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Local taxes › Dickinson County › Lake Park

City

Lake Park

Dickinson County · How cities work

$2,270 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($26.91 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$860 a yearof that goes to the city ($10.25 per $1,000)
$1.0Mproperty taxes the city levies, FY27
$5.0Mcity 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.

  • Jason JacobsonLake Park City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Joseph SohnLake Park City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Matthew CarstensenLake Park Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Nathan JuddLake Park City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Whitney ThiessenLake Park 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 Lake Park

Homes and businesses in most of Lake Park pay a combined $26.91 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Dickinson County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $10.25. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$27.67$13.17
FY21$27.30$12.96
FY22$25.34$11.46
FY23$24.06$11.01
FY24$25.25$11.09
FY25$28.59$10.39
FY26$28.18$10.85
FY27$26.91$10.25
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$27.67$13.17
FY21$27.30$12.96
FY22$25.34$11.46
FY23$24.06$11.01
FY24$25.25$11.09
FY25$28.59$10.39
FY26$28.18$10.85
FY27$26.91$10.25

Compared with places this size3

Lake Park’s city property tax rate of $10.25 per $1,000 is the 24th lowest of 152 Iowa cities with 770–1,700 people. The middle of the group is $13.36.

Elkader: $27.11Laurens: $24.16Villisca: $19.74Traer: $19.56Corning: $19.36Lake City: $19.32Allison: $19.06Corydon: $18.22Dysart: $17.95Greene: $17.91Lansing: $17.67Strawberry Point: $17.58Rockwell: $17.54Gowrie: $17.17Colo: $17.14Mapleton: $16.90George: $16.89Manson: $16.87Fayette: $16.85Adair: $16.84Eddyville: $16.82Nashua: $16.81Ackley: $16.63Buffalo Center: $16.58Roland: $16.51Eldon: $16.42Monona: $16.41Aplington: $16.34Panora: $16.14Mechanicsville: $16.12Dike: $15.94Armstrong: $15.87Holstein: $15.81State Center: $15.80Pleasantville: $15.80Earlham: $15.55Shell Rock: $15.52Brooklyn: $15.49Newell: $15.49Mount Ayr: $15.32Riceville: $15.31Neola: $15.30Sidney: $15.19Gilbertville: $15.15Logan: $15.05Griswold: $15.01Readlyn: $14.99Tripoli: $14.99Woodbine: $14.80Bedford: $14.66Lenox: $14.65Manning: $14.62Dunlap: $14.56Maxwell: $14.50Coon Rapids: $14.49Nora Springs: $14.25Kingsley: $14.25Urbana: $14.20Primghar: $14.18Sheffield: $14.16Hartley: $14.11Woodward: $14.05Guthrie Center: $14.04Ossian: $13.88Alton: $13.87Montezuma: $13.79Victor: $13.72Gilbert: $13.71Edgewood: $13.64Donnellson: $13.63Gladbrook: $13.58Clarksville: $13.53Avoca: $13.51Janesville: $13.43Glidden: $13.43Calmar: $13.39Baxter: $13.32Manly: $13.29Anita: $13.28Conrad: $13.23Springville: $13.22Keota: $13.21Shellsburg: $13.20De Soto: $13.18Treynor: $13.03Odebolt: $13.00Akron: $12.93Danville: $12.87Underwood: $12.85New Sharon: $12.80Slater: $12.79Malvern: $12.79Buffalo: $12.68Sanborn: $12.62West Point: $12.39Hinton: $12.38Preston: $12.38Remsen: $12.32Hubbard: $12.30Carson: $12.22Reinbeck: $12.10Winfield: $12.04Elkhart: $12.00Afton: $11.96Tabor: $11.88Wellman: $11.88Aurelia: $11.84Blue Grass: $11.79Palo: $11.49West Bend: $11.42Prairie City: $11.38Marcus: $11.31Dunkerton: $11.30Mediapolis: $11.27Melcher-Dallas: $11.21University Heights: $11.12Hamburg: $10.95Clarence: $10.94Farley: $10.91Oakland: $10.85Moville: $10.67Cambridge: $10.53Swisher: $10.39Schleswig: $10.39Melbourne: $10.38Elk Run Heights: $10.33Walcott: $10.29Fredericksburg: $10.27Inwood: $10.22Central City: $10.01Newhall: $9.99Graettinger: $9.81Long Grove: $9.59Lake View: $9.39Paullina: $9.21Fairbank: $9.00Winthrop: $8.94Walford: $8.72Keosauqua: $8.58Princeton: $8.24Lone Tree: $8.13Riverside: $8.02Hills: $7.94Larchwood: $7.52North English: $7.49Sloan: $7.49Sully: $7.41Fruitland: $7.21Lawton: $7.10Wayland: $7.07Arnolds Park: $4.95Lake Park: $10.25$4.95 lowest$27.11 highestmiddle
