Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Dennis MeineckeJamaica Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Dina MartinezJamaica City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- HD MeineckeJamaica City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Richard McAlisterJamaica City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Matthew MeineckeJamaica City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Mike HeylandJamaica 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
Where a property tax dollar goes in Jamaica
The combined rate in most of Jamaica is $39.47 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). The city sets only its own piece. Estimate your bill.
- City of Jamaica$18.2446%
- Panorama schools$10.1026%
- Guthrie County$6.2416%
- Guthrie County Hospital$2.707%
- Des Moines Area Community. College$0.812%
- Guthrie County Assessor$0.652%
- Richland-Jamaica Cemetery$0.481%
- Guthrie County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.25<1%
Compared with places this size
Jamaica’s city property tax rate of $18.24 per $1,000 is the 17th highest of 200 Iowa cities with 130–290 people. The middle of the group is $11.56.
See all 200
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brayton | $25.07 | 138 |
| 2 | Harris | $23.13 | 145 |
| 3 | Fenton | $22.05 | 250 |
| 4 | Soldier | $21.92 | 176 |
| 5 | Coulter | $21.80 | 220 |
| 6 | Chelsea | $21.61 | 207 |
| 7 | Smithland | $21.12 | 184 |
| 8 | Volga | $20.23 | 200 |
| 9 | Alta Vista | $19.88 | 219 |
| 10 | Arthur | $19.86 | 218 |
| 11 | Coin | $19.59 | 171 |
| 12 | Chester | $19.30 | 134 |
| 13 | Garden Grove | $19.20 | 173 |
| 14 | Hastings | $18.95 | 157 |
| 15 | Swaledale | $18.62 | 136 |
| 16 | Cumberland | $18.42 | 248 |
| 17 | Jamaica | $18.24 | 196 |
| 18 | Hillsboro | $17.68 | 158 |
| 19 | Bristow | $17.39 | 139 |
| 20 | Woolstock | $17.26 | 141 |
| 21 | Pisgah | $17.09 | 248 |
| 22 | Lakota | $16.84 | 261 |
| 23 | Marble Rock | $16.78 | 258 |
| 24 | Auburn | $16.65 | 253 |
| 25 | Prescott | $16.53 | 186 |
| 26 | Montour | $16.37 | 199 |
| 27 | Geneva | $16.25 | 137 |
| 28 | Corwith | $16.22 | 259 |
| 29 | Deep River | $16.18 | 243 |
| 30 | Waucoma | $16.17 | 235 |
| 31 | Little Sioux | $15.74 | 170 |
| 32 | Moorhead | $15.68 | 186 |
| 33 | Onslow | $15.63 | 198 |
| 34 | Linden | $15.62 | 206 |
| 35 | Woodburn | $15.59 | 133 |
| 36 | Kamrar | $15.47 | 178 |
| 37 | Greeley | $15.23 | 216 |
| 38 | Goodell | $15.16 | 139 |
| 39 | Riverton | $14.94 | 243 |
| 40 | Marathon | $14.89 | 221 |
| 41 | Ladora | $14.74 | 223 |
| 42 | Magnolia | $14.68 | 194 |
| 43 | Bagley | $14.63 | 230 |
| 44 | Davis City | $14.45 | 178 |
| 45 | Lucas | $14.40 | 176 |
| 46 | Halbur | $14.37 | 268 |
| 47 | Crystal Lake | $14.36 | 243 |
| 48 | Kimballton | $14.27 | 281 |
| 49 | Steamboat Rock | $14.19 | 261 |
| 50 | Westgate | $14.05 | 190 |
| 51 | Palmer | $13.89 | 137 |
| 52 | Stockport | $13.68 | 272 |
| 53 | Kellerton | $13.60 | 241 |
| 54 | Quimby | $13.58 | 245 |
| 55 | Meservey | $13.43 | 212 |
| 56 | Persia | $13.41 | 292 |
| 57 | Leland | $13.31 | 240 |
| 58 | Harcourt | $13.21 | 257 |
| 59 | Calumet | $13.16 | 144 |
| 60 | Ridgeway | $13.10 | 261 |
