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Local taxes › Des Moines County › West Burlington

City

West Burlington

Des Moines County · How cities work

$2,900 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($34.40 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$850 a yearof that goes to the city ($10.15 per $1,000)
$1.7Mproperty taxes the city levies, FY27
$5.7Mcity 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.

  • Kathy NewberryWest Burlington City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Ron TeaterWest Burlington Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Andy CrownerWest Burlington City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Ringo CovertWest Burlington City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Therese M LeesWest Burlington 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 West Burlington

Homes and businesses in most of West Burlington pay a combined $33.40 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Des Moines County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $10.15. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.54$10.00
FY21$36.51$10.00
FY22$35.18$9.65
FY23$33.51$10.00
FY24$32.10$10.01
FY25$32.23$10.10
FY26$33.71$10.10
FY27$34.40$10.15
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.54$10.00
FY21$36.51$10.00
FY22$35.18$9.65
FY23$33.51$10.00
FY24$32.10$10.01
FY25$32.23$10.10
FY26$33.71$10.10
FY27$34.40$10.15

Compared with places this size3

West Burlington’s city property tax rate of $10.15 per $1,000 is the 5th lowest of 66 Iowa cities with 2,200–4,800 people. The middle of the group is $14.03.

Eldora: $26.87Rockwell City: $20.74Bloomfield: $20.41Belmond: $19.86Sibley: $19.77Albia: $19.70Eagle Grove: $19.32West Liberty: $18.68Chariton: $18.37Toledo: $18.21La Porte City: $18.08Tama: $17.74Clarion: $17.74Missouri Valley: $17.68Madrid: $16.93West Union: $16.60Grundy Center: $16.36Belle Plaine: $16.34Colfax: $16.25Cresco: $16.13Marengo: $16.10Humboldt: $16.00Forest City: $15.77Postville: $15.68Tipton: $15.54Jefferson: $14.88Hampton: $14.86Carlisle: $14.82Waukon: $14.76Rock Rapids: $14.57Monticello: $14.49Jesup: $14.31Osage: $14.29Rock Valley: $13.76Emmetsburg: $13.70Wilton: $13.62Mount Vernon: $13.50New Hampton: $13.44Hudson: $13.19Center Point: $13.19Hawarden: $13.02Garner: $12.86Camanche: $12.75Bellevue: $12.67Le Claire: $12.64Milford: $12.57Lisbon: $12.50Onawa: $12.32Atkins: $11.99Hull: $11.79Huxley: $11.68Cascade: $11.64West Branch: $11.63Mitchellville: $11.54Solon: $11.53Williamsburg: $11.11Ely: $11.08Carter Lake: $10.67Story City: $10.39Kalona: $10.37Dyersville: $10.27Peosta: $9.82Robins: $9.68Fairfax: $8.10Evansdale: $8.00West Burlington: $10.15$8.00 lowest$26.87 highestmiddle
See all 66
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Eldora$26.872,595
2Rockwell City$20.742,185
3Bloomfield$20.412,773
4Belmond$19.862,405
5Sibley$19.772,787
6Albia$19.703,579
7Eagle Grove$19.323,615
8West Liberty$18.683,724
9Chariton$18.374,278
10Toledo$18.212,372
11La Porte City$18.082,267
12Tama$17.742,997
13Clarion$17.742,751
14Missouri Valley$17.682,638
15Madrid$16.932,824
16West Union$16.602,435
17Grundy Center$16.362,821
18Belle Plaine$16.342,335
19Colfax$16.252,305
20Cresco$16.133,890
21Marengo$16.102,415
22Humboldt$16.004,774
23Forest City$15.774,199
24Postville$15.682,418
25Tipton$15.543,059
26Jefferson$14.884,148
27Hampton$14.864,340
28Carlisle$14.824,381
29Waukon$14.763,799
30Rock Rapids$14.572,709
31Monticello$14.494,095
32Jesup$14.312,541
33Osage$14.293,559
34Rock Valley$13.764,024
35Emmetsburg$13.703,632
36Wilton$13.622,914
37Mount Vernon$13.504,518
38New Hampton$13.443,433
39Hudson$13.192,916
40Center Point$13.192,578
41Hawarden$13.022,630
42Garner$12.863,049
43Camanche$12.754,536
44Bellevue$12.672,321
45Le Claire$12.644,776
46Milford$12.573,258
47Lisbon$12.502,238
48Onawa$12.322,795
49Atkins$11.992,168
50Hull$11.792,459
51Huxley$11.684,737
52Cascade$11.642,396
53West Branch$11.632,876
54Mitchellville$11.542,686
55Solon$11.533,284
56Williamsburg$11.113,380
57Ely$11.082,371
58Carter Lake$10.673,752
59Story City$10.393,439
60Kalona$10.372,762
61Dyersville$10.274,559
62West Burlington$10.153,249
63Peosta$9.822,195
64Robins$9.683,362
65Fairfax$8.102,937
66Evansdale$8.004,515

The $8.10 limit

West Burlington’s general levy is $8.10 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, at the limit.4 247 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $7.94 · FY26 $8.10 · FY27 $8.10 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $2.05 more5

  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$0.90 · $146,672
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$0.90 · $145,981
  • Debt Service Levy$0.25 · $56,550

Tax increment financing (TIF)

$63.6M of taxable value in West Burlington is in TIF districts’ increment (28% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.6 It budgeted $1.2M in TIF revenue for FY25.

