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Local taxes › Franklin County › Geneva

City

Geneva

Franklin County · How cities work

$3,120 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($37.02 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,370 a yearof that goes to the city ($16.25 per $1,000)
$35,715property taxes the city levies, FY27
$117,816city 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.

  • Ashley RobertsGeneva City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jim ZachariasGeneva City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Kristi DiemerGeneva City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Larry KreimeyerGeneva City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Todd OlmsteadGeneva Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Todd PilchardGeneva City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jesse VietGeneva City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Jimmy ZachariasGeneva City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Mark WhippleGeneva 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 Geneva

Homes and businesses in most of Geneva pay a combined $37.02 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Franklin County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $16.25. Estimate your bill.

  • City of Geneva$16.2544%
  • Agwsr schools$11.7132%
  • Franklin County$5.1114%
  • Iowa Valley Community College$1.705%
  • Franklin General Hospital$1.354%
  • Franklin County Assessor$0.672%
  • Franklin County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.24<1%

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.99$13.79
FY21$37.55$15.19
FY22$37.66$15.04
FY23$37.14$14.72
FY24$35.12$13.93
FY25$36.88$15.50
FY26$36.65$15.58
FY27$37.02$16.25
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.99$13.79
FY21$37.55$15.19
FY22$37.66$15.04
FY23$37.14$14.72
FY24$35.12$13.93
FY25$36.88$15.50
FY26$36.65$15.58
FY27$37.02$16.25

Compared with places this size3

Geneva’s city property tax rate of $16.25 per $1,000 is the 24th highest of 169 Iowa cities with 90–200 people. The middle of the group is $10.37.

Castana: $34.13Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Whitten: $22.65Soldier: $21.92Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Coin: $19.59Rowan: $19.53Chester: $19.30Bouton: $19.25Ricketts: $19.22Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Jamaica: $18.24Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Prescott: $16.53Monmouth: $16.41Blockton: $16.37Montour: $16.37Waterville: $16.25Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Woodburn: $15.59Kamrar: $15.47Goodell: $15.16Marne: $15.03Baldwin: $14.91Magnolia: $14.68Davis 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: $12.29Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Arion: $12.14Webb: $12.10Decatur: $12.08Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92East Peru: $11.89Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Morley: $11.74Ledyard: $11.74Toronto: $11.68Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54College Springs: $11.44Melrose: $11.27Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $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: $10.19Hancock: $10.13Melvin: $10.05Barnum: $9.96Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Rutland: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Superior: $9.58Webster: $9.55Martinsburg: $9.49Larrabee: $9.41Hamilton: $9.35Floris: $9.29Mitchell: $9.22Westphalia: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Welton: $8.86Archer: $8.84Luther: $8.83Fraser: $8.81Macksburg: $8.81Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Andover: $8.28South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Carpenter: $8.10Rome: $8.10Westfield: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Morrison: $7.86Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Grand River: $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: $6.95Packwood: $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: $2.41Rickardsville: $2.27New Liberty: $2.27North Buena Vista: $1.78Geneva: $16.25$1.78 lowest$34.13 highestmiddle
See all 169
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Castana$34.13103
2Brayton$25.07138
3Harris$23.13145
4Whitten$22.6598
5Soldier$21.92176
6Smithland$21.12184
7Volga$20.23200
8Coin$19.59171
9Rowan$19.53118
10Chester$19.30134
11Bouton$19.25125
12Ricketts$19.22105
13Garden Grove$19.20173
14Hastings$18.95157
15Swaledale$18.62136
16Jamaica$18.24196
17Hillsboro$17.68158
18Bristow$17.39139
19Woolstock$17.26141
20Prescott$16.53186
21Monmouth$16.41129
22Blockton$16.37123
23Montour$16.37199
24Geneva$16.25137
25Waterville$16.25112
26Little Sioux$15.74170
27Moorhead$15.68186
28Onslow$15.63198
29Woodburn$15.59133
30Kamrar$15.47178
31Goodell$15.16139
32Marne$15.03109
33Baldwin$14.9199
34Magnolia$14.68194
35Davis City$14.45178
36Lucas$14.40176
37Westgate$14.05190
38Palmer$13.89137
39Ayrshire$13.55128
40Searsboro$13.55129
41Ferguson$13.5398
42Lanesboro$13.53112
43Calumet$13.16144
44Portsmouth$13.05187
45Delaware$12.86139
46Patterson$12.84176
47Clemons$12.69135
48Millersburg$12.40135
49Aurora$12.40165
50Bridgewater$12.29145
51Hanlontown$12.17200
52Stout$12.14194
53Arion$12.1499
54Webb$12.10139
55Decatur$12.08174
56Rembrandt$12.03199
57Shambaugh$11.98161
58Lone Rock$11.92143
59East Peru$11.89119
60Henderson$11.85140
61Parnell$11.78190
62Reasnor$11.76157
63Morley$11.7494
64Ledyard$11.74118
65Toronto$11.68101
66Wadena$11.65201
67Exline$11.60157
68Beaman$11.54155
69College Springs$11.44172
70Melrose$11.27110
71Linn Grove$11.15155
72Dundee$11.14193
73Randolph$11.08183
74Leighton$11.07153
75Rake$11.05179
76Masonville$11.0098
77Somers$10.99121
78Havelock$10.95127
79Alexander$10.90165
80Lambs Grove$10.78174
81Wallingford$10.75154
82Woden$10.68183
83Pacific Junction$10.5699
84Barnes City$10.44152
85Stockton$10.37171
86Randall$10.35156
87Meriden$10.28175
88Drakesville$10.24170
89North Washington$10.23107
90Dawson$10.19110
91Hancock$10.13199
92Melvin$10.05196
93Barnum$9.96186
94Clare$9.81133
95Tingley$9.81146
96Rutland$9.65116
97Van Wert$9.62175
98Rock Falls$9.61143
99Kirkville$9.59159
100Superior$9.58127
101Webster$9.5594
102Martinsburg$9.49109
103Larrabee$9.41116
104Hamilton$9.35125
105Floris$9.29119
106Mitchell$9.22118
107Westphalia$9.18133
108Elberon$9.16178
109Dixon$9.03204
110Blairsburg$8.93175
111Prairieburg$8.91156
112Oakville$8.89198
113Welton$8.86124
114Archer$8.84116
115Luther$8.83147
116Fraser$8.81107
117Macksburg$8.81103
118Moorland$8.61169
119Pilot Mound$8.54155
120Ollie$8.44196
121Thor$8.38182
122Andover$8.28106
123South English$8.27196
124Thurman$8.26162
125Boxholm$8.11177
126Carpenter$8.1092
127Rome$8.10112
128Westfield$8.10121
129Lineville$8.10194
130Vincent$8.09125
131Morrison$7.86101
132Mount Auburn$7.86162
133Haverhill$7.86164
134Grand River$7.86192
135Olds$7.86174
136Castalia$7.86141
137Dickens$7.86146
138Rose Hill$7.86156
139West Chester$7.82147
140Cromwell$7.81104
141Mcclelland$7.79147
142Arispe$7.7195
143Luzerne$7.69111
144Lidderdale$7.68162
145Westwood$7.6796
146Bernard$7.56117
147Braddyville$7.49142
148Franklin$7.31133
149Spragueville$7.2092
150Weldon$7.18134
151Brunsville$6.95128
152Packwood$6.77186
153Houghton$6.73129
154Williamson$6.72126
155Lincoln$6.32119
156Gravity$6.18149
157Ackworth$5.90117
158Oakland Acres$5.88178
159Springbrook$5.79145
160Maysville$5.77155
161Harper$5.29117
162Panorama Park$4.62142
163Keomah Village$3.15107
164Mcintire$2.78115
165Sherrill$2.66176
166Centralia$2.41117
167Rickardsville$2.27204
168New Liberty$2.27141
169North Buena Vista$1.78107

