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Local taxes › Dallas County › De Soto

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De Soto

Dallas County · How cities work

$3,050 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($36.21 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,110 a yearof that goes to the city ($13.18 per $1,000)
$715,952property taxes the city levies, FY27
$5.4Mcity 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.

  • Bobby HuntoonDe Soto City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Brandon HutchesonDe Soto City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Dustin PadgetDe Soto City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Wade FoxDe Soto 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

Who gets a property owner’s tax bill in De Soto

Homes and businesses in most of De Soto pay a combined $36.21 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, $13.18. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

CombinedCity’s own
0$10$20$30$40’20’22’24’26’27CombinedCity’s own
0$10$20$30$40’20’21’22’23’24’25’26’27CombinedCity’s own
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$36.82$12.70
FY21$36.32$12.70
FY22$36.19$12.69
FY23$35.06$12.80
FY24$35.65$13.61
FY25$36.76$13.54
FY26$36.61$13.47
FY27$36.21$13.18
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$36.82$12.70
FY21$36.32$12.70
FY22$36.19$12.69
FY23$35.06$12.80
FY24$35.65$13.61
FY25$36.76$13.54
FY26$36.61$13.47
FY27$36.21$13.18

Compared with places this size3

De Soto’s city property tax rate of $13.18 per $1,000 is the 89th highest of 179 Iowa cities with 630–1,400 people. The middle of the group is $13.03.

