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Local taxes › Dickinson County › Terril

City

Terril

Dickinson County · How cities work

$2,500 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($29.66 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$970 a yearof that goes to the city ($11.48 per $1,000)
$146,713property taxes the city levies, FY27
$577,035city 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.

  • Austin FairchildTerril City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jeri L NissenTerril City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jessie HaffnerTerril City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Julie ThiesenTerril Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Amy NessTerril City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Sara LaidigTerril City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Shawn AdamsTerril 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 Terril

Homes and businesses in most of Terril pay a combined $29.66 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, $11.48. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$25.99$9.49
FY21$26.26$9.49
FY22$30.15$9.49
FY23$30.73$9.49
FY24$28.93$9.49
FY25$31.74$9.25
FY26$28.43$9.93
FY27$29.66$11.48
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$25.99$9.49
FY21$26.26$9.49
FY22$30.15$9.49
FY23$30.73$9.49
FY24$28.93$9.49
FY25$31.74$9.25
FY26$28.43$9.93
FY27$29.66$11.48

Compared with places this size3

Terril’s city property tax rate of $11.48 per $1,000 is the 78th lowest of 195 Iowa cities with 210–460 people. The middle of the group is $12.31.

Stanhope: $29.10Fenton: $22.05Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Elliott: $21.61Oxford Junction: $20.84Earling: $20.47Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Fort Atkinson: $19.19Salem: $19.15Cumberland: $18.42Massena: $18.23Callender: $17.78Casey: $17.72Vail: $17.66Ringsted: $17.65Emerson: $17.54Ashton: $17.17Pierson: $17.12Burt: $17.10Pisgah: $17.09Lohrville: $16.95Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Mccallsburg: $16.58Irwin: $16.46Lewis: $16.25Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Duncombe: $16.10Bayard: $16.05Granville: $16.00Minburn: $15.75Peterson: $15.27Greeley: $15.23Arlington: $14.98Riverton: $14.94Marathon: $14.89Plainfield: $14.84Ryan: $14.84Otho: $14.82Ladora: $14.74Bagley: $14.63Garrison: $14.38Halbur: $14.37Lorimor: $14.36Crystal Lake: $14.36Kimballton: $14.27Ocheyedan: $14.22Steamboat Rock: $14.19Mystic: $14.01Wesley: $13.91Diagonal: $13.91Bussey: $13.83Mondamin: $13.82Livermore: $13.78Fertile: $13.70Stockport: $13.68Kellerton: $13.60Albion: $13.58Quimby: $13.58Lamont: $13.57New Albin: $13.55Meservey: $13.43Persia: $13.41Lawler: $13.39Lacona: $13.38Leland: $13.31Ute: $13.26New Market: $13.25Plymouth: $13.21Harcourt: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Clutier: $13.03Little Rock: $13.03Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Silver City: $12.87Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Galva: $12.68Martensdale: $12.63Blencoe: $12.57Williams: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Norway: $12.53Clearfield: $12.50Kensett: $12.47Mccausland: $12.45Spillville: $12.40Modale: $12.34Mingo: $12.31Brandon: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Cushing: $12.18Bonaparte: $12.17Macedonia: $12.12Hawkeye: $12.11Paton: $12.09Kiron: $12.03Colesburg: $11.97Liscomb: $11.96New Providence: $11.88Thornton: $11.86Allerton: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Cantril: $11.69Kelley: $11.69Orient: $11.66Cincinnati: $11.57Delta: $11.52Westside: $11.45Holland: $11.37Churdan: $11.31Mallard: $11.28Miles: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Milton: $10.98New Vienna: $10.91Letts: $10.91Goose Lake: $10.89Birmingham: $10.87Charlotte: $10.86Yale: $10.85Batavia: $10.77Hornick: $10.74Riverdale: $10.67Bode: $10.64Union: $10.58Cleghorn: $10.49Calamus: $10.47Lovilia: $10.46Danbury: $10.43Lytton: $10.38Stacyville: $10.36Rhodes: $10.36Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $10.28Andrew: $10.22Royal: $10.20Bronson: $10.14Rudd: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Defiance: $10.05Floyd: $10.02Panama: $9.85Grafton: $9.83Lynnville: $9.68Ionia: $9.65Salix: $9.63Luxemburg: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Farnhamville: $9.18Middletown: $9.16Alleman: $9.12Lester: $8.94Harvey: $8.71Rowley: $8.31Bertram: $8.10Fostoria: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Nichols: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Luana: $7.98Lockridge: $7.92Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Pulaski: $7.58Beacon: $7.56Sheldahl: $7.56Fredonia: $7.55Worthington: $7.50Harpers Ferry: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Marquette: $7.08Columbus City: $6.94Donahue: $6.83Libertyville: $6.60Keswick: $6.49Crawfordsville: $6.44Holy Cross: $5.91Conesville: $5.86Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87Wahpeton: $3.19West Okoboji: $2.92Terril: $11.48$2.92 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 195
