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Local taxes › Dubuque County › Holy Cross

City

Holy Cross

Dubuque County · How cities work

$2,080 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($24.70 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$500 a yearof that goes to the city ($5.91 per $1,000)
$86,062property taxes the city levies, FY27
$907,660city 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.

  • Gayle LangelHoly Cross Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Gayle LangelHoly Cross City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Rachel JasperHoly Cross City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Ben LudovissyHoly Cross City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Kenny PotterHoly Cross City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Luke MaiersHoly Cross 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 Holy Cross

Homes and businesses in most of Holy Cross pay a combined $24.70 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Dubuque County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $5.91. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$25.79$6.63
FY21$25.36$6.58
FY22$25.02$6.43
FY23$24.71$6.58
FY24$24.60$6.77
FY25$24.04$0.00
FY26$24.13$5.87
FY27$24.70$5.91
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$25.79$6.63
FY21$25.36$6.58
FY22$25.02$6.43
FY23$24.71$6.58
FY24$24.60$6.77
FY25$24.04$0.00
FY26$24.13$5.87
FY27$24.70$5.91

Compared with places this size3

Holy Cross’s city property tax rate of $5.91 per $1,000 is the 7th lowest of 201 Iowa cities with 230–520 people. The middle of the group is $12.57.

Stanhope: $29.10Rolfe: $22.67Fenton: $22.05Elliott: $21.61Charter Oak: $21.32Oxford Junction: $20.84Earling: $20.47Pomeroy: $19.60Fort Atkinson: $19.19Salem: $19.15Cumberland: $18.42Massena: $18.23Elma: $17.82Callender: $17.78Casey: $17.72Dows: $17.70Vail: $17.66Ringsted: $17.65Emerson: $17.54Thompson: $17.25Ashton: $17.17Pierson: $17.12Burt: $17.10Pisgah: $17.09Latimer: $16.96Lohrville: $16.95Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Mccallsburg: $16.58Whittemore: $16.54Irwin: $16.46Titonka: $16.45Truro: $16.34Lewis: $16.25Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Duncombe: $16.10Bayard: $16.05Scranton: $16.01Granville: $16.00Minburn: $15.75Peterson: $15.27Russell: $15.18Zearing: $14.99Arlington: $14.98Riverton: $14.94Maynard: $14.85Plainfield: $14.84Ryan: $14.84Otho: $14.82Humeston: $14.80Gilmore City: $14.60Sabula: $14.38Garrison: $14.38Halbur: $14.37Lorimor: $14.36Crystal Lake: $14.36Collins: $14.32Kimballton: $14.27Ocheyedan: $14.22Steamboat Rock: $14.19Garwin: $14.08Farragut: $14.07Mystic: $14.01Lime Springs: $13.95Dow City: $13.94Wesley: $13.91Diagonal: $13.91Bussey: $13.83Mondamin: $13.82Livermore: $13.78Fertile: $13.70Stockport: $13.68Kellerton: $13.60Albion: $13.58Quimby: $13.58Lamont: $13.57New Albin: $13.55Persia: $13.41Lawler: $13.39Lacona: $13.38Leland: $13.31Ute: $13.26New Market: $13.25Plymouth: $13.21Harcourt: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Little Rock: $13.03Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Silver City: $12.87Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Galva: $12.68Martensdale: $12.63Williams: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Norway: $12.53Clearfield: $12.50Kensett: $12.47Mccausland: $12.45Spillville: $12.40Modale: $12.34Mingo: $12.31Brandon: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Bonaparte: $12.17Macedonia: $12.12Hawkeye: $12.11Kiron: $12.03Colesburg: $11.97Liscomb: $11.96New Providence: $11.88Thornton: $11.86Runnells: $11.79Allerton: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Kelley: $11.69Orient: $11.66Ellsworth: $11.57Cincinnati: $11.57Delta: $11.52Terril: $11.48Westside: $11.45Holland: $11.37Churdan: $11.31Mallard: $11.28Miles: $11.28Milton: $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: $10.36Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $10.28Andrew: $10.22Royal: $10.20Bronson: $10.14Rudd: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Defiance: $10.05Floyd: $10.02Panama: $9.85Breda: $9.80Lynnville: $9.68Salix: $9.63Luxemburg: $9.58Farnhamville: $9.18Middletown: $9.16Alleman: $9.12Lester: $8.94Harvey: $8.71Ainsworth: $8.62Rowley: $8.31Bertram: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Nichols: $8.10Luana: $7.98Lockridge: $7.92Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Pulaski: $7.58Beacon: $7.56Sheldahl: $7.56Worthington: $7.50Harpers Ferry: $7.49Marquette: $7.08Columbus City: $6.94Donahue: $6.83Libertyville: $6.60Keswick: $6.49Crawfordsville: $6.44New Virginia: $5.97Conesville: $5.86University Park: $5.27Orleans: $4.13Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87Wahpeton: $3.19West Okoboji: $2.92Holy Cross: $5.91$2.92 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 201