See all 152
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Elkader$27.111,192
2Laurens$24.161,253
3Villisca$19.741,106
4Traer$19.561,547
5Corning$19.361,509
6Lake City$19.321,656
7Allison$19.06937
8Corydon$18.221,563
9Dysart$17.951,266
10Greene$17.91971
11Lansing$17.67959
12Strawberry Point$17.581,141
13Rockwell$17.541,044
14Gowrie$17.17943
15Colo$17.14856
16Mapleton$16.901,114
17George$16.891,106
18Manson$16.871,646
19Fayette$16.851,193
20Adair$16.84792
21Eddyville$16.82965
22Nashua$16.811,515
23Ackley$16.631,538
24Buffalo Center$16.58839
25Roland$16.511,376
26Eldon$16.42788
27Monona$16.411,462
28Aplington$16.341,088
29Panora$16.141,096
30Mechanicsville$16.12974
31Dike$15.941,293
32Armstrong$15.87847
33Holstein$15.811,475
34State Center$15.801,403
35Pleasantville$15.801,696
36Earlham$15.551,411
37Shell Rock$15.521,265
38Brooklyn$15.491,474
39Newell$15.49850
40Mount Ayr$15.321,616
41Riceville$15.31807
42Neola$15.30917
43Sidney$15.191,048
44Gilbertville$15.15792
45Logan$15.051,351
46Griswold$15.01975
47Readlyn$14.99857
48Tripoli$14.991,208
49Woodbine$14.801,707
50Bedford$14.661,474
51Lenox$14.651,355
52Manning$14.621,390
53Dunlap$14.561,030
54Maxwell$14.50862
55Coon Rapids$14.491,258
56Nora Springs$14.251,330
57Kingsley$14.251,394
58Urbana$14.201,635
59Primghar$14.18893
60Sheffield$14.161,123
61Hartley$14.111,584
62Woodward$14.051,383
63Guthrie Center$14.041,579
64Ossian$13.88777
65Alton$13.871,248
66Montezuma$13.791,421
67Victor$13.72852
68Gilbert$13.711,397
69Edgewood$13.64908
70Donnellson$13.63859
71Gladbrook$13.58775
72Clarksville$13.531,238
73Avoca$13.511,685
74Janesville$13.431,052
75Glidden$13.431,140
76Calmar$13.391,100
77Baxter$13.32983
78Manly$13.291,233
79Anita$13.28953
80Conrad$13.231,098
81Springville$13.221,161
82Keota$13.21888
83Shellsburg$13.20987
84De Soto$13.18937
85Treynor$13.031,104
86Odebolt$13.00967
87Akron$12.931,545
88Danville$12.87910
89Underwood$12.85973
90New Sharon$12.801,249
91Slater$12.791,626
92Malvern$12.791,056
93Buffalo$12.681,163
94Sanborn$12.621,463
95West Point$12.39903
96Hinton$12.38959
97Preston$12.38940
98Remsen$12.321,681
99Hubbard$12.30837
100Carson$12.22772
101Reinbeck$12.101,673
102Winfield$12.041,006
103Elkhart$12.001,079
104Afton$11.96864
105Tabor$11.88983
106Wellman$11.881,531
107Aurelia$11.84970
108Blue Grass$11.791,707
109Palo$11.491,554
110West Bend$11.42770
111Prairie City$11.381,722
112Marcus$11.311,069
113Dunkerton$11.30840
114Mediapolis$11.271,679
115Melcher-Dallas$11.211,193
116University Heights$11.121,188
117Hamburg$10.95863
118Clarence$10.94991
119Farley$10.911,723
120Oakland$10.851,519
121Moville$10.671,707
122Cambridge$10.53844
123Swisher$10.39909
124Schleswig$10.39820
125Melbourne$10.38771
126Elk Run Heights$10.331,061
127Walcott$10.291,556
128Fredericksburg$10.27983
129Lake Park$10.251,155
130Inwood$10.22962
131Central City$10.011,254
132Newhall$9.99887
133Graettinger$9.81810
134Long Grove$9.59849
135Lake View$9.391,120
136Paullina$9.21979
137Fairbank$9.001,133
138Winthrop$8.94814
139Walford$8.721,357
140Keosauqua$8.58944
141Princeton$8.24917
142Lone Tree$8.131,341
143Riverside$8.021,063
144Hills$7.94911
145Larchwood$7.52954
146North English$7.491,030
147Sloan$7.491,078
148Sully$7.41891
149Fruitland$7.21928
150Lawton$7.10949
151Wayland$7.07935
152Arnolds Park$4.951,214

The $8.10 limit

Lake Park’s general levy is $7.56 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.54 below the limit.4 784 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $7.86 · FY26 $7.79 · FY27 $7.56 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $2.70 more5

  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.17 · $115,000
  • Debt Service Levy$1.13 · $113,288
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$0.39 · $38,000

Tax increment financing (TIF)

$1.9M of taxable value in Lake Park is in TIF districts’ increment (2% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.6 It budgeted $38,842 in TIF revenue for FY25.