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Stanhope$29.10354
2Fenton$22.05250
3Coulter$21.80220
4Chelsea$21.61207
5Elliott$21.61328
6Oxford Junction$20.84424
7Earling$20.47394
8Alta Vista$19.88219
9Arthur$19.86218
10Fort Atkinson$19.19300
11Salem$19.15380
12Cumberland$18.42248
13Massena$18.23352
14Callender$17.78361
15Casey$17.72387
16Vail$17.66383
17Ringsted$17.65346
18Emerson$17.54401
19Ashton$17.17434
20Pierson$17.12335
21Burt$17.10404
22Pisgah$17.09248
23Lohrville$16.95366
24Lakota$16.84261
25Marble Rock$16.78258
26Auburn$16.65253
27Mccallsburg$16.58356
28Irwin$16.46320
29Lewis$16.25358
30Corwith$16.22259
31Deep River$16.18243
32Waucoma$16.17235
33Duncombe$16.10374
34Bayard$16.05402
35Granville$16.00302
36Minburn$15.75317
37Peterson$15.27321
38Greeley$15.23216
39Arlington$14.98415
40Riverton$14.94243
41Marathon$14.89221
42Plainfield$14.84392
43Ryan$14.84348
44Otho$14.82417
45Ladora$14.74223
46Bagley$14.63230
47Garrison$14.38345
48Halbur$14.37268
49Lorimor$14.36377
50Crystal Lake$14.36243
51Kimballton$14.27281
52Ocheyedan$14.22424
53Steamboat Rock$14.19261
54Mystic$14.01318
55Wesley$13.91382
56Diagonal$13.91331
57Bussey$13.83378
58Mondamin$13.82335
59Livermore$13.78382
60Fertile$13.70300
61Stockport$13.68272
62Kellerton$13.60241
63Albion$13.58444
64Quimby$13.58245
65Lamont$13.57429
66New Albin$13.55435
67Meservey$13.43212
68Persia$13.41292
69Lawler$13.39392
70Lacona$13.38336
71Leland$13.31240
72Ute$13.26326
73New Market$13.25381
74Plymouth$13.21368
75Harcourt$13.21257
76Bennett$13.16330
77Ridgeway$13.10261
78Farmersburg$13.09264
79Clutier$13.03209
80Little Rock$13.03447
81Lehigh$12.97395
82Menlo$12.92347
83Templeton$12.91337
84Silver City$12.87244
85Martelle$12.83250
86Malcom$12.82257
87Galva$12.68416
88Martensdale$12.63413
89Blencoe$12.57223
90Williams$12.57299
91Maurice$12.56271
92Norway$12.53463
93Clearfield$12.50277
94Kensett$12.47256
95Mccausland$12.45314
96Spillville$12.40371
97Modale$12.34284
98Mingo$12.31314
99Brandon$12.29331
100Blakesburg$12.21273
101Cushing$12.18225
102Bonaparte$12.17357
103Macedonia$12.12266
104Hawkeye$12.11429
105Paton$12.09217
106Kiron$12.03262
107Colesburg$11.97379
108Liscomb$11.96292
109New Providence$11.88233
110Thornton$11.86394
111Allerton$11.72432
112Atalissa$11.71287
113Cantril$11.69224
114Kelley$11.69312
115Orient$11.66363
116Cincinnati$11.57280
117Delta$11.52257
118Terril$11.48310
119Westside$11.45283
120Holland$11.37261
121Churdan$11.31359
122Mallard$11.28255
123Miles$11.28400
124Renwick$11.16228
125Milton$10.98395
126New Vienna$10.91384
127Letts$10.91358
128Goose Lake$10.89250
129Birmingham$10.87371
130Charlotte$10.86386
131Yale$10.85265
132Batavia$10.77434
133Hornick$10.74255
134Riverdale$10.67385
135Bode$10.64304
136Union$10.58378
137Cleghorn$10.49235
138Calamus$10.47348
139Lovilia$10.46456
140Danbury$10.43315
141Lytton$10.38274
142Stacyville$10.36436
143Rhodes$10.36269
144Dedham$10.28221
145Deloit$10.28246
146Protivin$10.28264
147Andrew$10.22374
148Royal$10.20379
149Bronson$10.14294
150Rudd$10.13339
151La Motte$10.09235
152Defiance$10.05248
153Floyd$10.02297
154Panama$9.85234
155Grafton$9.83212
156Lynnville$9.68382
157Ionia$9.65220
158Salix$9.63303
159Luxemburg$9.58240
160Rippey$9.42217
161Farnhamville$9.18364
162Middletown$9.16365
163Alleman$9.12439
164Lester$8.94309
165Harvey$8.71242
166Rowley$8.31264
167Bertram$8.10267
168Fostoria$8.10229
169Grandview$8.10431
170Lost Nation$8.10425
171Low Moor$8.10242
172Nichols$8.10317
173Laurel$8.10214
174Luana$7.98303
175Lockridge$7.92245
176Delhi$7.81438
177Klemme$7.74429
178Pulaski$7.58259
179Beacon$7.56434
180Sheldahl$7.56312
181Fredonia$7.55227
182Worthington$7.50374
183Harpers Ferry$7.49273
184Alvord$7.41216
185Marquette$7.08434
186Columbus City$6.94385
187Donahue$6.83336
188Libertyville$6.60278
189Keswick$6.49238
190Crawfordsville$6.44278
191Holy Cross$5.91348
192Conesville$5.86350
193Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
194Wahpeton$3.19337
195West Okoboji$2.92311

The $8.10 limit

Terril’s general levy is $7.86 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.24 below the limit.4 604 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

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

Outside the limit: $3.62 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$3.48 · $44,199
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$0.14 · $1,802

Tax increment financing (TIF)

$4.1M of taxable value in Terril is in TIF districts’ increment (24% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.6 It budgeted $60,000 in TIF revenue for FY25.

