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Local taxes › Fayette County › Wadena

City

Wadena

Fayette County · How cities work

$2,600 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($30.86 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$980 a yearof that goes to the city ($11.65 per $1,000)
$54,566property taxes the city levies, FY27
$174,512city 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.

  • Amber ChopardWadena City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Kevin GageWadena City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Randall WeberWadena Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Cameron McDowellWadena City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Richard L. AeschlimanWadena City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Russell MedberryWadena 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 Wadena

Homes and businesses in most of Wadena pay a combined $30.86 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Fayette County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $11.65. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$28.30$9.82
FY21$29.43$10.34
FY22$29.72$10.17
FY23$29.63$10.17
FY24$30.07$10.50
FY25$32.41$12.03
FY26$31.76$11.89
FY27$30.86$11.65
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$28.30$9.82
FY21$29.43$10.34
FY22$29.72$10.17
FY23$29.63$10.17
FY24$30.07$10.50
FY25$32.41$12.03
FY26$31.76$11.89
FY27$30.86$11.65

Compared with places this size3

Wadena’s city property tax rate of $11.65 per $1,000 is the 100th highest of 200 Iowa cities with 130–300 people. The middle of the group is $11.63.

Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Fenton: $22.05Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Coin: $19.59Chester: $19.30Garden Grove: $19.20Fort Atkinson: $19.19Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Cumberland: $18.42Jamaica: $18.24Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Pisgah: $17.09Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Prescott: $16.53Montour: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Kamrar: $15.47Greeley: $15.23Goodell: $15.16Riverton: $14.94Marathon: $14.89Ladora: $14.74Magnolia: $14.68Bagley: $14.63Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Halbur: $14.37Crystal Lake: $14.36Kimballton: $14.27Steamboat Rock: $14.19Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Fertile: $13.70Stockport: $13.68Kellerton: $13.60Quimby: $13.58Meservey: $13.43Persia: $13.41Leland: $13.31Harcourt: $13.21Calumet: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Silver City: $12.87Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Clemons: $12.69Blencoe: $12.57Williams: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Clearfield: $12.50Kensett: $12.47Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Modale: $12.34Bridgewater: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Cushing: $12.18Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Macedonia: $12.12Webb: $12.10Paton: $12.09Decatur: $12.08Kiron: $12.03Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Liscomb: $11.96Lone Rock: $11.92New Providence: $11.88Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Joice: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Cantril: $11.69Exline: $11.60Cincinnati: $11.57Beaman: $11.54Delta: $11.52Westside: $11.45College Springs: $11.44Holland: $11.37Mallard: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Frederika: $10.99Alexander: $10.90Goose Lake: $10.89Yale: $10.85Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Hornick: $10.74Woden: $10.68Cleghorn: $10.49Barnes City: $10.44Lytton: $10.38Stockton: $10.37Rhodes: $10.36Randall: $10.35Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $10.28Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24Bronson: $10.14Hancock: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Melvin: $10.05Defiance: $10.05Floyd: $10.02Barnum: $9.96Panama: $9.85Grafton: $9.83Tingley: $9.81Ionia: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Luxemburg: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Elberon: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Luther: $8.83Harvey: $8.71Washta: $8.65Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Rowley: $8.31South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Bertram: $8.10Fostoria: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Lockridge: $7.92Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Mcclelland: $7.79Lidderdale: $7.68Pulaski: $7.58Fredonia: $7.55Braddyville: $7.49Harpers Ferry: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Weldon: $7.18Packwood: $6.77Libertyville: $6.60Keswick: $6.49Crawfordsville: $6.44Gravity: $6.18Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Panorama Park: $4.62Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87Sherrill: $2.66Rickardsville: $2.27New Liberty: $2.27Wadena: $11.65$2.27 lowest$25.07 highestmiddle
