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Local taxes › Decatur County › Decatur

City

Decatur

Decatur County · How cities work

$45,648property taxes the city levies, FY27
$174,500city budget, FY27, without city-run utilities (not yet reported)1

Who runs it

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

  • Angela KernenDecatur City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Danielle DyerDecatur City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Richard PerryDecatur City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Travis MillerDecatur Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Tyler PerryDecatur City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Verlin MillerDecatur City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Doug KellerDecatur City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Kim DeVoreDecatur 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

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20–$11.78
FY21–$11.80
FY22–$11.89
FY23–$12.17
FY24–$13.69
FY25–$14.16
FY26–$13.49
FY27–$12.08
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20–$11.78
FY21–$11.80
FY22–$11.89
FY23–$12.17
FY24–$13.69
FY25–$14.16
FY26–$13.49
FY27–$12.08

Compared with places this size2

Decatur’s city property tax rate of $12.08 per $1,000 is the 81st highest of 202 Iowa cities with 120–260 people. The middle of the group is $11.14.

Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Fenton: $22.05Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Coin: $19.59Rowan: $19.53Chester: $19.30Bouton: $19.25Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Cumberland: $18.42Jamaica: $18.24Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Pisgah: $17.09Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Prescott: $16.53Monmouth: $16.41Blockton: $16.37Montour: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Woodburn: $15.59Kamrar: $15.47Greeley: $15.23Goodell: $15.16Riverton: $14.94Marathon: $14.89Ladora: $14.74Magnolia: $14.68Bagley: $14.63Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Crystal Lake: $14.36Steamboat Rock: $14.19Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Kellerton: $13.60Quimby: $13.58Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Meservey: $13.43Leland: $13.31Harcourt: $13.21Calumet: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Silver City: $12.87Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Clemons: $12.69Blencoe: $12.57Kensett: $12.47Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Bridgewater: $12.29Cushing: $12.18Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Webb: $12.10Paton: $12.09Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92East Peru: $11.89New Providence: $11.88Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Ledyard: $11.74Joice: $11.72Cantril: $11.69Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54Delta: $11.52College Springs: $11.44Holland: $11.37Mallard: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Somers: $10.99Frederika: $10.99Havelock: $10.95Alexander: $10.90Goose Lake: $10.89Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Hornick: $10.74Woden: $10.68Cleghorn: $10.49Barnes City: $10.44Stockton: $10.37Randall: $10.35Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24Hancock: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Melvin: $10.05Defiance: $10.05Barnum: $9.96Panama: $9.85Grafton: $9.83Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Ionia: $9.65Rutland: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Luxemburg: $9.58Superior: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Larrabee: $9.41Hamilton: $9.35Floris: $9.29Mitchell: $9.22Westphalia: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Welton: $8.86Archer: $8.84Luther: $8.83Harvey: $8.71Washta: $8.65Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Fostoria: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Westfield: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Lockridge: $7.92Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Mcclelland: $7.79Lidderdale: $7.68Pulaski: $7.58Bernard: $7.56Fredonia: $7.55Braddyville: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Franklin: $7.31Weldon: $7.18Brunsville: $6.95Packwood: $6.77Houghton: $6.73Williamson: $6.72Keswick: $6.49Lincoln: $6.32Gravity: $6.18Ackworth: $5.90Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Harper: $5.29Panorama Park: $4.62Sherrill: $2.66Centralia: $2.41Rickardsville: $2.27New Liberty: $2.27Decatur: $12.08$2.27 lowest$25.07 highestmiddle