$33,424

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 $17,603 of the city’s own.

  • Harris Lake Park schools$14,212
  • Dickinson County$3,667
YearTIF revenue
FY17$9,675
FY18$12,747
FY19$21,314
FY20$28,024
FY21$31,111
FY22$32,332
FY23$33,424
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY17$9,675
FY18$12,747
FY19$21,314
FY20$28,024
FY21$31,111
FY22$32,332
FY23$33,424

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$740,69474%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$115,00011%
  • Debt Service Levy$113,28811%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$38,0004%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Lake Park’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 68¢ of every dollar68¢Public Works: 10¢ of every dollar10¢Public Safety: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Culture and Recreation: 5¢ of every dollarGeneral Government: 4¢ of every dollarEverything else: 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 151 Iowa cities closest in size (770–1,700 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (151)
Business Type / Enterprise68¢40¢
Public Works10¢13¢
Public Safety9¢10¢
Culture and Recreation5¢9¢
General Government4¢8¢
Everything else4¢9¢

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.

  • Capital Projects$3.0M61%
  • Public Works$600,83312%
  • Public Safety$502,89010%
  • Culture and Recreation$369,8387%
  • General Government$274,2426%
  • Debt Service$113,2882%
  • Community and Economic Development$91,0592%
  • Health and Social Services$6,0000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($3.7M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$691,064$638,241
Public Safety$401,109$313,930
Health and Social Services$7,000$4,090
General Government$210,037$293,747
Debt Service$191,372$1.3M
Culture and Recreation$309,390$300,962
Community and Economic Development$103,241$65,469
Capital Projects$750,950$0
Business Type / Enterprise$3.2M$3.3M

What it spent each year

FY24 left out8

$10.5M
$6.5M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Lake Park owes

$6.5M at June 30, 2026: $5,587 per resident. 96th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).9

$6.5M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$6.5M$5,587
2025$5.8M$4,949
2024$6.2M$5,284
2023$6.3M$5,366
2022$6.0M$5,163
2021$663,389$568
2020$926,328$794
2019$1.2M$1,039
2018$1.5M$1,263
2017$1.6M$1,355
2016$1.8M$1,580
2015$2.1M$1,799
2014$2.8M$2,429
2013$2.4M$2,043
2012$2.6M$2,255
2011$2.9M$2,464
2010$2.2M$1,873
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$6.5M$5,587
2025$5.8M$4,949
2024$6.2M$5,284
2023$6.3M$5,366
2022$6.0M$5,163
2021$663,389$568
2020$926,328$794
2019$1.2M$1,039
2018$1.5M$1,263
2017$1.6M$1,355
2016$1.8M$1,580
2015$2.1M$1,799
2014$2.8M$2,429
2013$2.4M$2,043
2012$2.6M$2,255
2011$2.9M$2,464
2010$2.2M$1,873

Up 198% since 2010.

The 5% limit10

General obligation debt is $885,000, 10% of the limit of about $8.8M (5% of $176.5M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

4 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsConstruct mechanical sewer plant2041$5.2M
General ObligationCulvert repair. M27 road construction2040$885,000
Revenue BondsSRF Sponsor Project in construction.2041$480,000
General ObligationCulvert replacement2033$0

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. Lake Park’s latest audit has them: Annual Examination, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).

Audits12

The latest: Annual Examination for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Tuesday, November 25, 2025, by a CPA firm.

13 earlier reports for Lake Park

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: $165,737 in FY25, up 16% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 7% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$159,773$160,592$164,842$165,737

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.

$323,502
$31,994
  • State grants$24,49477%
  • Iowa Department of Natural Resources$7,50023%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$76,086
FY20$18,122
FY21$49,133
FY22$323,502
FY23$15,254
FY24$106,424
FY25$31,994
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$76,086
FY20$18,122
FY21$49,133
FY22$323,502
FY23$15,254
FY24$106,424
FY25$31,994

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−7%$142,750 → $165,737, up 16% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 7% 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 43% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 14% more.

$358,383

Federal grants, for comparison: $90,853 in FY25.

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)14.

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

Most recent: November 3, 2026

Ballot measures · 1

Passed Yes 51.1% (286) · No 48.9% (274)

Passes with more yes votes than no.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Lake Park; 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.

  • Lake Park City Council At-Large
    Now held by Whitney Thiessen
  • Lake Park Mayor
    Now held by Matthew Carstensen

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

Past ballot measures

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

David D. Rowley (Sen. 5)John H. Wills (Rep. 10)

U.S. House:District 4

Dickinson CountyHarris-Lake Park schools