See all 200
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Brayton$25.07138
2Harris$23.13145
3Fenton$22.05250
4Soldier$21.92176
5Coulter$21.80220
6Chelsea$21.61207
7Smithland$21.12184
8Volga$20.23200
9Alta Vista$19.88219
10Arthur$19.86218
11Coin$19.59171
12Chester$19.30134
13Garden Grove$19.20173
14Fort Atkinson$19.19300
15Hastings$18.95157
16Swaledale$18.62136
17Cumberland$18.42248
18Jamaica$18.24196
19Hillsboro$17.68158
20Bristow$17.39139
21Woolstock$17.26141
22Pisgah$17.09248
23Lakota$16.84261
24Marble Rock$16.78258
25Auburn$16.65253
26Prescott$16.53186
27Montour$16.37199
28Geneva$16.25137
29Corwith$16.22259
30Deep River$16.18243
31Waucoma$16.17235
32Little Sioux$15.74170
33Moorhead$15.68186
34Onslow$15.63198
35Linden$15.62206
36Kamrar$15.47178
37Greeley$15.23216
38Goodell$15.16139
39Riverton$14.94243
40Marathon$14.89221
41Ladora$14.74223
42Magnolia$14.68194
43Bagley$14.63230
44Davis City$14.45178
45Lucas$14.40176
46Halbur$14.37268
47Crystal Lake$14.36243
48Kimballton$14.27281
49Steamboat Rock$14.19261
50Westgate$14.05190
51Palmer$13.89137
52Fertile$13.70300
53Stockport$13.68272
54Kellerton$13.60241
55Quimby$13.58245
56Meservey$13.43212
57Persia$13.41292
58Leland$13.31240
59Harcourt$13.21257
60Calumet$13.16144
61Ridgeway$13.10261
62Farmersburg$13.09264
63Portsmouth$13.05187
64Clutier$13.03209
65Silver City$12.87244
66Delaware$12.86139
67Patterson$12.84176
68Martelle$12.83250
69Malcom$12.82257
70Clemons$12.69135
71Blencoe$12.57223
72Williams$12.57299
73Maurice$12.56271
74Clearfield$12.50277
75Kensett$12.47256
76Millersburg$12.40135
77Aurora$12.40165
78Modale$12.34284
79Bridgewater$12.29145
80Blakesburg$12.21273
81Cushing$12.18225
82Hanlontown$12.17200
83Stout$12.14194
84Macedonia$12.12266
85Webb$12.10139
86Paton$12.09217
87Decatur$12.08174
88Kiron$12.03262
89Rembrandt$12.03199
90Shambaugh$11.98161
91Liscomb$11.96292
92Lone Rock$11.92143
93New Providence$11.88233
94Henderson$11.85140
95Parnell$11.78190
96Reasnor$11.76157
97Joice$11.72206
98Atalissa$11.71287
99Cantril$11.69224
100Wadena$11.65201
101Exline$11.60157
102Cincinnati$11.57280
103Beaman$11.54155
104Delta$11.52257
105Westside$11.45283
106College Springs$11.44172
107Holland$11.37261
108Mallard$11.28255
109Renwick$11.16228
110Linn Grove$11.15155
111Dundee$11.14193
112Randolph$11.08183
113Leighton$11.07153
114Rake$11.05179
115Frederika$10.99206
116Alexander$10.90165
117Goose Lake$10.89250
118Yale$10.85265
119Lambs Grove$10.78174
120Wallingford$10.75154
121Hornick$10.74255
122Woden$10.68183
123Cleghorn$10.49235
124Barnes City$10.44152
125Lytton$10.38274
126Stockton$10.37171
127Rhodes$10.36269
128Randall$10.35156
129Dedham$10.28221
130Deloit$10.28246
131Protivin$10.28264
132Meriden$10.28175
133Drakesville$10.24170
134Bronson$10.14294
135Hancock$10.13199
136La Motte$10.09235
137Melvin$10.05196
138Defiance$10.05248
139Floyd$10.02297
140Barnum$9.96186
141Panama$9.85234
142Grafton$9.83212
143Tingley$9.81146
144Ionia$9.65220
145Van Wert$9.62175
146Rock Falls$9.61143
147Kirkville$9.59159
148Luxemburg$9.58240
149Rippey$9.42217
150Elberon$9.16178
151Dixon$9.03204
152Blairsburg$8.93175
153Prairieburg$8.91156
154Oakville$8.89198
155Luther$8.83147
156Harvey$8.71242
157Washta$8.65206
158Moorland$8.61169
159Pilot Mound$8.54155
160Ollie$8.44196
161Thor$8.38182
162Rowley$8.31264
163South English$8.27196
164Thurman$8.26162
165Boxholm$8.11177
166Bertram$8.10267
167Fostoria$8.10229
168Low Moor$8.10242
169Laurel$8.10214
170Lineville$8.10194
171Lockridge$7.92245
172Mount Auburn$7.86162
173Haverhill$7.86164
174Grand River$7.86192
175Olds$7.86174
176Castalia$7.86141
177Dickens$7.86146
178Rose Hill$7.86156
179West Chester$7.82147
180Mcclelland$7.79147
181Lidderdale$7.68162
182Pulaski$7.58259
183Fredonia$7.55227
184Braddyville$7.49142
185Harpers Ferry$7.49273
186Alvord$7.41216
187Weldon$7.18134
188Packwood$6.77186
189Libertyville$6.60278
190Keswick$6.49238
191Crawfordsville$6.44278
192Gravity$6.18149
193Oakland Acres$5.88178
194Springbrook$5.79145
195Maysville$5.77155
196Panorama Park$4.62142
197Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
198Sherrill$2.66176
199Rickardsville$2.27204
200New Liberty$2.27141

