Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Jeff CarrollRyan City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Lorraine GaffneyRyan City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Matt MarbachRyan City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Mike CorcoranRyan Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Melvin CampbellRyan City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Sarah FettketherRyan 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 Ryan
Homes and businesses in most of Ryan pay a combined $37.15 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Delaware County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $14.84. Estimate your bill.
- City of Ryan$14.8440%
- West Delaware County schools$12.9535%
- Delaware County$5.7916%
- Delaware County Hospital$1.835%
- Northeast Iowa Community College$1.043%
- Delaware County Assessor$0.531%
- Delaware County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.18<1%
Rates over time
Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Ryan pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $35.08 | $14.28 |
| FY21 | $35.40 | $14.71 |
| FY22 | $35.57 | $14.17 |
| FY23 | $35.12 | $13.68 |
| FY24 | $36.46 | $14.60 |
| FY25 | $37.54 | $14.60 |
| FY26 | $37.60 | $14.68 |
| FY27 | $37.15 | $14.84 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $35.08 | $14.28 |
| FY21 | $35.40 | $14.71 |
| FY22 | $35.57 | $14.17 |
| FY23 | $35.12 | $13.68 |
| FY24 | $36.46 | $14.60 |
| FY25 | $37.54 | $14.60 |
| FY26 | $37.60 | $14.68 |
| FY27 | $37.15 | $14.84 |
Compared with places this size3
Ryan’s city property tax rate of $14.84 per $1,000 is the 51st highest of 201 Iowa cities with 230–520 people. The middle of the group is $12.57.
See all 201
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanhope | $29.10 | 354 |
| 2 | Rolfe | $22.67 | 505 |
| 3 | Fenton | $22.05 | 250 |
| 4 | Elliott | $21.61 | 328 |
| 5 | Charter Oak | $21.32 | 521 |
| 6 | Oxford Junction | $20.84 | 424 |
| 7 | Earling | $20.47 | 394 |
| 8 | Pomeroy | $19.60 | 511 |
| 9 | Fort Atkinson | $19.19 | 300 |
| 10 | Salem | $19.15 | 380 |
| 11 | Cumberland | $18.42 | 248 |
| 12 | Massena | $18.23 | 352 |
| 13 | Elma | $17.82 | 493 |
| 14 | Callender | $17.78 | 361 |
| 15 | Casey | $17.72 | 387 |
| 16 | Dows | $17.70 | 509 |
| 17 | Vail | $17.66 | 383 |
| 18 | Ringsted | $17.65 | 346 |
| 19 | Emerson | $17.54 | 401 |
| 20 | Thompson | $17.25 | 478 |
| 21 | Ashton | $17.17 | 434 |
| 22 | Pierson | $17.12 | 335 |
| 23 | Burt | $17.10 | 404 |
| 24 | Pisgah | $17.09 | 248 |
| 25 | Latimer | $16.96 | 477 |
| 26 | Lohrville | $16.95 | 366 |
| 27 | Lakota | $16.84 | 261 |
| 28 | Marble Rock | $16.78 | 258 |
| 29 | Auburn | $16.65 | 253 |
| 30 | Mccallsburg | $16.58 | 356 |
| 31 | Whittemore | $16.54 | 478 |
| 32 | Irwin | $16.46 | 320 |
| 33 | Titonka | $16.45 | 491 |
