Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Chris MillerBloomfield Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Jennifer SpargurBloomfield City Council Ward 2 · elected November 4, 2025
- Shawn ScottBloomfield City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Earl HowardBloomfield City Council Ward 3 · elected November 7, 2023
- Jake BohiBloomfield City Council Ward 1 · elected November 7, 2023
- Josh HustedBloomfield 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.3
AI summary
- Discuss the Lake Fisher Project with representatives from the DNR.
- Review updates regarding the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Mutchler Community Center, Main Street, and DC Development Corporation.
- Consider several financial approvals, including $17,500 for Bloomfield Main Street, $24,738 for Deborah Drive sewer work, $26,398 for pool pump room repairs, $14,803.82 for new mowers, and $11,202.50 for city camera installation by CMTEL.
- Address old business regarding a driveway agreement with DCCSD and a sale and easement agreement with Verizon.
- Review city reports for TIF debt, urban renewal, and annual finances, and consider appointing Nolan Stewart to the Historic Preservation Board.
Iowa Funnel couldn’t read this agenda’s text (no text (a scanned PDF?)).
AI summary
- Discuss and decide on several infrastructure costs, including $150,000 for a Streets Department shop buildout, $20,000 for sewer work on Deborah Drive, $20,000 for roof repairs by Dearborn Roofing, and up to $9,000 for a concrete approach at the Parks shop.
- Consider a request to pay an invoice for a gas line repair at 304 E Arkansas and discuss potentially borrowing money to buy a Jetter Truck.
- Review a Class “E” Retail Alcohol License for Brothers Market and a road closure for Davis Co Schools on Nov. 5th for Parent Teacher Conferences.
- Address an old business item regarding a driveway agreement with DCCSD.
- Receive updates on the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Mutchler Community Center, Main Street, and DC Development Corporation.
Show 5 more meetings
AI summary
- Discuss spending up to $15,000 for street crack sealing, including machine rentals and oil blocks, and a $9,793 payment to Gullett Fence for repairs.
- Decide on several financial and property items: donating up to $450 in electric wiring to the school, selling a water department truck with a blown motor, enrolling Lake Fisher land in a conservation program, and paying $60,827.51 for Q3 dispatch services.
- Review updates regarding the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Mutchler Community Center, Main Street, and DC Development Corporation.
- Consider resolutions for updated grave opening/closing charges, an updated Anti-drug and Alcohol Program, and exempt salaries for January 2027 and 2028.
- Approve a special alcohol license for the Bougie Barrel Christmas event and a driveway agreement with DCCSD.
AI summary
- Discuss spending up to $15,000 for street crack sealing, including machine rentals and oil blocks, and a $9,793 invoice to Gullett Fence for repairs.
- Decide on several items including donating up to $450 in electric wiring to the school, selling a water department truck with a blown motor, and enrolling Lake Fisher land in a conservation program.
- Review updates regarding the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Mutchler Community Center, Main Street, and DC Development Corporation.
- Consider approving a special alcohol license for the Bougie Barrel Christmas event, updating grave opening/closing charges, updating the Anti-drug and Alcohol Program, and setting exempt salaries for January 2027 and 2028.
- Address a $60,827.51 payment for Q3 Dispatch Services and an old business item regarding a driveway agreement with DCCSD.
Property taxes
How the bill is collected · What each levy is for
Who gets a property owner’s tax bill in Bloomfield
Homes and businesses in most of Bloomfield pay a combined $47.94 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Davis County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $20.41. Estimate your bill.
- City of Bloomfield$20.4143%
- Davis County schools$14.1229%
- Davis County$7.3715%
- Davis County Hospital$3.848%
- Indian Hills Community College$1.243%
- Davis County Assessor$0.661%
- Davis County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.31<1%
Rates over time
Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Bloomfield pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $48.41 | $17.39 |
| FY21 | $46.25 | $17.30 |
| FY22 | $44.96 | $16.30 |
| FY23 | $46.15 | $17.30 |
| FY24 | $46.21 | $18.29 |
| FY25 | $47.39 | $19.64 |
| FY26 | $49.01 | $20.90 |
| FY27 | $47.94 | $20.41 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $48.41 | $17.39 |
| FY21 | $46.25 | $17.30 |
| FY22 | $44.96 | $16.30 |
| FY23 | $46.15 | $17.30 |
| FY24 | $46.21 | $18.29 |
| FY25 | $47.39 | $19.64 |
| FY26 | $49.01 | $20.90 |
| FY27 | $47.94 | $20.41 |
Compared with places this size4
Bloomfield’s city property tax rate of $20.41 per $1,000 is the 3rd highest of 76 Iowa cities with 1,900–4,100 people. The middle of the group is $13.96.