See all 202
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Brayton$25.07138
2Harris$23.13145
3Fenton$22.05250
4Soldier$21.92176
5Coulter$21.80220
6Chelsea$21.61207
7Smithland$21.12184
8Volga$20.23200
9Alta Vista$19.88219
10Arthur$19.86218
11Coin$19.59171
12Rowan$19.53118
13Chester$19.30134
14Bouton$19.25125
15Garden Grove$19.20173
16Hastings$18.95157
17Swaledale$18.62136
18Cumberland$18.42248
19Jamaica$18.24196
20Hillsboro$17.68158
21Bristow$17.39139
22Woolstock$17.26141
23Pisgah$17.09248
24Lakota$16.84261
25Marble Rock$16.78258
26Auburn$16.65253
27Prescott$16.53186
28Monmouth$16.41129
29Blockton$16.37123
30Montour$16.37199
31Geneva$16.25137
32Corwith$16.22259
33Deep River$16.18243
34Waucoma$16.17235
35Little Sioux$15.74170
36Moorhead$15.68186
37Onslow$15.63198
38Linden$15.62206
39Woodburn$15.59133
40Kamrar$15.47178
41Greeley$15.23216
42Goodell$15.16139
43Riverton$14.94243
44Marathon$14.89221
45Ladora$14.74223
46Magnolia$14.68194
47Bagley$14.63230
48Davis City$14.45178
49Lucas$14.40176
50Crystal Lake$14.36243
51Steamboat Rock$14.19261
52Westgate$14.05190
53Palmer$13.89137
54Kellerton$13.60241
55Quimby$13.58245
56Ayrshire$13.55128
57Searsboro$13.55129
58Meservey$13.43212
59Leland$13.31240
60Harcourt$13.21257
61Calumet$13.16144
62Ridgeway$13.10261
63Portsmouth$13.05187
64Clutier$13.03209
65Silver City$12.87244
66Delaware$12.86139
67Patterson$12.84176
68Martelle$12.83250
69Malcom$12.82257
70Clemons$12.69135
71Blencoe$12.57223
72Kensett$12.47256
73Millersburg$12.40135
74Aurora$12.40165
75Bridgewater$12.29145
76Cushing$12.18225
77Hanlontown$12.17200
78Stout$12.14194
79Webb$12.10139
80Paton$12.09217
81Decatur$12.08174
82Rembrandt$12.03199
83Shambaugh$11.98161
84Lone Rock$11.92143
85East Peru$11.89119
86New Providence$11.88233
87Henderson$11.85140
88Parnell$11.78190
89Reasnor$11.76157
90Ledyard$11.74118
91Joice$11.72206
92Cantril$11.69224
93Wadena$11.65201
94Exline$11.60157
95Beaman$11.54155
96Delta$11.52257
97College Springs$11.44172
98Holland$11.37261
99Mallard$11.28255
100Renwick$11.16228
101Linn Grove$11.15155
102Dundee$11.14193
103Randolph$11.08183
104Leighton$11.07153
105Rake$11.05179
106Somers$10.99121
107Frederika$10.99206
108Havelock$10.95127
109Alexander$10.90165
110Goose Lake$10.89250
111Lambs Grove$10.78174
112Wallingford$10.75154
113Hornick$10.74255
114Woden$10.68183
115Cleghorn$10.49235
116Barnes City$10.44152
117Stockton$10.37171
118Randall$10.35156
119Dedham$10.28221
120Deloit$10.28246
121Meriden$10.28175
122Drakesville$10.24170
123Hancock$10.13199
124La Motte$10.09235
125Melvin$10.05196
126Defiance$10.05248
127Barnum$9.96186
128Panama$9.85234
129Grafton$9.83212
130Clare$9.81133
131Tingley$9.81146
132Ionia$9.65220
133Rutland$9.65116
134Van Wert$9.62175
135Rock Falls$9.61143
136Kirkville$9.59159
137Luxemburg$9.58240
138Superior$9.58127
139Rippey$9.42217
140Larrabee$9.41116
141Hamilton$9.35125
142Floris$9.29119
143Mitchell$9.22118
144Westphalia$9.18133
145Elberon$9.16178
146Dixon$9.03204
147Blairsburg$8.93175
148Prairieburg$8.91156
149Oakville$8.89198
150Welton$8.86124
151Archer$8.84116
152Luther$8.83147
153Harvey$8.71242
154Washta$8.65206
155Moorland$8.61169
156Pilot Mound$8.54155
157Ollie$8.44196
158Thor$8.38182
159South English$8.27196
160Thurman$8.26162
161Boxholm$8.11177
162Fostoria$8.10229
163Low Moor$8.10242
164Westfield$8.10121
165Laurel$8.10214
166Lineville$8.10194
167Vincent$8.09125
168Lockridge$7.92245
169Mount Auburn$7.86162
170Haverhill$7.86164
171Grand River$7.86192
172Olds$7.86174
173Castalia$7.86141
174Dickens$7.86146
175Rose Hill$7.86156
176West Chester$7.82147
177Mcclelland$7.79147
178Lidderdale$7.68162
179Pulaski$7.58259
180Bernard$7.56117
181Fredonia$7.55227
182Braddyville$7.49142
183Alvord$7.41216
184Franklin$7.31133
185Weldon$7.18134
186Brunsville$6.95128
187Packwood$6.77186
188Houghton$6.73129
189Williamson$6.72126
190Keswick$6.49238
191Lincoln$6.32119
192Gravity$6.18149
193Ackworth$5.90117
194Oakland Acres$5.88178
195Springbrook$5.79145
196Maysville$5.77155
197Harper$5.29117
198Panorama Park$4.62142
199Sherrill$2.66176
200Centralia$2.41117
201Rickardsville$2.27204
202New Liberty$2.27141

