Display
Language
About accessibility
Language
Display
Sign in

Local taxes › Dickinson County › Superior

City

Superior

Dickinson County · How cities work

$2,120 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($25.15 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$810 a yearof that goes to the city ($9.58 per $1,000)
$81,697property taxes the city levies, FY27
$199,360city 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.

  • Brady KipferSuperior Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Breann AllenSuperior City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Julie NelsonSuperior City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Mark D CampbellSuperior City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Trinity WoodyardSuperior City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Arnold RinkeSuperior City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Terry BuchmanSuperior 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 Superior

Homes and businesses in most of Superior pay a combined $28.94 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, $9.58. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$24.95$8.10
FY21$25.04$8.10
FY22$27.21$8.10
FY23$27.06$8.10
FY24$26.61$9.20
FY25$27.25$8.94
FY26$29.26$9.47
FY27$25.15$9.58
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$24.95$8.10
FY21$25.04$8.10
FY22$27.21$8.10
FY23$27.06$8.10
FY24$26.61$9.20
FY25$27.25$8.94
FY26$29.26$9.47
FY27$25.15$9.58

Compared with places this size3

Superior’s city property tax rate of $9.58 per $1,000 is the 66th lowest of 158 Iowa cities with 90–190 people. The middle of the group is $10.36.

Castana: $34.13Brayton: $25.07Hansell: $23.66Harris: $23.13Whitten: $22.65Soldier: $21.92Smithland: $21.12Stanley: $20.69Coin: $19.59Rowan: $19.53Chester: $19.30Bouton: $19.25Ricketts: $19.22Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Derby: $18.13Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Prescott: $16.53Monmouth: $16.41Blockton: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Waterville: $16.25Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Woodburn: $15.59Kamrar: $15.47Goodell: $15.16Marne: $15.03Baldwin: $14.91Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Ferguson: $13.53Lanesboro: $13.53Calumet: $13.16Portsmouth: $13.05Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Clemons: $12.69Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Bridgewater: $12.29Arion: $12.14Webb: $12.10Decatur: $12.08Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92East Peru: $11.89Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Morley: $11.74Ledyard: $11.74Toronto: $11.68Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54College Springs: $11.44Melrose: $11.27Linn Grove: $11.15Promise City: $11.13Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Masonville: $11.00Somers: $10.99Havelock: $10.95Alexander: $10.90Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Woden: $10.68Pacific Junction: $10.56Barnes City: $10.44Stockton: $10.37Randall: $10.35Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24North Washington: $10.23Dawson: $10.19Barnum: $9.96Hartwick: $9.90Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Rutland: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Webster: $9.55Martinsburg: $9.49Larrabee: $9.41Hamilton: $9.35Wiota: $9.32Floris: $9.29Mitchell: $9.22Westphalia: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Welton: $8.86Archer: $8.84Luther: $8.83Fraser: $8.81Macksburg: $8.81Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Thor: $8.38Andover: $8.28Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Carpenter: $8.10Rome: $8.10Westfield: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Morrison: $7.86Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Oyens: $7.86Olds: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Cromwell: $7.81Mcclelland: $7.79Arispe: $7.71Luzerne: $7.69Lidderdale: $7.68Westwood: $7.67Bernard: $7.56Braddyville: $7.49Franklin: $7.31Spragueville: $7.20Weldon: $7.18Brunsville: $6.95Zwingle: $6.93Packwood: $6.77Houghton: $6.73Williamson: $6.72Lincoln: $6.32Gravity: $6.18Ackworth: $5.90Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Harper: $5.29Panorama Park: $4.62Keomah Village: $3.15Mcintire: $2.78Sherrill: $2.66Centralia: $2.41New Liberty: $2.27North Buena Vista: $1.78Superior: $9.58$1.78 lowest$34.13 highestmiddle
See all 158
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Castana$34.13103
2Brayton$25.07138
3Hansell$23.6685
4Harris$23.13145
5Whitten$22.6598
6Soldier$21.92176
7Smithland$21.12184
8Stanley$20.6986
9Coin$19.59171
10Rowan$19.53118
11Chester$19.30134
12Bouton$19.25125
13Ricketts$19.22105
14Garden Grove$19.20173
15Hastings$18.95157
16Swaledale$18.62136
17Derby$18.1389
18Hillsboro$17.68158
19Bristow$17.39139
20Woolstock$17.26141
21Prescott$16.53186
22Monmouth$16.41129
23Blockton$16.37123
24Geneva$16.25137
25Waterville$16.25112
26Little Sioux$15.74170
27Moorhead$15.68186
28Woodburn$15.59133
29Kamrar$15.47178
30Goodell$15.16139
31Marne$15.03109
32Baldwin$14.9199
33Davis City$14.45178
34Lucas$14.40176
35Westgate$14.05190
36Palmer$13.89137
37Ayrshire$13.55128
38Searsboro$13.55129
39Ferguson$13.5398
40Lanesboro$13.53112
41Calumet$13.16144
42Portsmouth$13.05187
43Delaware$12.86139
44Patterson$12.84176
45Clemons$12.69135
46Millersburg$12.40135
47Aurora$12.40165
48Bridgewater$12.29145
49Arion$12.1499
50Webb$12.10139
51Decatur$12.08174
52Shambaugh$11.98161
53Lone Rock$11.92143
54East Peru$11.89119
55Henderson$11.85140
56Parnell$11.78190
57Reasnor$11.76157
58Morley$11.7494
59Ledyard$11.74118
60Toronto$11.68101
61Exline$11.60157
62Beaman$11.54155
63College Springs$11.44172
64Melrose$11.27110
65Linn Grove$11.15155
66Promise City$11.1391
67Randolph$11.08183
68Leighton$11.07153
69Rake$11.05179
70Masonville$11.0098
71Somers$10.99121
72Havelock$10.95127
73Alexander$10.90165
74Lambs Grove$10.78174
75Wallingford$10.75154
76Woden$10.68183
77Pacific Junction$10.5699
78Barnes City$10.44152
79Stockton$10.37171
80Randall$10.35156
81Meriden$10.28175
82Drakesville$10.24170
83North Washington$10.23107
84Dawson$10.19110
85Barnum$9.96186
86Hartwick$9.9091
87Clare$9.81133
88Tingley$9.81146
89Rutland$9.65116
90Van Wert$9.62175
91Rock Falls$9.61143
92Kirkville$9.59159
93Superior$9.58127
94Webster$9.5594
95Martinsburg$9.49109
96Larrabee$9.41116
97Hamilton$9.35125
98Wiota$9.3291
99Floris$9.29119
100Mitchell$9.22118
101Westphalia$9.18133
102Elberon$9.16178
103Blairsburg$8.93175
104Prairieburg$8.91156
105Welton$8.86124
106Archer$8.84116
107Luther$8.83147
108Fraser$8.81107
109Macksburg$8.81103
110Moorland$8.61169
111Pilot Mound$8.54155
112Thor$8.38182
113Andover$8.28106
114Thurman$8.26162
115Boxholm$8.11177
116Carpenter$8.1092
117Rome$8.10112
118Westfield$8.10121
119Vincent$8.09125
120Morrison$7.86101
121Mount Auburn$7.86162
122Haverhill$7.86164
123Oyens$7.8688
124Olds$7.86174
125Castalia$7.86141
126Dickens$7.86146
127Rose Hill$7.86156
128West Chester$7.82147
129Cromwell$7.81104
130Mcclelland$7.79147
131Arispe$7.7195
132Luzerne$7.69111
133Lidderdale$7.68162
134Westwood$7.6796
135Bernard$7.56117
136Braddyville$7.49142
137Franklin$7.31133
138Spragueville$7.2092
139Weldon$7.18134
140Brunsville$6.95128
141Zwingle$6.9386
142Packwood$6.77186
143Houghton$6.73129
144Williamson$6.72126
145Lincoln$6.32119
146Gravity$6.18149
147Ackworth$5.90117
148Oakland Acres$5.88178
149Springbrook$5.79145
150Maysville$5.77155
151Harper$5.29117
152Panorama Park$4.62142
153Keomah Village$3.15107
154Mcintire$2.78115
155Sherrill$2.66176
156Centralia$2.41117
157New Liberty$2.27141
158North Buena Vista$1.78107