$68,163

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 $46,865 of the city’s own.

  • Graettinger-Terril schools$43,141
  • Dickinson County$7,756
YearTIF revenue
FY16$67,914
FY17$65,689
FY18$65,112
FY19$61,607
FY20$49,999
FY21$39,246
FY22$42,248
FY23$68,163
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$67,914
FY17$65,689
FY18$65,112
FY19$61,607
FY20$49,999
FY21$39,246
FY22$42,248
FY23$68,163

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$100,01368%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$44,19930%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$1,8021%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Terril’s budget goes, FY26

Capital Projects: 55¢ of every dollar55¢Business Type / Enterprise: 16¢ of every dollar16¢Debt Service: 9¢ of every dollar9¢General Government: 7¢ of every dollar7¢Public Works: 7¢ of every dollarEverything else: 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 193 Iowa cities closest in size (210–460 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (193)
Capital Projects55¢3¢
Business Type / Enterprise16¢39¢
Debt Service9¢3¢
General Government7¢17¢
Public Works7¢20¢
Everything else6¢19¢

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.

  • Debt Service$211,50037%
  • General Government$148,00026%
  • Public Works$125,00022%
  • Culture and Recreation$35,0006%
  • Public Safety$30,3355%
  • Community and Economic Development$25,0004%
  • Health and Social Services$2,2000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($202,000 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$73,800$59,829
Public Safety$25,000$29,682
Health and Social Services$1,000$500
General Government$93,200$73,603
Debt Service$65,000$54,167
Culture and Recreation$38,500$25,150
Community and Economic Development$8,500$5,400
Capital Projects$0$23,440
Business Type / Enterprise$217,100$142,706

What it spent each year

FY24 left out8

$2.3M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Terril owes

$2.2M at June 30, 2026: $6,656 per resident. 60th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).9

$2.2M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$2.2M$6,656
2025$1.7M$5,056
2024$782,000$2,341
2023$816,000$2,443
2022$849,000$2,542
2021$881,000$2,638
2020$913,000$2,734
2019$943,000$2,823
2018$973,000$2,913
2017$1.1M$3,228
2016$1.1M$3,395
2015$1.2M$3,554
2014$1.1M$3,249
2013$1.7M$5,015
2012$153,016$458
2011$165,171$495
2010$95,461$286
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$2.2M$6,656
2025$1.7M$5,056
2024$782,000$2,341
2023$816,000$2,443
2022$849,000$2,542
2021$881,000$2,638
2020$913,000$2,734
2019$943,000$2,823
2018$973,000$2,913
2017$1.1M$3,228
2016$1.1M$3,395
2015$1.2M$3,554
2014$1.1M$3,249
2013$1.7M$5,015
2012$153,016$458
2011$165,171$495
2010$95,461$286

Up 2229% since 2010.

The 5% limit10

General obligation debt is $709,000, 59% of the limit of about $1.2M (5% of $24.0M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

4 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsWATER TREATMENT PLANT2045$914,000
Revenue BondsSEWER REHAB AND INSTALLATION OF 3RD LAGOON CELL2039$600,000
General ObligationNEW WATER TREATMENT PLANT2044$597,000
General ObligationFUNDING SEWER REHAB AND INSTALLATION OF 3RD LAGOON CELL2032$112,000

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. Terril’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2022 (PDF).

Audits12

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Thursday, June 30, 2022 (PDF), released Thursday, March 30, 2023, by a CPA firm.

2 earlier reports for Terril

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: $40,673 in FY25, up 4% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 17% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$38,868$37,928$39,192$39,405
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)––$6,293$1,268

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.

$5,684
$1,352
  • CEBA grants$1,26894%
  • State grants$846%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$883
FY20$962
FY21$565
FY22$486
FY23$5,684
FY24$0
FY25$1,352
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$883
FY20$962
FY21$565
FY22$486
FY23$5,684
FY24$0
FY25$1,352

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−20%$39,214 → $39,405, up 0% 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 34% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 7% more.

$109,441

Federal grants, for comparison: $285,186 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 4, 2025

City · 3

2 seats: the top 2 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Terril; 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.

  • Terril City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Amy Ness, Sara Laidig, Shawn Adams
  • Terril Mayor
    Now held by Julie Thiesen

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

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

U.S. House:District 4

Dickinson CountyGraettinger-Terril schools