$1.4M
$846,682

What that value would raise at each government’s rate, FY277

Taxes on TIF value go to the city’s TIF fund instead of the governments that levy them, including about $629,542 of the city’s own.

  • West Burlington schools$653,814
  • Des Moines County$330,916
  • Burlington schools$87,419
YearTIF revenue
FY16$1.0M
FY17$1.1M
FY18$1.4M
FY19$1.4M
FY20$1.4M
FY21$891,667
FY22$788,785
FY23$846,682
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$1.0M
FY17$1.1M
FY18$1.4M
FY19$1.4M
FY20$1.4M
FY21$891,667
FY22$788,785
FY23$846,682

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$1.3M79%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$146,6729%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$145,9819%
  • Debt Service Levy$56,5503%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of West Burlington’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 46¢ of every dollar46¢Public Safety: 18¢ of every dollar18¢Public Works: 12¢ of every dollar12¢General Government: 7¢ of every dollar7¢Debt Service: 7¢ of every dollar7¢Everything else: 10¢ of every dollar10¢

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 65 Iowa cities closest in size (2,200–4,800 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (65)
Business Type / Enterprise46¢36¢
Public Safety18¢13¢
Public Works12¢9¢
General Government7¢5¢
Debt Service7¢8¢
Everything else10¢28¢

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.

  • Public Safety$1.9M33%
  • Public Works$1.2M21%
  • General Government$847,75515%
  • Debt Service$696,44112%
  • Capital Projects$530,5009%
  • Culture and Recreation$475,9108%
  • Community and Economic Development$114,0502%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($4.5M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$872,695$853,642
Public Safety$2.3M$2.3M
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$501,479$494,710
Debt Service$698,370$697,166
Culture and Recreation$243,880$370,497
Community and Economic Development$103,424$91,772
Capital Projects$1.8M$305,980
Business Type / Enterprise$3.8M$4.1M

What it spent each year

FY24 left out8

$15.8M
$12.8M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What West Burlington owes

$12.4M at June 30, 2026: $3,887 per resident. 196th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).9

$19.8M
$12.4M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$12.4M$3,887
2025$13.9M$4,348
2024$15.3M$4,799
2023$16.9M$5,271
2022$14.7M$4,604
2021$19.8M$6,178
2020$13.7M$4,273
2019$15.0M$4,690
2018$14.9M$4,675
2017$8.2M$2,571
2016$4.9M$1,539
2015$5.7M$1,778
2014$6.4M$2,003
2013$4.1M$1,274
2012$5.5M$1,716
2011$7.0M$2,190
2010$5.2M$1,617
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$12.4M$3,887
2025$13.9M$4,348
2024$15.3M$4,799
2023$16.9M$5,271
2022$14.7M$4,604
2021$19.8M$6,178
2020$13.7M$4,273
2019$15.0M$4,690
2018$14.9M$4,675
2017$8.2M$2,571
2016$4.9M$1,539
2015$5.7M$1,778
2014$6.4M$2,003
2013$4.1M$1,274
2012$5.5M$1,716
2011$7.0M$2,190
2010$5.2M$1,617

Up 140% since 2010.

The 5% limit10

General obligation debt is $956,000, 6% of the limit of about $16.6M (5% of $331.7M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

7 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsWastewater plant improvements. This loan was combined with a construction loan. I was not combined with the 2020 sewer loan2038$6.9M
Revenue BondsConstruction of a new water tower, booster station, and extension of water main to reach a new storage site.2040$3.6M
Revenue BondsThis debt obligation with NOT combined with the 2022 sewer loan incorrect information was given2040$877,000
General ObligationStreet projects - Gear Ave & Agency; Broadway & Agency; Broadway - Van Weiss to Agency; Huston St; Mt. Pleasant St.2027$575,000
General ObligationMt. Pleasant Street Project Phase #22032$330,000
General ObligationWater improvement Division 1 and Hwy 406 water extension2028$51,000
Revenue BondsHwy 406 Water extension project and Division I of 2006 Water Project2028$47,000

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 balances11. West Burlington’s latest audit has them: Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2024 (PDF).

Audits12

The latest: Financial Statement for the period ending Sunday, June 30, 2024 (PDF), released Friday, November 14, 2025, by a CPA firm.

15 earlier reports for West Burlington

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? 13

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: $520,729 in FY25, down 4% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 24% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$437,320$439,943$451,623$454,036
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$106,707$93,369$80,031$66,693

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.

$900
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$75
    FY20$525
    FY21$450
    FY22$0
    FY23$900
    FY24$525
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$75
    FY20$525
    FY21$450
    FY22$0
    FY23$900
    FY24$525
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−7%$389,107 → $454,036, up 17% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 7% less
    • Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)−66%$155,227 → $66,693, down 57% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 66% 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 53% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 22% more.

    $796,277
    $739,531

    Federal grants, for comparison: $728,218 in FY25.

    Business awards

    Every award statewide

    State economic development awards

    Community college new jobs training: 5 contracts since 2002 worth $861K, for 130 pledged jobs.

    Awards 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)14.

    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

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for West Burlington; 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.

    • West Burlington City Council At-Large (3 seats)
      Now held by Ringo Covert, Andy Crowner, Therese M Lees
    • West Burlington Mayor
      Now held by Ron Teater

    Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here15.

    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 ballot16.

    Related places

    At the Statehouse and in Congress17

    Jeff Reichman (Sen. 50)Matthew Rinker (Rep. 99)

    U.S. House:District 1

    Des Moines CountyBurlington schoolsWest Burlington schools