Elkader: $27.11Exira: $24.81Laurens: $24.16Dayton: $22.51Correctionville: $19.84Villisca: $19.74Allison: $19.06Seymour: $18.78Dexter: $18.69Fonda: $18.52Kanawha: $18.11Dysart: $17.95Greene: $17.91Alden: $17.90Lansing: $17.67Strawberry Point: $17.58Rockwell: $17.54Walnut: $17.46Gowrie: $17.17Colo: $17.14Mapleton: $16.90George: $16.89Fayette: $16.85Adair: $16.84Eddyville: $16.82Elk Horn: $16.78Oxford: $16.70Buffalo Center: $16.58Bancroft: $16.52Roland: $16.51Eldon: $16.42Aplington: $16.34Panora: $16.14Mechanicsville: $16.12Dike: $15.94Armstrong: $15.87Ruthven: $15.84State Center: $15.80Walker: $15.74Shell Rock: $15.52Newell: $15.49Riceville: $15.31Neola: $15.30Sidney: $15.19Gilbertville: $15.15Logan: $15.05Stratford: $15.03Griswold: $15.01Readlyn: $14.99Tripoli: $14.99Essex: $14.76Lenox: $14.65Manning: $14.62Dunlap: $14.56Garnavillo: $14.52Maxwell: $14.50Coon Rapids: $14.49Nora Springs: $14.25Kingsley: $14.25Mcgregor: $14.20Olin: $14.19Primghar: $14.18Sheffield: $14.16Elgin: $14.05Woodward: $14.05Ossian: $13.88Alton: $13.87Redfield: $13.73Victor: $13.72Gilbert: $13.71Edgewood: $13.64Sioux Rapids: $13.63Donnellson: $13.63Gladbrook: $13.58Clarksville: $13.53Rockford: $13.52Janesville: $13.43Glidden: $13.43Calmar: $13.39Boyden: $13.39Baxter: $13.32Manly: $13.29Anita: $13.28Van Horne: $13.27Conrad: $13.23Springville: $13.22Keota: $13.21Shellsburg: $13.20Treynor: $13.03Odebolt: $13.00Coggon: $12.99Earlville: $12.90Danville: $12.87Underwood: $12.85New Sharon: $12.80Malvern: $12.79Montrose: $12.78Wellsburg: $12.68Buffalo: $12.68Stanton: $12.62Hospers: $12.58Hazleton: $12.48West Point: $12.39Hinton: $12.38Preston: $12.38Alburnett: $12.30Hubbard: $12.30Moravia: $12.27Hedrick: $12.22Carson: $12.22Wheatland: $12.18Schaller: $12.14Winfield: $12.04Elkhart: $12.00Afton: $11.96Lowden: $11.93Tabor: $11.88Albert City: $11.88Aurelia: $11.84Merrill: $11.64Morning Sun: $11.50Battle Creek: $11.49Wall Lake: $11.43West Bend: $11.42Dakota City: $11.39Marcus: $11.31Dunkerton: $11.30Sutherland: $11.25Whiting: $11.21Melcher-Dallas: $11.21Shelby: $11.17University Heights: $11.12Blairstown: $11.04Manilla: $11.01Hamburg: $10.95Clarence: $10.94Fontanelle: $10.88Cambridge: $10.53Swisher: $10.39Schleswig: $10.39Melbourne: $10.38Elk Run Heights: $10.33Fredericksburg: $10.27Lake Park: $10.25Ventura: $10.22Inwood: $10.22Milo: $10.20Hartford: $10.16Central City: $10.01Newhall: $9.99Graettinger: $9.81Doon: $9.78Long Grove: $9.59Lake View: $9.39Paullina: $9.21Fairbank: $9.00Winthrop: $8.94Walford: $8.72Crescent: $8.72Keosauqua: $8.58Grand Junction: $8.57Princeton: $8.24Lone Tree: $8.13Lakeside: $8.10Riverside: $8.02Hills: $7.94Fremont: $7.86Larchwood: $7.52North English: $7.49Sloan: $7.49Sully: $7.41Fruitland: $7.21Lawton: $7.10Wayland: $7.07Raymond: $6.85Shueyville: $6.79Arnolds Park: $4.95Okoboji: $3.83De Soto: $13.18$3.83 lowest$27.11 highestmiddle
See all 179
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Elkader$27.111,192
2Exira$24.81766
3Laurens$24.161,253
4Dayton$22.51766
5Correctionville$19.84759
6Villisca$19.741,106
7Allison$19.06937
8Seymour$18.78646
9Dexter$18.69631
10Fonda$18.52636
11Kanawha$18.11638
12Dysart$17.951,266
13Greene$17.91971
14Alden$17.90738
15Lansing$17.67959
16Strawberry Point$17.581,141
17Rockwell$17.541,044
18Walnut$17.46728
19Gowrie$17.17943
20Colo$17.14856
21Mapleton$16.901,114
22George$16.891,106
23Fayette$16.851,193
24Adair$16.84792
25Eddyville$16.82965
26Elk Horn$16.78631
27Oxford$16.70715
28Buffalo Center$16.58839
29Bancroft$16.52677
30Roland$16.511,376
31Eldon$16.42788
32Aplington$16.341,088
33Panora$16.141,096
34Mechanicsville$16.12974
35Dike$15.941,293
36Armstrong$15.87847
37Ruthven$15.84710
38State Center$15.801,403
39Walker$15.74671
40Shell Rock$15.521,265
41Newell$15.49850
42Riceville$15.31807
43Neola$15.30917
44Sidney$15.191,048
45Gilbertville$15.15792
46Logan$15.051,351
47Stratford$15.03688
48Griswold$15.01975
49Readlyn$14.99857
50Tripoli$14.991,208
51Essex$14.76721
52Lenox$14.651,355
53Manning$14.621,390
54Dunlap$14.561,030
55Garnavillo$14.52751
56Maxwell$14.50862
57Coon Rapids$14.491,258
58Nora Springs$14.251,330
59Kingsley$14.251,394
60Mcgregor$14.20725
61Olin$14.19652
62Primghar$14.18893
63Sheffield$14.161,123
64Elgin$14.05676
65Woodward$14.051,383
66Ossian$13.88777
67Alton$13.871,248
68Redfield$13.73719
69Victor$13.72852
70Gilbert$13.711,397
71Edgewood$13.64908
72Sioux Rapids$13.63722
73Donnellson$13.63859
74Gladbrook$13.58775
75Clarksville$13.531,238
76Rockford$13.52722
77Janesville$13.431,052
78Glidden$13.431,140
79Calmar$13.391,100
80Boyden$13.39694
81Baxter$13.32983
82Manly$13.291,233
83Anita$13.28953
84Van Horne$13.27768
85Conrad$13.231,098
86Springville$13.221,161
87Keota$13.21888
88Shellsburg$13.20987
89De Soto$13.18937
90Treynor$13.031,104
91Odebolt$13.00967
92Coggon$12.99691
93Earlville$12.90713
94Danville$12.87910
95Underwood$12.85973
96New Sharon$12.801,249
97Malvern$12.791,056
98Montrose$12.78734
99Wellsburg$12.68709
100Buffalo$12.681,163
101Stanton$12.62664
102Hospers$12.58703
103Hazleton$12.48711
104West Point$12.39903
105Hinton$12.38959
106Preston$12.38940
107Alburnett$12.30672
108Hubbard$12.30837
109Moravia$12.27625
110Hedrick$12.22717
111Carson$12.22772
112Wheatland$12.18765
113Schaller$12.14702
114Winfield$12.041,006
115Elkhart$12.001,079
116Afton$11.96864
117Lowden$11.93767
118Tabor$11.88983
119Albert City$11.88627
120Aurelia$11.84970
121Merrill$11.64713
122Morning Sun$11.50702
123Battle Creek$11.49683
124Wall Lake$11.43739
125West Bend$11.42770
126Dakota City$11.39764
127Marcus$11.311,069
128Dunkerton$11.30840
129Sutherland$11.25628
130Whiting$11.21725
131Melcher-Dallas$11.211,193
132Shelby$11.17730
133University Heights$11.121,188
134Blairstown$11.04705
135Manilla$11.01756
136Hamburg$10.95863
137Clarence$10.94991
138Fontanelle$10.88684
139Cambridge$10.53844
140Swisher$10.39909
141Schleswig$10.39820
142Melbourne$10.38771
143Elk Run Heights$10.331,061
144Fredericksburg$10.27983
145Lake Park$10.251,155
146Ventura$10.22701
147Inwood$10.22962
148Milo$10.20762
149Hartford$10.16729
150Central City$10.011,254
151Newhall$9.99887
152Graettinger$9.81810
153Doon$9.78640
154Long Grove$9.59849
155Lake View$9.391,120
156Paullina$9.21979
157Fairbank$9.001,133
158Winthrop$8.94814
159Walford$8.721,357
160Crescent$8.72626
161Keosauqua$8.58944
162Grand Junction$8.57715
163Princeton$8.24917
164Lone Tree$8.131,341
165Lakeside$8.10695
166Riverside$8.021,063
167Hills$7.94911
168Fremont$7.86688
169Larchwood$7.52954
170North English$7.491,030
171Sloan$7.491,078
172Sully$7.41891
173Fruitland$7.21928
174Lawton$7.10949
175Wayland$7.07935
176Raymond$6.85754
177Shueyville$6.79725
178Arnolds Park$4.951,214
179Okoboji$3.83729