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Stanhope$29.10354
2Rolfe$22.67505
3Fenton$22.05250
4Elliott$21.61328
5Charter Oak$21.32521
6Oxford Junction$20.84424
7Earling$20.47394
8Pomeroy$19.60511
9Fort Atkinson$19.19300
10Salem$19.15380
11Cumberland$18.42248
12Massena$18.23352
13Elma$17.82493
14Callender$17.78361
15Casey$17.72387
16Dows$17.70509
17Vail$17.66383
18Ringsted$17.65346
19Emerson$17.54401
20Thompson$17.25478
21Ashton$17.17434
22Pierson$17.12335
23Burt$17.10404
24Pisgah$17.09248
25Latimer$16.96477
26Lohrville$16.95366
27Lakota$16.84261
28Marble Rock$16.78258
29Auburn$16.65253
30Mccallsburg$16.58356
31Whittemore$16.54478
32Irwin$16.46320
33Titonka$16.45491
34Truro$16.34515
35Lewis$16.25358
36Corwith$16.22259
37Deep River$16.18243
38Waucoma$16.17235
39Duncombe$16.10374
40Bayard$16.05402
41Scranton$16.01496
42Granville$16.00302
43Minburn$15.75317
44Peterson$15.27321
45Russell$15.18475
46Zearing$14.99508
47Arlington$14.98415
48Riverton$14.94243
49Maynard$14.85466
50Plainfield$14.84392
51Ryan$14.84348
52Otho$14.82417
53Humeston$14.80472
54Gilmore City$14.60484
55Sabula$14.38498
56Garrison$14.38345
57Halbur$14.37268
58Lorimor$14.36377
59Crystal Lake$14.36243
60Collins$14.32503
61Kimballton$14.27281
62Ocheyedan$14.22424
63Steamboat Rock$14.19261
64Garwin$14.08469
65Farragut$14.07480
66Mystic$14.01318
67Lime Springs$13.95467
68Dow City$13.94477
69Wesley$13.91382
70Diagonal$13.91331
71Bussey$13.83378
72Mondamin$13.82335
73Livermore$13.78382
74Fertile$13.70300
75Stockport$13.68272
76Kellerton$13.60241
77Albion$13.58444
78Quimby$13.58245
79Lamont$13.57429
80New Albin$13.55435
81Persia$13.41292
82Lawler$13.39392
83Lacona$13.38336
84Leland$13.31240
85Ute$13.26326
86New Market$13.25381
87Plymouth$13.21368
88Harcourt$13.21257
89Bennett$13.16330
90Ridgeway$13.10261
91Farmersburg$13.09264
92Little Rock$13.03447
93Lehigh$12.97395
94Menlo$12.92347
95Templeton$12.91337
96Silver City$12.87244
97Martelle$12.83250
98Malcom$12.82257
99Galva$12.68416
100Martensdale$12.63413
101Williams$12.57299
102Maurice$12.56271
103Norway$12.53463
104Clearfield$12.50277
105Kensett$12.47256
106Mccausland$12.45314
107Spillville$12.40371
108Modale$12.34284
109Mingo$12.31314
110Brandon$12.29331
111Blakesburg$12.21273
112Bonaparte$12.17357
113Macedonia$12.12266
114Hawkeye$12.11429
115Kiron$12.03262
116Colesburg$11.97379
117Liscomb$11.96292
118New Providence$11.88233
119Thornton$11.86394
120Runnells$11.79467
121Allerton$11.72432
122Atalissa$11.71287
123Kelley$11.69312
124Orient$11.66363
125Ellsworth$11.57495
126Cincinnati$11.57280
127Delta$11.52257
128Terril$11.48310
129Westside$11.45283
130Holland$11.37261
131Churdan$11.31359
132Mallard$11.28255
133Miles$11.28400
134Milton$10.98395
135New Vienna$10.91384
136Letts$10.91358
137Goose Lake$10.89250
138Birmingham$10.87371
139Charlotte$10.86386
140Yale$10.85265
141Batavia$10.77434
142Hornick$10.74255
143Riverdale$10.67385
144Bode$10.64304
145Union$10.58378
146Cleghorn$10.49235
147Calamus$10.47348
148Lovilia$10.46456
149Danbury$10.43315
150Lytton$10.38274
151Stacyville$10.36436
152Rhodes$10.36269
153Deloit$10.28246
154Protivin$10.28264
155Andrew$10.22374
156Royal$10.20379
157Bronson$10.14294
158Rudd$10.13339
159La Motte$10.09235
160Defiance$10.05248
161Floyd$10.02297
162Panama$9.85234
163Breda$9.80492
164Lynnville$9.68382
165Salix$9.63303
166Luxemburg$9.58240
167Farnhamville$9.18364
168Middletown$9.16365
169Alleman$9.12439
170Lester$8.94309
171Harvey$8.71242
172Ainsworth$8.62511
173Rowley$8.31264
174Bertram$8.10267
175Grandview$8.10431
176Lost Nation$8.10425
177Low Moor$8.10242
178Nichols$8.10317
179Luana$7.98303
180Lockridge$7.92245
181Delhi$7.81438
182Klemme$7.74429
183Pulaski$7.58259
184Beacon$7.56434
185Sheldahl$7.56312
186Worthington$7.50374
187Harpers Ferry$7.49273
188Marquette$7.08434
189Columbus City$6.94385
190Donahue$6.83336
191Libertyville$6.60278
192Keswick$6.49238
193Crawfordsville$6.44278
194New Virginia$5.97499
195Holy Cross$5.91348
196Conesville$5.86350
197University Park$5.27476
198Orleans$4.13503
199Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
200Wahpeton$3.19337
201West Okoboji$2.92311