The $8.10 limit

Decatur’s general levy is $7.81 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.29 below the limit.3 686 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.13 · FY26 $8.05 · FY27 $7.81 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $4.27 more4

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$2.71 · $10,218
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.56 · $5,875

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$29,43365%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$10,21822%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$5,87513%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Decatur’s budget goes, FY26

General Government: 40¢ of every dollar40¢Public Works: 34¢ of every dollar34¢Culture and Recreation: 14¢ of every dollar14¢Public Safety: 7¢ of every dollar7¢Community and Economic Development: 4¢ 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 200 Iowa cities closest in size (120–260 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (200)
General Government40¢21¢
Public Works34¢24¢
Culture and Recreation14¢8¢
Public Safety7¢9¢
Community and Economic Development4¢2¢

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$68,75039%
  • Public Works$59,75034%
  • Culture and Recreation$25,00014%
  • Public Safety$14,0008%
  • Community and Economic Development$7,0004%
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$61,000$42,739
Public Safety$16,550$11,832
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$53,250$53,176
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$10,000$6,535
Community and Economic Development$1,500$6,028
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$0$0

What it spent each year

FY24 left out5

$137,240

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Decatur owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.6

$0
$0
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
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$0$0
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

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances7. A city’s audit has them; the Auditor of State lists every city’s reports.

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? 8

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: $21,048 in FY25, down 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 21% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$20,743$20,379$20,934$21,048

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−21%$21,339 → $21,048, down 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 21% 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 54% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 23% more.

$20,694
$18,525

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)9.

In a city that can hold a primary, filing runs Monday, August 9, 2027 to Thursday, August 26, 2027.

Most recent: November 4, 2025

Ballot measures · 1

Passed Yes 65.9% (27) · No 34.1% (14)

Passes with more yes votes than no.

City · 2

5 seats: the top 5 win.

5 more →

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Decatur; 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.

  • Decatur City Council At-Large (5 seats)
    Now held by Kim DeVore, Angela Kernen, Richard Perry, Doug Keller, Tyler Perry
  • Decatur Mayor
    Now held by Travis Miller

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here10.

Past ballot measures

  • Public Measure GANovember 4, 2025

    Passed Yes 65.9% (27) · No 34.1% (14)

    Passes with more yes votes than no.

  • Public Measure GBNovember 7, 2023

    Passed Yes 85.4% (41) · No 14.6% (7)

    Passes with more yes votes than no.

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 ballot11.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress12

Amy Sinclair (Sen. 12)Sam Wengryn (Rep. 24)

U.S. House:District 3

Decatur County