See all 76
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eldora | $26.87 | 2,595 |
| 2 | Rockwell City | $20.74 | 2,185 |
| 3 | Bloomfield | $20.41 | 2,773 |
| 4 | Belmond | $19.86 | 2,405 |
| 5 | Sibley | $19.77 | 2,787 |
| 6 | Albia | $19.70 | 3,579 |
| 7 | Sac City | $19.69 | 1,992 |
| 8 | Eagle Grove | $19.32 | 3,615 |
| 9 | West Liberty | $18.68 | 3,724 |
| 10 | Toledo | $18.21 | 2,372 |
| 11 | La Porte City | $18.08 | 2,267 |
| 12 | Tama | $17.74 | 2,997 |
| 13 | Clarion | $17.74 | 2,751 |
| 14 | Britt | $17.72 | 2,001 |
| 15 | Missouri Valley | $17.68 | 2,638 |
| 16 | Madrid | $16.93 | 2,824 |
| 17 | West Union | $16.60 | 2,435 |
| 18 | Audubon | $16.52 | 2,008 |
| 19 | Grundy Center | $16.36 | 2,821 |
| 20 | Belle Plaine | $16.34 | 2,335 |
| 21 | Colfax | $16.25 | 2,305 |
| 22 | Lamoni | $16.15 | 2,072 |
| 23 | Cresco | $16.13 | 3,890 |
| 24 | Marengo | $16.10 | 2,415 |
| 25 | Postville | $15.68 | 2,418 |
| 26 | Tipton | $15.54 | 3,059 |
| 27 | Stuart | $15.48 | 1,887 |
| 28 | Granger | $15.22 | 2,095 |
| 29 | Sigourney | $15.20 | 1,974 |
| 30 | Jefferson | $14.88 | 4,148 |
| 31 | Sumner | $14.83 | 2,032 |
| 32 | Waukon | $14.76 | 3,799 |
| 33 | Rock Rapids | $14.57 | 2,709 |
| 34 | Monticello | $14.49 | 4,095 |
| 35 | Jesup | $14.31 | 2,541 |
| 36 | Osage | $14.29 | 3,559 |
| 37 | Parkersburg | $14.15 | 1,986 |
| 38 | Ida Grove | $14.10 | 1,988 |
| 39 | Lake Mills | $13.82 | 2,077 |
| 40 | Rock Valley | $13.76 | 4,024 |
| 41 | Emmetsburg | $13.70 | 3,632 |
| 42 | Wilton | $13.62 | 2,914 |
| 43 | New Hampton | $13.44 | 3,433 |
| 44 | Wapello | $13.29 | 2,026 |
| 45 | Hudson | $13.19 | 2,916 |
| 46 | Center Point | $13.19 | 2,578 |
| 47 | Greenfield | $13.13 | 1,988 |
| 48 | Hawarden | $13.02 | 2,630 |
| 49 | Garner | $12.86 | 3,049 |
| 50 | Bellevue | $12.67 | 2,321 |
| 51 | Milford | $12.57 | 3,258 |
| 52 | New London | $12.56 | 1,853 |
| 53 | Lisbon | $12.50 | 2,238 |
| 54 | Dallas Center | $12.42 | 1,993 |
| 55 | Onawa | $12.32 | 2,795 |
| 56 | Monroe | $12.28 | 2,021 |
| 57 | Denver | $12.27 | 1,955 |
| 58 | Alta | $12.13 | 2,039 |
| 59 | Atkins | $11.99 | 2,168 |
| 60 | Hull | $11.79 | 2,459 |
| 61 | Cascade | $11.64 | 2,396 |
| 62 | West Branch | $11.63 | 2,876 |
| 63 | Mitchellville | $11.54 | 2,686 |
| 64 | Solon | $11.53 | 3,284 |
| 65 | Northwood | $11.28 | 2,047 |
| 66 | Williamsburg | $11.11 | 3,380 |
| 67 | Ely | $11.08 | 2,371 |
| 68 | Ogden | $10.99 | 1,970 |
| 69 | Carter Lake | $10.67 | 3,752 |
| 70 | Story City | $10.39 | 3,439 |
| 71 | Kalona | $10.37 | 2,762 |
| 72 | West Burlington | $10.15 | 3,249 |
| 73 | Peosta | $9.82 | 2,195 |
| 74 | Robins | $9.68 | 3,362 |
| 75 | Epworth | $9.42 | 2,042 |
| 76 | Fairfax | $8.10 | 2,937 |
The $8.10 limit
Bloomfield’s general levy is $8.10 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, at the limit.5 247 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.
FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $7.86 · FY26 $7.64 · FY27 $8.10 (before FY25, the general levy alone)
Outside the limit: $12.31 more6
- Total Employee Benefit Levies$6.53 · $537,266
- Debt Service Levy$4.55 · $397,644
- Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.24 · $101,758
Tax increment financing (TIF)
$5.1M of taxable value in Bloomfield is in TIF districts’ increment (6% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.7 It budgeted $163,876 in TIF revenue for FY25.
What that value would raise at each government’s rate, FY278
Taxes on TIF value go to the city’s TIF fund instead of the governments that levy them, including about $81,209 of the city’s own.
| Year | TIF revenue |
|---|---|
| FY16 | $542,487 |
| FY17 | $535,507 |
| FY18 | $600,042 |
| FY19 | $174,261 |
| FY20 | $89,630 |
| FY21 | $2,751 |
| FY22 | $4,056 |
| FY23 | $6,863 |
Show the numbers
| Year | TIF revenue |
|---|---|
| FY16 | $542,487 |
| FY17 | $535,507 |
| FY18 | $600,042 |
| FY19 | $174,261 |
| FY20 | $89,630 |
| FY21 | $2,751 |
| FY22 | $4,056 |
| FY23 | $6,863 |
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.
Budget and spending
Where each dollar of Bloomfield’s budget goes, FY26
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 75 Iowa cities closest in size (1,900–4,100 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (75) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Type / Enterprise | 54¢ | 39¢ |
| Capital Projects | 13¢ | 15¢ |
| Public Safety | 10¢ | 12¢ |
| Public Works | 7¢ | 10¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 7¢ | 7¢ |
| Everything else | 9¢ | 16¢ |
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.
The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($7.5M in FY26), so this total is low.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $803,659 | $757,963 |
| Public Safety | $1.2M | $1.1M |
| Health and Social Services | $0 | $0 |
| General Government | $270,705 | $279,432 |
| Debt Service | $633,225 | $633,225 |
| Culture and Recreation | $724,978 | $689,882 |
| Community and Economic Development | $328,673 | $245,190 |
| Capital Projects | $1.2M | $3.3M |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $6.6M | $6.4M |
What it spent each year
FY24 left out9
Debt, reserves and audits
How local debt works · What an audit tells you
What Bloomfield owes
$10.8M at June 30, 2026: $4,024 per resident. 175th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).10
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $10.8M | $4,024 |
| 2025 | $11.2M | $4,185 |
| 2024 | $12.2M | $4,549 |
| 2023 | $13.1M | $4,889 |
| 2022 | $14.1M | $5,242 |
| 2021 | $7.0M | $2,603 |
| 2020 | $6.0M | $2,232 |
| 2019 | $6.4M | $2,389 |
| 2018 | $4.6M | $1,731 |
| 2017 | $4.9M | $1,817 |
| 2016 | $5.3M | $1,962 |
| 2015 | $3.9M | $1,463 |
| 2014 | $2.7M | $1,012 |
| 2013 | $492,853 | $184 |
| 2012 | $0 | $0 |
| 2011 | $145,000 | $54 |
| 2010 | $280,000 | $104 |
Show the numbers
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $10.8M | $4,024 |
| 2025 | $11.2M | $4,185 |
| 2024 | $12.2M | $4,549 |
| 2023 | $13.1M | $4,889 |
| 2022 | $14.1M | $5,242 |
| 2021 | $7.0M | $2,603 |
| 2020 | $6.0M | $2,232 |
| 2019 | $6.4M | $2,389 |
| 2018 | $4.6M | $1,731 |
| 2017 | $4.9M | $1,817 |
| 2016 | $5.3M | $1,962 |
| 2015 | $3.9M | $1,463 |
| 2014 | $2.7M | $1,012 |
| 2013 | $492,853 | $184 |
| 2012 | $0 | $0 |
| 2011 | $145,000 | $54 |
| 2010 | $280,000 | $104 |
Up 3755% since 2010.