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$389,53755%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$134,86719%
  • Debt Service Levy$130,20418%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$59,1208%

Budget and spending

Where each dollar of De Soto’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 29¢ of every dollar29¢Public Works: 23¢ of every dollar23¢Public Safety: 20¢ of every dollar20¢General Government: 10¢ of every dollar10¢Debt Service: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Everything else: 8¢ of every dollar8¢

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 178 Iowa cities closest in size (630–1,400 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (178)
Business Type / Enterprise29¢40¢
Public Works23¢15¢
Public Safety20¢10¢
General Government10¢9¢
Debt Service9¢6¢
Everything else8¢11¢

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$2.5M46%
  • Public Safety$851,46716%
  • Public Works$769,44714%
  • Debt Service$555,73010%
  • General Government$357,6227%
  • Culture and Recreation$208,1554%
  • Community and Economic Development$169,4533%
  • Health and Social Services$5,0000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($1.2M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$698,918$369,593
Public Safety$509,174$380,066
Health and Social Services$4,500$3,150
General Government$191,614$124,595
Debt Service$269,680$269,480
Culture and Recreation$142,208$109,879
Community and Economic Development$76,115$76,115
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$959,238$1.2M

What it spent each year

$4.7M
$2.6M
’17’18’19’20’21’22’23

State money

What the state sends the city

Sales tax and property tax credits the state paid the city: up 4% since FY23; down 4% after inflation.

In today's dollarsActual dollars
$200,000$250,000$300,000$350,000$400,000’23’24’25’26Today's $Actual
$200,000$250,000$300,000$350,000$400,000’23’24’25’26Today's $Actual
ProgramFY27FY26FY25FY24FY23
Local option sales tax$26,385$344,612$326,434$331,699$329,856
Show the numbers
ProgramFY27FY26FY25FY24FY23
Local option sales tax$26,385$344,612$326,434$331,699$329,856

Elections

Most recent: November 7, 2023

City · 2

3 seats: the top 3 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for De Soto; official results are on each county auditor’s site.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress4

Amy Sinclair (Sen. 12)Ray Sorensen (Rep. 23)

U.S. House:District 3

Dallas CountyAdel-Desoto-Minburn schools