| 34 | Truro | $16.34 | 515 |
| 35 | Lewis | $16.25 | 358 |
| 36 | Corwith | $16.22 | 259 |
| 37 | Deep River | $16.18 | 243 |
| 38 | Waucoma | $16.17 | 235 |
| 39 | Duncombe | $16.10 | 374 |
| 40 | Bayard | $16.05 | 402 |
| 41 | Scranton | $16.01 | 496 |
| 42 | Granville | $16.00 | 302 |
| 43 | Minburn | $15.75 | 317 |
| 44 | Peterson | $15.27 | 321 |
| 45 | Russell | $15.18 | 475 |
| 46 | Zearing | $14.99 | 508 |
| 47 | Arlington | $14.98 | 415 |
| 48 | Riverton | $14.94 | 243 |
| 49 | Maynard | $14.85 | 466 |
| 50 | Plainfield | $14.84 | 392 |
| 51 | Ryan | $14.84 | 348 |
| 52 | Otho | $14.82 | 417 |
| 53 | Humeston | $14.80 | 472 |
| 54 | Gilmore City | $14.60 | 484 |
| 55 | Sabula | $14.38 | 498 |
| 56 | Garrison | $14.38 | 345 |
| 57 | Halbur | $14.37 | 268 |
| 58 | Lorimor | $14.36 | 377 |
| 59 | Crystal Lake | $14.36 | 243 |
| 60 | Collins | $14.32 | 503 |
| 61 | Kimballton | $14.27 | 281 |
| 62 | Ocheyedan | $14.22 | 424 |
| 63 | Steamboat Rock | $14.19 | 261 |
| 64 | Garwin | $14.08 | 469 |
| 65 | Farragut | $14.07 | 480 |
| 66 | Mystic | $14.01 | 318 |
| 67 | Lime Springs | $13.95 | 467 |
| 68 | Dow City | $13.94 | 477 |
| 69 | Wesley | $13.91 | 382 |
| 70 | Diagonal | $13.91 | 331 |
| 71 | Bussey | $13.83 | 378 |
| 72 | Mondamin | $13.82 | 335 |
| 73 | Livermore | $13.78 | 382 |
| 74 | Fertile | $13.70 | 300 |
| 75 | Stockport | $13.68 | 272 |
| 76 | Kellerton | $13.60 | 241 |
| 77 | Albion | $13.58 | 444 |
| 78 | Quimby | $13.58 | 245 |
| 79 | Lamont | $13.57 | 429 |
| 80 | New Albin | $13.55 | 435 |
| 81 | Persia | $13.41 | 292 |
| 82 | Lawler | $13.39 | 392 |
| 83 | Lacona | $13.38 | 336 |
| 84 | Leland | $13.31 | 240 |
| 85 | Ute | $13.26 | 326 |
| 86 | New Market | $13.25 | 381 |
| 87 | Plymouth | $13.21 | 368 |
| 88 | Harcourt | $13.21 | 257 |
| 89 | Bennett | $13.16 | 330 |
| 90 | Ridgeway | $13.10 | 261 |
| 91 | Farmersburg | $13.09 | 264 |
| 92 | Little Rock | $13.03 | 447 |
| 93 | Lehigh | $12.97 | 395 |
| 94 | Menlo | $12.92 | 347 |
| 95 | Templeton | $12.91 | 337 |
| 96 | Silver City | $12.87 | 244 |
| 97 | Martelle | $12.83 | 250 |
| 98 | Malcom | $12.82 | 257 |
| 99 | Galva | $12.68 | 416 |
| 100 | Martensdale | $12.63 | 413 |
| 101 | Williams | $12.57 | 299 |
| 102 | Maurice | $12.56 | 271 |
| 103 | Norway | $12.53 | 463 |
| 104 | Clearfield | $12.50 | 277 |
| 105 | Kensett | $12.47 | 256 |
| 106 | Mccausland | $12.45 | 314 |
| 107 | Spillville | $12.40 | 371 |
| 108 | Modale | $12.34 | 284 |
| 109 | Mingo | $12.31 | 314 |
| 110 | Brandon | $12.29 | 331 |
| 111 | Blakesburg | $12.21 | 273 |
| 112 | Bonaparte | $12.17 | 357 |
| 113 | Macedonia | $12.12 | 266 |
| 114 | Hawkeye | $12.11 | 429 |
| 115 | Kiron | $12.03 | 262 |
| 116 | Colesburg | $11.97 | 379 |
| 117 | Liscomb | $11.96 | 292 |
| 118 | New Providence | $11.88 | 233 |
| 119 | Thornton | $11.86 | 394 |
| 120 | Runnells | $11.79 | 467 |