The $8.10 limit

Wadena’s general levy is $8.13 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.03 above the limit; it has to come down in steps.4 194 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.37 · FY26 $8.37 · FY27 $8.13 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $3.52 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$2.76 · $12,717
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$0.58 · $2,669
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$0.19 · $883

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$37,50870%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$12,71724%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$2,6695%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$8832%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Wadena’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 43¢ of every dollar43¢General Government: 17¢ of every dollar17¢Public Safety: 17¢ of every dollar17¢Culture and Recreation: 12¢ of every dollar12¢Public Works: 12¢ of every dollar12¢Everything 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 198 Iowa cities closest in size (130–300 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (198)
Business Type / Enterprise43¢34¢
General Government17¢20¢
Public Safety17¢10¢
Culture and Recreation12¢8¢
Public Works12¢22¢
Everything else<1¢1¢

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$50,90029%
  • Public Safety$47,29827%
  • Culture and Recreation$43,10525%
  • Public Works$33,00019%
  • Community and Economic Development$2090%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($122,440 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$27,550$26,178
Public Safety$38,720$31,973
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$33,430$29,209
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$29,255$20,812
Community and Economic Development$300$209
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$98,140$73,597

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$223,700

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Wadena owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.7

$161,000
$0
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$11,000$53
2024$22,000$105
2023$32,000$153
2022$42,000$201
2021$62,000$297
2020$62,000$297
2019$71,000$340
2018$80,000$383
2017$89,000$426
2016$97,000$464
2015$105,000$502
2014$113,000$541
2013$121,000$579
2012$134,000$641
2011$148,000$708
2010$161,000$770
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$11,000$53
2024$22,000$105
2023$32,000$153
2022$42,000$201
2021$62,000$297
2020$62,000$297
2019$71,000$340
2018$80,000$383
2017$89,000$426
2016$97,000$464
2015$105,000$502
2014$113,000$541
2013$121,000$579
2012$134,000$641
2011$148,000$708
2010$161,000$770

Down 100% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $490,858 (5% of $9.8M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. Wadena’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021 (PDF), released Thursday, July 28, 2022, by a CPA firm.

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: $17,921 in FY25, down 11% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 29% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$18,056$17,351$17,824$17,921

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.

$4,933
$425
  • State grants$425100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$523
FY20$924
FY21$461
FY22$431
FY23$474
FY24$4,933
FY25$425
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$523
FY20$924
FY21$461
FY22$431
FY23$474
FY24$4,933
FY25$425

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−29%$20,228 → $17,921, down 11% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 29% 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 15% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 9% less.

$23,374
$22,496

Federal grants, for comparison: $17,943 in FY23.

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)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 · 2

2 seats: the top 2 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Wadena; 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.

  • Wadena City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Russell Medberry, Richard L. Aeschliman, Cameron McDowell
  • Wadena Mayor
    Now held by Randall Weber

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

Dan Zumbach (Sen. 34)Chad Ingels (Rep. 68)

U.S. House:District 2

Fayette CountyValley schools