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Local taxes › Dallas County › Dawson

City

Dawson

Dallas County · How cities work

$2,850 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($33.88 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$860 a yearof that goes to the city ($10.19 per $1,000)
$38,231property taxes the city levies, FY27
$56,750city 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.

  • Andrew GonzalezDawson City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Brian EitemanDawson City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Clarence MormanDawson City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Greg LewisDawson City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Heidi Riehl-ChapinDawson City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Maris MasengillDawson Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Belinda MormanDawson City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Edgar BenedictDawson 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 Dawson

Homes and businesses in most of Dawson pay a combined $33.88 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, $10.19. Estimate your bill.

  • Perry schools$18.5455%
  • City of Dawson$10.1930%
  • Dallas County$3.4010%
  • Des Moines Area Community College$0.812%
  • Dallas County Hospital$0.572%
  • 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 Dawson pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$36.65$10.30
FY21$35.39$9.74
FY22$34.84$9.90
FY23$34.28$10.23
FY24$33.87$10.33
FY25$33.83$10.65
FY26$34.39$10.54
FY27$33.88$10.19
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$36.65$10.30
FY21$35.39$9.74
FY22$34.84$9.90
FY23$34.28$10.23
FY24$33.87$10.33
FY25$33.83$10.65
FY26$34.39$10.54
FY27$33.88$10.19

Compared with places this size3

Dawson’s city property tax rate of $10.19 per $1,000 is the 67th highest of 142 Iowa cities with 70–170 people. The middle of the group is $9.63.

Castana: $34.13Brayton: $25.07Hansell: $23.66Harris: $23.13Whitten: $22.65Stanley: $20.69Rowan: $19.53Chester: $19.30Bouton: $19.25Ricketts: $19.22Hastings: $18.95Grant: $18.71Swaledale: $18.62Derby: $18.13Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Monmouth: $16.41Blockton: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Waterville: $16.25Popejoy: $15.80Woodburn: $15.59Goodell: $15.16Marne: $15.03Baldwin: $14.91Palmer: $13.89Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Ferguson: $13.53Lanesboro: $13.53Calumet: $13.16Delaware: $12.86Clemons: $12.69Cylinder: $12.52Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Bridgewater: $12.29Arion: $12.14Webb: $12.10Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92East Peru: $11.89Henderson: $11.85Reasnor: $11.76Morley: $11.74Ledyard: $11.74Toronto: $11.68Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54Matlock: $11.44Melrose: $11.27Nodaway: $11.20Linn Grove: $11.15Promise City: $11.13Leighton: $11.07Masonville: $11.00Somers: $10.99Havelock: $10.95Alexander: $10.90Wallingford: $10.75Pacific Junction: $10.56Barnes City: $10.44Bradgate: $10.37Randall: $10.35North Washington: $10.23Hartwick: $9.90Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Rutland: $9.65Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Superior: $9.58Webster: $9.55Martinsburg: $9.49Larrabee: $9.41Hamilton: $9.35Wiota: $9.32Floris: $9.29Mitchell: $9.22Westphalia: $9.18Prairieburg: $8.91Welton: $8.86Archer: $8.84Luther: $8.83Fraser: $8.81Macksburg: $8.81Pilot Mound: $8.54Andover: $8.28Thurman: $8.26Carpenter: $8.10Chillicothe: $8.10Rome: $8.10Scarville: $8.10Unionville: $8.10Westfield: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Buckeye: $7.94Morrison: $7.86Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Oyens: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Ralston: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Cromwell: $7.81Mcclelland: $7.79Arispe: $7.71Luzerne: $7.69Lidderdale: $7.68Westwood: $7.67Kinross: $7.57Bernard: $7.56Braddyville: $7.49Garber: $7.35Franklin: $7.31Spragueville: $7.20Weldon: $7.18Craig: $7.01Brunsville: $6.95Zwingle: $6.93Pleasant Plain: $6.79Houghton: $6.73Williamson: $6.72Lincoln: $6.32Tennant: $6.29Gravity: $6.18Ackworth: $5.90Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Harper: $5.29Panorama Park: $4.62Keomah Village: $3.15Mcintire: $2.78Graf: $2.56Centralia: $2.41New Liberty: $2.27North Buena Vista: $1.78Balltown: $0.12Dawson: $10.19$0.12 lowest$34.13 highestmiddle
See all 142
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Castana$34.13103
2Brayton$25.07138
3Hansell$23.6685
4Harris$23.13145
5Whitten$22.6598
6Stanley$20.6986
7Rowan$19.53118
8Chester$19.30134
9Bouton$19.25125
10Ricketts$19.22105
11Hastings$18.95157
12Grant$18.7182
13Swaledale$18.62136
14Derby$18.1389
15Hillsboro$17.68158
16Bristow$17.39139
17Woolstock$17.26141
18Monmouth$16.41129
19Blockton$16.37123
20Geneva$16.25137
21Waterville$16.25112
22Popejoy$15.8076
23Woodburn$15.59133
24Goodell$15.16139
25Marne$15.03109
26Baldwin$14.9199
27Palmer$13.89137
28Ayrshire$13.55128
29Searsboro$13.55129
30Ferguson$13.5398
31Lanesboro$13.53112
32Calumet$13.16144
33Delaware$12.86139
34Clemons$12.69135
35Cylinder$12.5284
36Millersburg$12.40135
37Aurora$12.40165
38Bridgewater$12.29145
39Arion$12.1499
40Webb$12.10139
41Shambaugh$11.98161
42Lone Rock$11.92143
43East Peru$11.89119
44Henderson$11.85140
45Reasnor$11.76157
46Morley$11.7494
47Ledyard$11.74118
48Toronto$11.68101
49Exline$11.60157
50Beaman$11.54155
51Matlock$11.4474
52Melrose$11.27110
53Nodaway$11.2074
54Linn Grove$11.15155
55Promise City$11.1391
56Leighton$11.07153
57Masonville$11.0098
58Somers$10.99121
59Havelock$10.95127
60Alexander$10.90165
61Wallingford$10.75154
62Pacific Junction$10.5699
63Barnes City$10.44152
64Bradgate$10.3776
65Randall$10.35156
66North Washington$10.23107
67Dawson$10.19110
68Hartwick$9.9091
69Clare$9.81133
70Tingley$9.81146
71Rutland$9.65116
72Rock Falls$9.61143
73Kirkville$9.59159
74Superior$9.58127
75Webster$9.5594
76Martinsburg$9.49109
77Larrabee$9.41116
78Hamilton$9.35125
79Wiota$9.3291
80Floris$9.29119
81Mitchell$9.22118
82Westphalia$9.18133
83Prairieburg$8.91156
84Welton$8.86124
85Archer$8.84116
86Luther$8.83147
87Fraser$8.81107
88Macksburg$8.81103
89Pilot Mound$8.54155
90Andover$8.28106
91Thurman$8.26162
92Carpenter$8.1092
93Chillicothe$8.1079
94Rome$8.10112
95Scarville$8.1075
96Unionville$8.1074
97Westfield$8.10121
98Vincent$8.09125
99Buckeye$7.9482
100Morrison$7.86101
101Mount Auburn$7.86162
102Haverhill$7.86164
103Oyens$7.8688
104Castalia$7.86141
105Dickens$7.86146
106Ralston$7.8676
107Rose Hill$7.86156
108West Chester$7.82147
109Cromwell$7.81104
110Mcclelland$7.79147
111Arispe$7.7195
112Luzerne$7.69111
113Lidderdale$7.68162
114Westwood$7.6796
115Kinross$7.5780
116Bernard$7.56117
117Braddyville$7.49142
118Garber$7.3576
119Franklin$7.31133
120Spragueville$7.2092
121Weldon$7.18134
122Craig$7.0178
123Brunsville$6.95128
124Zwingle$6.9386
125Pleasant Plain$6.7983
126Houghton$6.73129
127Williamson$6.72126
128Lincoln$6.32119
129Tennant$6.2983
130Gravity$6.18149
131Ackworth$5.90117
132Springbrook$5.79145
133Maysville$5.77155
134Harper$5.29117
135Panorama Park$4.62142
136Keomah Village$3.15107
137Mcintire$2.78115
138Graf$2.5676
139Centralia$2.41117
140New Liberty$2.27141
141North Buena Vista$1.78107
142Balltown$0.1278