| 121 | Allerton | $11.72 | 432 |
| 122 | Atalissa | $11.71 | 287 |
| 123 | Kelley | $11.69 | 312 |
| 124 | Orient | $11.66 | 363 |
| 125 | Ellsworth | $11.57 | 495 |
| 126 | Cincinnati | $11.57 | 280 |
| 127 | Delta | $11.52 | 257 |
| 128 | Terril | $11.48 | 310 |
| 129 | Westside | $11.45 | 283 |
| 130 | Holland | $11.37 | 261 |
| 131 | Churdan | $11.31 | 359 |
| 132 | Mallard | $11.28 | 255 |
| 133 | Miles | $11.28 | 400 |
| 134 | Milton | $10.98 | 395 |
| 135 | New Vienna | $10.91 | 384 |
| 136 | Letts | $10.91 | 358 |
| 137 | Goose Lake | $10.89 | 250 |
| 138 | Birmingham | $10.87 | 371 |
| 139 | Charlotte | $10.86 | 386 |
| 140 | Yale | $10.85 | 265 |
| 141 | Batavia | $10.77 | 434 |
| 142 | Hornick | $10.74 | 255 |
| 143 | Riverdale | $10.67 | 385 |
| 144 | Bode | $10.64 | 304 |
| 145 | Union | $10.58 | 378 |
| 146 | Cleghorn | $10.49 | 235 |
| 147 | Calamus | $10.47 | 348 |
| 148 | Lovilia | $10.46 | 456 |
| 149 | Danbury | $10.43 | 315 |
| 150 | Lytton | $10.38 | 274 |
| 151 | Stacyville | $10.36 | 436 |
| 152 | Rhodes | $10.36 | 269 |
| 153 | Deloit | $10.28 | 246 |
| 154 | Protivin | $10.28 | 264 |
| 155 | Andrew | $10.22 | 374 |
| 156 | Royal | $10.20 | 379 |
| 157 | Bronson | $10.14 | 294 |
| 158 | Rudd | $10.13 | 339 |
| 159 | La Motte | $10.09 | 235 |
| 160 | Defiance | $10.05 | 248 |
| 161 | Floyd | $10.02 | 297 |
| 162 | Panama | $9.85 | 234 |
| 163 | Breda | $9.80 | 492 |
| 164 | Lynnville | $9.68 | 382 |
| 165 | Salix | $9.63 | 303 |
| 166 | Luxemburg | $9.58 | 240 |
| 167 | Farnhamville | $9.18 | 364 |
| 168 | Middletown | $9.16 | 365 |
| 169 | Alleman | $9.12 | 439 |
| 170 | Lester | $8.94 | 309 |
| 171 | Harvey | $8.71 | 242 |
| 172 | Ainsworth | $8.62 | 511 |
| 173 | Rowley | $8.31 | 264 |
| 174 | Bertram | $8.10 | 267 |
| 175 | Grandview | $8.10 | 431 |
| 176 | Lost Nation | $8.10 | 425 |
| 177 | Low Moor | $8.10 | 242 |
| 178 | Nichols | $8.10 | 317 |
| 179 | Luana | $7.98 | 303 |
| 180 | Lockridge | $7.92 | 245 |
| 181 | Delhi | $7.81 | 438 |
| 182 | Klemme | $7.74 | 429 |
| 183 | Pulaski | $7.58 | 259 |
| 184 | Beacon | $7.56 | 434 |
| 185 | Sheldahl | $7.56 | 312 |
| 186 | Worthington | $7.50 | 374 |
| 187 | Harpers Ferry | $7.49 | 273 |
| 188 | Marquette | $7.08 | 434 |
| 189 | Columbus City | $6.94 | 385 |
| 190 | Donahue | $6.83 | 336 |
| 191 | Libertyville | $6.60 | 278 |
| 192 | Keswick | $6.49 | 238 |
| 193 | Crawfordsville | $6.44 | 278 |
| 194 | New Virginia | $5.97 | 499 |
| 195 | Holy Cross | $5.91 | 348 |
| 196 | Conesville | $5.86 | 350 |
| 197 | University Park | $5.27 | 476 |
| 198 | Orleans | $4.13 | 503 |
| 199 | Maharishi Vedic City | $3.87 | 290 |
| 200 | Wahpeton | $3.19 | 337 |
| 201 | West Okoboji | $2.92 | 311 |
The $8.10 limit
Ryan’s general levy is $7.89 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.21 below the limit.4 531 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.
FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.13 · FY26 $8.13 · FY27 $7.89 (before FY25, the general levy alone)
Outside the limit: $6.95 more5
- Liability, property & self insurance costs$2.56 · $45,986
- Total Employee Benefit Levies$2.21 · $39,557
- Debt Service Levy$2.18 · $39,175
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 Ryan’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 199 Iowa cities closest in size (230–520 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (199) |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | 50¢ | 20¢ |
| Business Type / Enterprise | 22¢ | 39¢ |
| Debt Service | 10¢ | 3¢ |
| Public Safety | 9¢ | 9¢ |
| General Government | 6¢ | 16¢ |
| Everything else | 3¢ | 14¢ |
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 ($176,380 in FY26), so this total is low.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $146,538 | $150,646 |
| Public Safety | $131,336 | $111,593 |
| Health and Social Services | $0 | $0 |
| General Government | $39,400 | $38,177 |
| Debt Service | $52,616 | $55,254 |
| Culture and Recreation | $32,225 | $10,111 |
| Community and Economic Development | $5,000 | $4,075 |
| Capital Projects | $100,000 | $40,645 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $162,121 | $149,666 |
What it spent each year
FY24 left out6
Debt, reserves and audits
How local debt works · What an audit tells you
What Ryan owes
$300,000 at June 30, 2026: $857 per resident. 575th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $300,000 | $857 |
| 2025 | $349,000 | $997 |
| 2024 | $403,000 | $1,151 |
| 2023 | $483,000 | $1,380 |
| 2022 | $593,000 | $1,694 |
| 2021 | $665,424 | $1,901 |
| 2020 | $753,187 | $2,152 |
| 2019 | $645,417 | $1,844 |
| 2018 | $623,982 | $1,783 |
| 2017 | $704,135 | $2,012 |
| 2016 | $785,645 | $2,245 |
| 2015 | $577,000 | $1,649 |
| 2014 | $541,669 | $1,548 |
| 2013 | $593,348 | $1,695 |
| 2012 | $680,041 | $1,943 |
| 2011 | $695,710 | $1,988 |
| 2010 | $491,877 | $1,405 |
Show the numbers
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $300,000 | $857 |
| 2025 | $349,000 | $997 |
| 2024 | $403,000 | $1,151 |
| 2023 | $483,000 | $1,380 |
| 2022 | $593,000 | $1,694 |
| 2021 | $665,424 | $1,901 |
| 2020 | $753,187 | $2,152 |
| 2019 | $645,417 | $1,844 |
| 2018 | $623,982 | $1,783 |
| 2017 | $704,135 | $2,012 |
| 2016 | $785,645 | $2,245 |
| 2015 | $577,000 | $1,649 |
| 2014 | $541,669 | $1,548 |
| 2013 | $593,348 | $1,695 |
| 2012 | $680,041 | $1,943 |
| 2011 | $695,710 | $1,988 |
| 2010 | $491,877 | $1,405 |
Down 39% since 2010.
Money in reserve
The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. Ryan’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Friday, June 30, 2023 (PDF).
Audits9
The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Friday, June 30, 2023 (PDF), released Thursday, August 8, 2024, by the Auditor of State.
3 earlier reports for Ryan
- Periodic Examination, period ending Monday, April 30, 2018Wednesday, September 26, 2018
- Periodic Examination, period ending Thursday, March 31, 2016Thursday, September 8, 2016
- Financial Statement, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2010Wednesday, October 13, 2010
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: $39,905 in FY25, down 8% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 27% less. Grants are below.
Show the numbers
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $50,111 | $38,624 | $39,690 | $39,905 |
| Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”) | – | – | – | – |
Has it kept up with prices?
Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.
- Road Use Tax (streets)−14%$36,905 → $39,905, up 8% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 14% 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 70% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 36% more.
Federal grants, for comparison: $25,867 in FY23.
Business awards
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.
- Lorraine Gaffney Winner7535.4%
- Matt Marbach Winner6731.6%
- Jeff Carroll Winner4621.7%
- John Britt 2411.3%
- Mike Corcoran Winner6055.0%
- Seaver Gentz 4945.0%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Ryan; 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.
- Ryan City Council At-Large (2 seats)Now held by Sarah Fettkether, Melvin Campbell
- Ryan MayorNow held by Mike Corcoran
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
Dan Zumbach (Sen. 34)Craig P. Johnson (Rep. 67)
U.S. House:District 2