The $8.10 limit

Geneva’s general levy is $7.86 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.24 below the limit.4 588 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

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

Outside the limit: $8.39 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$7.05 · $15,000
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.33 · $2,836

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$16,72148%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$15,00043%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$2,8368%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Geneva’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 32¢ of every dollar32¢Culture and Recreation: 30¢ of every dollar30¢General Government: 18¢ of every dollar18¢Public Safety: 10¢ of every dollar10¢Public Works: 7¢ of every dollar7¢Everything 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 169 Iowa cities closest in size (90–200 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (169)
Business Type / Enterprise32¢26¢
Culture and Recreation30¢8¢
General Government18¢24¢
Public Safety10¢10¢
Public Works7¢26¢
Everything else2¢2¢

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$57,80049%
  • Public Safety$28,86625%
  • Public Works$20,00017%
  • Culture and Recreation$5,9505%
  • Community and Economic Development$4,0003%
  • Health and Social Services$1,2001%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($91,000 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$17,000$68,324
Public Safety$28,525$13,105
Health and Social Services$1,260$0
General Government$59,680$38,028
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$5,450$1,362
Community and Economic Development$5,000$2,442
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$35,000$18,171

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$214,466

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Geneva owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.7

$0
$0
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$0$0
2016$0$0
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$0$0
2016$0$0
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $230,630 (5% of $4.6M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. Geneva’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination Follow-Up, period ending Sunday, March 31, 2019 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination Follow-Up for the period ending Sunday, March 31, 2019 (PDF), released Monday, March 9, 2020, by the Auditor of State.

1 earlier report for Geneva

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: $11,902 in FY25, down 10% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 28% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$12,125$11,539$11,837$11,902

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−28%$13,238 → $11,902, down 10% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 28% 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 26% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 0% more.

$17,435
$15,607

Federal grants, for comparison: $11,439 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 · 2

5 seats: the top 5 win.

1 more →

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Geneva; 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.

  • Geneva City Council At-Large (5 seats)
    Now held by Mark Whipple, Jesse Viet, Todd Pilchard, Jimmy Zacharias, Ashley Roberts
  • Geneva Mayor
    Now held by Todd Olmstead

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

Dennis Guth (Sen. 28)Shannon Latham (Rep. 55)

U.S. House:District 4

Franklin CountyAgwsr schools