The 5% limit11
General obligation debt is $1.8M, 21% of the limit of about $8.4M (5% of $167.9M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).
5 obligations at June 30, 2026
| Kind | For | Paid off by | Owed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue Bonds | Building of a new Waste Water Treatment Plant | 2041 | $6.3M |
| Revenue Bonds | Water Revenue USDA Capital Loan for Water Connection Fee for Rathbun Regional Water Assn. & Water Tower Construction for Permanent Water Connection. | 2056 | $1.5M |
| Revenue Bonds | Water Revenue USDA Capital Loan for Emergency Connection Loan with Rathbun Regional Water Association for the City's main source of water. | 2055 | $1.3M |
| General Obligation | 2021A Streets Imp | 2031 | $895,000 |
| General Obligation | 2019A Street improvements | 2029 | $860,000 |
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 balances12. Bloomfield’s latest audit has them: Financial Statement, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).
Audits13
The latest: Financial Statement for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Thursday, February 5, 2026, by a CPA firm.
17 earlier reports for Bloomfield
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2024Wednesday, December 11, 2024
- Financial Statement, period ending Friday, June 30, 2023Monday, January 22, 2024
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2022Thursday, March 30, 2023
- Financial Statement, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021Tuesday, March 8, 2022
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2020Tuesday, December 22, 2020
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2019Thursday, June 25, 2020
- Financial Statement, period ending Saturday, June 30, 2018Friday, March 22, 2019
- Financial Statement, period ending Friday, June 30, 2017Thursday, June 21, 2018
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2016Monday, March 27, 2017
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2015Thursday, March 31, 2016
- Financial Statement, period ending Monday, June 30, 2014Monday, March 2, 2015
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2013Friday, December 20, 2013
- Financial Statement, period ending Saturday, June 30, 2012Monday, April 1, 2013
- Special Investigation/Fraud, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2010Monday, July 2, 2012
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2011Friday, March 30, 2012
- Financial Statement, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2010Monday, November 15, 2010
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2009Tuesday, November 17, 2009
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? 14
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: $403,854 in FY25, up 8% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 14% less. Grants are below.
Show the numbers
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $369,696 | $369,073 | $378,839 | $380,896 |
| Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”) | – | – | $27,550 | $22,958 |
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.
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $36,128 |
| FY20 | $1,492 |
| FY21 | $1,101 |
| FY22 | $1,222 |
| FY23 | $269 |
| FY24 | $2,381 |
| FY25 | $2,285 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $36,128 |
| FY20 | $1,492 |
| FY21 | $1,101 |
| FY22 | $1,222 |
| FY23 | $269 |
| FY24 | $2,381 |
| FY25 | $2,285 |
Has it kept up with prices?
Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.
- Road Use Tax (streets)−11%$341,050 → $380,896, up 12% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 11% less
- Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)−42%$31,755 → $22,958, down 28% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 42% 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 65% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 31% more.
Federal grants, for comparison: $218,300 in FY25.
Business awards
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)15.
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
- Shawn Scott Winner29958.0%
- Don E Walton 21742.0%
- Jennifer Spargur Unopposed168100.0%
- Chris Miller Winner30057.1%
- Christopher J. Ball 22542.9%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Bloomfield; 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.
- Bloomfield City Council At-LargeNow held by Josh Husted
- Bloomfield City Council Ward 1Now held by Jake Bohi
- Bloomfield City Council Ward 3Now held by Earl Howard
Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here16.
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 ballot17.
Related places
At the Statehouse and in Congress18
Cherielynn Westrich (Sen. 13)Austin Harris (Rep. 26)
U.S. House:District 3