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Local taxes › Decatur County › Grand River

City

Grand River

Decatur County · How cities work

$3,000 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($35.60 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$660 a yearof that goes to the city ($7.86 per $1,000)
$22,149property taxes the city levies, FY27
$50,636city 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.

  • Camron CollierGrand River City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Craig StogdillGrand River Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Nevin CollierGrand River City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • William R BrookhiserGrand River City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Nathan TaylorGrand River City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Sandra WhiteGrand River 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 Grand River

Homes and businesses in most of Grand River pay a combined $35.60 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Decatur County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $7.86. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$48.45$12.45
FY21$38.69$8.10
FY22$36.88$8.10
FY23$36.18$8.10
FY24$36.33$8.00
FY25$35.74$7.77
FY26$36.07$8.10
FY27$35.60$7.86
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$48.45$12.45
FY21$38.69$8.10
FY22$36.88$8.10
FY23$36.18$8.10
FY24$36.33$8.00
FY25$35.74$7.77
FY26$36.07$8.10
FY27$35.60$7.86

Compared with places this size3

Grand River’s city property tax rate of $7.86 per $1,000 is the 29th lowest of 201 Iowa cities with 130–290 people. The middle of the group is $11.57.

Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Fenton: $22.05Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Coin: $19.59Chester: $19.30Garden 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: $16.41Montour: $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: $14.40Halbur: $14.37Crystal Lake: $14.36Kimballton: $14.27Steamboat Rock: $14.19Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Stockport: $13.68Kellerton: $13.60Quimby: $13.58Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Meservey: $13.43Leland: $13.31Harcourt: $13.21Calumet: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Silver City: $12.87Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Clemons: $12.69Blencoe: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Clearfield: $12.50Kensett: $12.47Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Modale: $12.34Bridgewater: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Cushing: $12.18Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Macedonia: $12.12Webb: $12.10Paton: $12.09Decatur: $12.08Kiron: $12.03Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92New Providence: $11.88Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Joice: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Cantril: $11.69Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Cincinnati: $11.57Beaman: $11.54Delta: $11.52Westside: $11.45College Springs: $11.44Holland: $11.37Mallard: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Frederika: $10.99Alexander: $10.90Goose Lake: $10.89Yale: $10.85Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Hornick: $10.74Woden: $10.68Cleghorn: $10.49Barnes City: $10.44Lytton: $10.38Stockton: $10.37Rhodes: $10.36Randall: $10.35Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $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: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Luxemburg: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Westphalia: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Luther: $8.83Harvey: $8.71Washta: $8.65Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Rowley: $8.31South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Bertram: $8.10Fostoria: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Lockridge: $7.92Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Olds: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Mcclelland: $7.79Lidderdale: $7.68Pulaski: $7.58Fredonia: $7.55Braddyville: $7.49Harpers Ferry: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Franklin: $7.31Weldon: $7.18Brunsville: $6.95Packwood: $6.77Houghton: $6.73Libertyville: $6.60Keswick: $6.49Crawfordsville: $6.44Gravity: $6.18Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Panorama Park: $4.62Sherrill: $2.66Rickardsville: $2.27New Liberty: $2.27Grand River: $7.86$2.27 lowest$25.07 highestmiddle
See all 201
#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
12Chester$19.30134
13Garden Grove$19.20173
14Hastings$18.95157
15Swaledale$18.62136
16Cumberland$18.42248
17Jamaica$18.24196
18Hillsboro$17.68158
19Bristow$17.39139
20Woolstock$17.26141
21Pisgah$17.09248
22Lakota$16.84261
23Marble Rock$16.78258
24Auburn$16.65253
25Prescott$16.53186
26Monmouth$16.41129
27Montour$16.37199
28Geneva$16.25137
29Corwith$16.22259
30Deep River$16.18243
31Waucoma$16.17235
32Little Sioux$15.74170
33Moorhead$15.68186
34Onslow$15.63198
35Linden$15.62206
36Woodburn$15.59133
37Kamrar$15.47178
38Greeley$15.23216
39Goodell$15.16139
40Riverton$14.94243
41Marathon$14.89221
42Ladora$14.74223
43Magnolia$14.68194
44Bagley$14.63230
45Davis City$14.45178
46Lucas$14.40176
47Halbur$14.37268
48Crystal Lake$14.36243
49Kimballton$14.27281
50Steamboat Rock$14.19261
51Westgate$14.05190
52Palmer$13.89137
53Stockport$13.68272
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
63Farmersburg$13.09264
64Portsmouth$13.05187
65Clutier$13.03209
66Silver City$12.87244
67Delaware$12.86139
68Patterson$12.84176
69Martelle$12.83250
70Malcom$12.82257
71Clemons$12.69135
72Blencoe$12.57223
73Maurice$12.56271
74Clearfield$12.50277
75Kensett$12.47256
76Millersburg$12.40135
77Aurora$12.40165
78Modale$12.34284
79Bridgewater$12.29145
80Blakesburg$12.21273
81Cushing$12.18225
82Hanlontown$12.17200
83Stout$12.14194
84Macedonia$12.12266
85Webb$12.10139
86Paton$12.09217
87Decatur$12.08174
88Kiron$12.03262
89Rembrandt$12.03199
90Shambaugh$11.98161
91Lone Rock$11.92143
92New Providence$11.88233
93Henderson$11.85140
94Parnell$11.78190
95Reasnor$11.76157
96Joice$11.72206
97Atalissa$11.71287
98Cantril$11.69224
99Wadena$11.65201
100Exline$11.60157
101Cincinnati$11.57280
102Beaman$11.54155
103Delta$11.52257
104Westside$11.45283
105College Springs$11.44172
106Holland$11.37261
107Mallard$11.28255
108Renwick$11.16228
109Linn Grove$11.15155
110Dundee$11.14193
111Randolph$11.08183
112Leighton$11.07153
113Rake$11.05179
114Frederika$10.99206
115Alexander$10.90165
116Goose Lake$10.89250
117Yale$10.85265
118Lambs Grove$10.78174
119Wallingford$10.75154
120Hornick$10.74255
121Woden$10.68183
122Cleghorn$10.49235
123Barnes City$10.44152
124Lytton$10.38274
125Stockton$10.37171
126Rhodes$10.36269
127Randall$10.35156
128Dedham$10.28221
129Deloit$10.28246
130Protivin$10.28264
131Meriden$10.28175
132Drakesville$10.24170
133Hancock$10.13199
134La Motte$10.09235
135Melvin$10.05196
136Defiance$10.05248
137Barnum$9.96186
138Panama$9.85234
139Grafton$9.83212
140Clare$9.81133
141Tingley$9.81146
142Ionia$9.65220
143Van Wert$9.62175
144Rock Falls$9.61143
145Kirkville$9.59159
146Luxemburg$9.58240
147Rippey$9.42217
148Westphalia$9.18133
149Elberon$9.16178
150Dixon$9.03204
151Blairsburg$8.93175
152Prairieburg$8.91156
153Oakville$8.89198
154Luther$8.83147
155Harvey$8.71242
156Washta$8.65206
157Moorland$8.61169
158Pilot Mound$8.54155
159Ollie$8.44196
160Thor$8.38182
161Rowley$8.31264
162South English$8.27196
163Thurman$8.26162
164Boxholm$8.11177
165Bertram$8.10267
166Fostoria$8.10229
167Low Moor$8.10242
168Laurel$8.10214
169Lineville$8.10194
170Lockridge$7.92245
171Mount Auburn$7.86162
172Haverhill$7.86164
173Grand River$7.86192
174Olds$7.86174
175Castalia$7.86141
176Dickens$7.86146
177Rose Hill$7.86156
178West Chester$7.82147
179Mcclelland$7.79147
180Lidderdale$7.68162
181Pulaski$7.58259
182Fredonia$7.55227
183Braddyville$7.49142
184Harpers Ferry$7.49273
185Alvord$7.41216
186Franklin$7.31133
187Weldon$7.18134
188Brunsville$6.95128
189Packwood$6.77186
190Houghton$6.73129
191Libertyville$6.60278
192Keswick$6.49238
193Crawfordsville$6.44278
194Gravity$6.18149
195Oakland Acres$5.88178
196Springbrook$5.79145
197Maysville$5.77155
198Panorama Park$4.62142
199Sherrill$2.66176
200Rickardsville$2.27204
201New Liberty$2.27141