The $8.10 limit

Holy Cross’s general levy is $3.17 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $4.93 below the limit.4 918 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $6.58 · FY24 $6.77 · FY25 $3.35 · FY26 $3.26 · FY27 $3.17 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $2.74 more5

  • Debt Service Levy$2.74 · $39,942

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$46,12054%
  • Debt Service Levy$39,94246%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Holy Cross’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 66¢ of every dollar66¢Public Works: 13¢ of every dollar13¢General Government: 12¢ of every dollar12¢Debt Service: 5¢ of every dollarCulture and Recreation: 3¢ of every dollarEverything else: 2¢ 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 199 Iowa cities closest in size (230–520 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (199)
Business Type / Enterprise66¢39¢
Public Works13¢20¢
General Government12¢16¢
Debt Service5¢3¢
Culture and Recreation3¢8¢
Everything else2¢11¢

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$630,00069%
  • Public Works$118,50013%
  • General Government$82,7009%
  • Debt Service$40,1104%
  • Culture and Recreation$19,8502%
  • Public Safety$11,0001%
  • Community and Economic Development$5,5001%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($477,000 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$106,500$91,345
Public Safety$8,000$11,861
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$65,850$119,061
Debt Service$37,740$38,240
Culture and Recreation$14,926$19,740
Community and Economic Development$7,000$15,465
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$125,000$120,124

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$432,113
$388,591

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Holy Cross owes

$376,000 at June 30, 2026: $1,056 per resident. 538th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$1.2M
$376,000
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$376,000$1,056
2025$449,000$1,261
2024$517,045$1,452
2023$577,510$1,622
2022$661,092$1,857
2021$739,587$2,077
2020$809,103$2,273
2019$882,943$2,480
2018$957,448$2,689
2017$1.0M$2,897
2016$1.1M$3,134
2015$1.2M$3,415
2014$1.2M$3,502
2013$552,765$1,553
2012$230,000$646
2011$255,000$716
2010$280,000$787
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$376,000$1,056
2025$449,000$1,261
2024$517,045$1,452
2023$577,510$1,622
2022$661,092$1,857
2021$739,587$2,077
2020$809,103$2,273
2019$882,943$2,480
2018$957,448$2,689
2017$1.0M$2,897
2016$1.1M$3,134
2015$1.2M$3,415
2014$1.2M$3,502
2013$552,765$1,553
2012$230,000$646
2011$255,000$716
2010$280,000$787

Up 34% since 2010.

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. Holy Cross’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Monday, March 31, 2025 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Monday, March 31, 2025 (PDF), released Monday, February 9, 2026, by a CPA firm.

1 earlier report for Holy Cross

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: $49,912 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)$47,484$49,554$50,243$49,912

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−17%$47,954 → $49,912, up 4% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 17% 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 28% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 2% more.

$63,493

Federal grants, for comparison: $53,196 in FY22.

Business awards

Every award statewide

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

2 seats: the top 2 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Holy Cross; 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.

  • Holy Cross City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Ben Ludovissy, Luke Maiers, Kenny Potter

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

Mike Klimesh (Sen. 32)Jason Gearhart (Rep. 64)

U.S. House:District 2

Dubuque CountyWestern Dubuque schools