The $8.10 limit

Dawson’s general levy is $8.02 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.08 below the limit.4 414 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $7.86 · FY26 $8.10 · FY27 $8.02 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $2.17 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$2.17 · $7,951

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$29,39579%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$7,95121%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Dawson’s budget goes, FY26

General Government: 45¢ of every dollar45¢Business Type / Enterprise: 34¢ of every dollar34¢Public Works: 17¢ of every dollar17¢Community and Economic Development: 2¢ of every dollarPublic Safety: 2¢ 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 143 Iowa cities closest in size (70–170 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (143)
General Government45¢26¢
Business Type / Enterprise34¢23¢
Public Works17¢28¢
Community and Economic Development2¢2¢
Public Safety2¢10¢
Everything else<1¢7¢

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.

  • General Government$36,00063%
  • Public Works$18,00032%
  • Public Safety$1,7503%
  • Culture and Recreation$8001%
  • Community and Economic Development$2000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($30,000 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$338,120$11,074
Public Safety$3,008$1,750
Health and Social Services$1,258$0
General Government$31,528$25,899
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$3,266$350
Community and Economic Development$2,004$45
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$60,500$58,600

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$130,552
$71,898

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Dawson owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.7

$120,322
$0
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$120,322$1,037
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$0$0
2016$0$0
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$120,322$1,037
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$0$0
2016$0$0
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0

Down 100% since 2025.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $329,641 (5% of $6.6M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. Dawson’s latest audit has them: Financial Statement, period ending Friday, June 30, 2017 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Financial Statement for the period ending Friday, June 30, 2017 (PDF), released Friday, June 29, 2018, by the Auditor of State.

2 earlier reports for Dawson

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: $9,450 in FY25, down 4% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 23% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$18,014$15,868$8,623$9,450

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−23%$9,822 → $9,450, down 4% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 23% 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 63% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 30% more.

$44,943

Business awards

Every award statewide

Elections

Running for mayor and city council

Filing opens Monday, August 23, 2027: in 285 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 Dawson; 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.

  • Dawson City Council At-Large (5 seats)
    Now held by Andrew Gonzalez, Brian Eiteman, Edgar Benedict, Clarence Morman, Belinda Morman
  • Dawson Mayor
    Now held by Maris Masengill

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

Jesse Green (Sen. 24)Carter F. Nordman (Rep. 47)

U.S. House:District 3

Dallas CountyPerry schools