The $8.10 limit

Grand River’s general levy is $7.86 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.24 below the limit.4 606 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.00 · FY25 $7.77 · FY26 $8.10 · FY27 $7.86 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

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$22,149100%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Grand River’s budget goes, FY26

General Government: 85¢ of every dollar85¢Public Safety: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Business Type / Enterprise: 6¢ 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 199 Iowa cities closest in size (130–290 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (199)
General Government85¢20¢
Public Safety9¢9¢
Business Type / Enterprise6¢33¢

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$25,88651%
  • Public Works$21,25042%
  • Public Safety$3,5007%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($2,578 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$18,675$27,783
Public Safety$4,500$6,500
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$22,703$49,098
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$8,400$8,900
Community and Economic Development$0$0
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$0$0

What it spent each year

FY24 left out5

$230,061
$69,624

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Grand River owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.6

$88,864
$0
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$39,038$199
2024$51,116$261
2023$63,765$325
2022$88,864$453
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$0$0
2016$0$0
2015$8,976$46
2014$16,751$85
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$39,038$199
2024$51,116$261
2023$63,765$325
2022$88,864$453
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$0$0
2016$0$0
2015$8,976$46
2014$16,751$85
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0

Down 100% since 2014.

The 5% limit7

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $265,154 (5% of $5.3M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. Grand River’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Tuesday, March 31, 2026, by a CPA firm.

1 earlier report for Grand River

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? 10

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: $24,941 in FY25, up 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 20% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$24,185$18,203$22,523$24,941

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.

$18,530
$6,250
  • Other$6,250100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$0
FY20$0
FY21$5,273
FY22$0
FY23$18,530
FY24$0
FY25$6,250
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$0
FY20$0
FY21$5,273
FY22$0
FY23$18,530
FY24$0
FY25$6,250

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−20%$24,802 → $24,941, up 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 20% 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 45% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 15% more.

$23,445
$20,608

Federal grants, for comparison: $18,323 in FY23.

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)11.

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

3 seats: the top 3 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Grand River; 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.

  • Grand River City Council At-Large (2 seats)
    Now held by Nathan Taylor, Sandra White
  • Grand River Mayor
    Now held by Craig Stogdill

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here12.

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 ballot13.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress14

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

U.S. House:District 3

Decatur CountyCentral Decatur schools