The $8.10 limit

Superior’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 $7.86 · FY26 $8.10 · FY27 $8.10 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $1.48 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.39 · $11,766
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$0.09 · $752

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$68,53785%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$11,76615%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$7521%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Superior’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 50¢ of every dollar50¢General Government: 24¢ of every dollar24¢Public Works: 18¢ of every dollar18¢Public Safety: 5¢ of every dollarCommunity and Economic Development: 2¢ of every dollarEverything else: 1¢ 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 158 Iowa cities closest in size (90–190 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (158)
Business Type / Enterprise50¢25¢
General Government24¢24¢
Public Works18¢27¢
Public Safety5¢10¢
Community and Economic Development2¢1¢
Everything else1¢8¢

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$93,65047%
  • Public Works$64,04532%
  • Public Safety$21,41511%
  • Community and Economic Development$15,0008%
  • Culture and Recreation$4,0002%
  • Health and Social Services$1,2501%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($173,435 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$92,500$52,297
Public Safety$15,140$15,094
Health and Social Services$2,400$1,450
General Government$71,350$67,161
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$3,000$893
Community and Economic Development$7,000$4,518
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$158,195$110,062

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$251,475
$236,126

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Superior owes

$508,385 at June 30, 2026: $3,851 per resident. 198th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$731,064
$508,385
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$508,385$3,851
2025$523,809$3,968
2024$538,738$4,081
2023$553,185$4,191
2022$567,175$4,297
2021$580,718$4,399
2020$593,830$4,499
2019$606,518$4,595
2018$618,808$4,688
2017$634,618$4,808
2016$653,655$4,952
2015$671,907$5,090
2014$690,041$5,228
2013$706,395$5,351
2012$677,250$5,131
2011$731,064$5,538
2010$169,669$1,285
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$508,385$3,851
2025$523,809$3,968
2024$538,738$4,081
2023$553,185$4,191
2022$567,175$4,297
2021$580,718$4,399
2020$593,830$4,499
2019$606,518$4,595
2018$618,808$4,688
2017$634,618$4,808
2016$653,655$4,952
2015$671,907$5,090
2014$690,041$5,228
2013$706,395$5,351
2012$677,250$5,131
2011$731,064$5,538
2010$169,669$1,285

Up 200% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $677,992 (5% of $13.6M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

3 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsUSDA Sewer Loan #022051$431,140
Revenue BondsUSDA Sewer Loan #042051$43,730
Revenue BondsIowa Lakes Regional Water - Water Loan2042$33,515

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 balances9. Superior’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2019 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Sunday, June 30, 2019 (PDF), released Wednesday, August 19, 2020, by the Auditor of State.

1 earlier report for Superior

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? 11

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: $23,206 in FY25, up 19% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 5% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$16,623$16,583$17,021$17,114
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$3,778$3,306$6,528$6,092

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.

$2,828
$357
  • Liquor Profits$357100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$390
FY20$390
FY21$2,828
FY22$0
FY23$390
FY24$357
FY25$357
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$390
FY20$390
FY21$2,828
FY22$0
FY23$390
FY24$357
FY25$357

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−11%$15,341 → $17,114, up 12% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 11% less
  • Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)+17%$4,163 → $6,092, up 46% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 17% more

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 39% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 11% more.

$47,915

Federal grants, for comparison: $8,897 in FY23.

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)12.

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 · 3

3 seats: the top 3 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Superior; 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.

  • Superior City Council At-Large (2 seats)
    Now held by Terry Buchman, Arnold Rinke
  • Superior Mayor
    Now held by Brady Kipfer

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here13.

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 ballot14.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress15

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

U.S. House:District 4

Dickinson CountyEstherville Lincoln Central schoolsSpirit Lake schools