Public Safety14¢10¢
Debt Service8¢2¢
Culture and Recreation5¢8¢
Everything else1¢<1¢

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$117,50057%
  • General Government$42,32020%
  • Culture and Recreation$16,2508%
  • Public Safety$15,8218%
  • Debt Service$11,3355%
  • Community and Economic Development$2,6001%
  • Health and Social Services$8000%
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$16,950$134,394
Public Safety$6,900$14,627
Health and Social Services$1,670$0
General Government$36,115$33,810
Debt Service$13,000$10,608
Culture and Recreation$10,725$102,862
Community and Economic Development$0$3,317
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$0$0

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$412,958
$169,982

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Bouton owes

$10,884 at June 30, 2026: $86 per resident. 707th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$62,617
$10,884
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$10,884$86
2025$20,896$165
2024$30,909$243
2023$40,929$322
2022$50,000$394
2021$0$0
2020$11,613$91
2019$23,320$184
2018$34,243$270
2017$50,000$394
2016$10,937$86
2015$20,000$157
2014$41,377$326
2013$35,228$277
2012$50,075$394
2011$62,617$493
2010$62,617$493
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$10,884$86
2025$20,896$165
2024$30,909$243
2023$40,929$322
2022$50,000$394
2021$0$0
2020$11,613$91
2019$23,320$184
2018$34,243$270
2017$50,000$394
2016$10,937$86
2015$20,000$157
2014$41,377$326
2013$35,228$277
2012$50,075$394
2011$62,617$493
2010$62,617$493

Down 83% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $314,105 (5% of $6.3M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

1 obligation at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Loansnew city tractor2027$10,884

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. Bouton’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021 (PDF), released Friday, April 1, 2022, by a CPA firm.

2 earlier reports for Bouton

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: $13,628 in FY25, up 20% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 5% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$12,018$12,675$13,074$13,145
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$773$669$576$483

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.

$2,699
  • CEBA grants$2,699100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$0
FY20$0
FY21$0
FY22$0
FY23$0
FY24$2,157
FY25$2,699
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$0
FY20$0
FY21$0
FY22$0
FY23$0
FY24$2,157
FY25$2,699

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−8%$11,376 → $13,145, up 16% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 8% 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 66% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 32% more.

$39,765
$39,062

Federal grants, for comparison: $50,000 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

5 seats: the top 5 win.

1 more →

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Bouton; 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.

  • Bouton City Council At-Large (5 seats)
    Now held by Julie Jensen, Tim Hudspeth, Jesse James, Meagan James, Elizabeth James
  • Bouton Mayor
    Now held by Michael Miner

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

Jack Whitver (Sen. 23)Dan Gehlbach (Rep. 46)

U.S. House:District 3

Dallas CountyPerry schools