| 61 | Farmersburg | $13.09 | 264 |
| 62 | Portsmouth | $13.05 | 187 |
| 63 | Clutier | $13.03 | 209 |
| 64 | Silver City | $12.87 | 244 |
| 65 | Delaware | $12.86 | 139 |
| 66 | Patterson | $12.84 | 176 |
| 67 | Martelle | $12.83 | 250 |
| 68 | Malcom | $12.82 | 257 |
| 69 | Clemons | $12.69 | 135 |
| 70 | Blencoe | $12.57 | 223 |
| 71 | Maurice | $12.56 | 271 |
| 72 | Clearfield | $12.50 | 277 |
| 73 | Kensett | $12.47 | 256 |
| 74 | Millersburg | $12.40 | 135 |
| 75 | Aurora | $12.40 | 165 |
| 76 | Modale | $12.34 | 284 |
| 77 | Bridgewater | $12.29 | 145 |
| 78 | Blakesburg | $12.21 | 273 |
| 79 | Cushing | $12.18 | 225 |
| 80 | Hanlontown | $12.17 | 200 |
| 81 | Stout | $12.14 | 194 |
| 82 | Macedonia | $12.12 | 266 |
| 83 | Webb | $12.10 | 139 |
| 84 | Paton | $12.09 | 217 |
| 85 | Decatur | $12.08 | 174 |
| 86 | Kiron | $12.03 | 262 |
| 87 | Rembrandt | $12.03 | 199 |
| 88 | Shambaugh | $11.98 | 161 |
| 89 | Liscomb | $11.96 | 292 |
| 90 | Lone Rock | $11.92 | 143 |
| 91 | New Providence | $11.88 | 233 |
| 92 | Henderson | $11.85 | 140 |
| 93 | Parnell | $11.78 | 190 |
| 94 | Reasnor | $11.76 | 157 |
| 95 | Joice | $11.72 | 206 |
| 96 | Atalissa | $11.71 | 287 |
| 97 | Cantril | $11.69 | 224 |
| 98 | Wadena | $11.65 | 201 |
| 99 | Exline | $11.60 | 157 |
| 100 | Cincinnati | $11.57 | 280 |
| 101 | Beaman | $11.54 | 155 |
| 102 | Delta | $11.52 | 257 |
| 103 | Westside | $11.45 | 283 |
| 104 | College Springs | $11.44 | 172 |
| 105 | Holland | $11.37 | 261 |
| 106 | Mallard | $11.28 | 255 |
| 107 | Renwick | $11.16 | 228 |
| 108 | Linn Grove | $11.15 | 155 |
| 109 | Dundee | $11.14 | 193 |
| 110 | Randolph | $11.08 | 183 |
| 111 | Leighton | $11.07 | 153 |
| 112 | Rake | $11.05 | 179 |
| 113 | Frederika | $10.99 | 206 |
| 114 | Alexander | $10.90 | 165 |
| 115 | Goose Lake | $10.89 | 250 |
| 116 | Yale | $10.85 | 265 |
| 117 | Lambs Grove | $10.78 | 174 |
| 118 | Wallingford | $10.75 | 154 |
| 119 | Hornick | $10.74 | 255 |
| 120 | Woden | $10.68 | 183 |
| 121 | Cleghorn | $10.49 | 235 |
| 122 | Barnes City | $10.44 | 152 |
| 123 | Lytton | $10.38 | 274 |
| 124 | Stockton | $10.37 | 171 |
| 125 | Rhodes | $10.36 | 269 |
| 126 | Randall | $10.35 | 156 |
| 127 | Dedham | $10.28 | 221 |
| 128 | Deloit | $10.28 | 246 |
| 129 | Protivin | $10.28 | 264 |
| 130 | Meriden | $10.28 | 175 |
| 131 | Drakesville | $10.24 | 170 |
| 132 | Bronson | $10.14 | 294 |
| 133 | Hancock | $10.13 | 199 |
| 134 | La Motte | $10.09 | 235 |
| 135 | Melvin | $10.05 | 196 |
| 136 | Defiance | $10.05 | 248 |
| 137 | Barnum | $9.96 | 186 |
| 138 | Panama | $9.85 | 234 |
| 139 | Grafton | $9.83 | 212 |
| 140 | Clare | $9.81 | 133 |
| 141 | Tingley | $9.81 | 146 |
| 142 | Ionia | $9.65 | 220 |
| 143 | Van Wert | $9.62 | 175 |
| 144 | Rock Falls | $9.61 | 143 |
| 145 | Kirkville | $9.59 | 159 |
| 146 | Luxemburg | $9.58 | 240 |
| 147 | Rippey | $9.42 | 217 |
| 148 | Westphalia | $9.18 | 133 |
| 149 | Elberon | $9.16 | 178 |
| 150 | Dixon | $9.03 | 204 |
| 151 | Blairsburg | $8.93 | 175 |
| 152 | Prairieburg | $8.91 | 156 |
| 153 | Oakville | $8.89 | 198 |
| 154 | Luther | $8.83 | 147 |
| 155 | Harvey | $8.71 | 242 |
| 156 | Washta | $8.65 | 206 |
| 157 | Moorland | $8.61 | 169 |
| 158 | Pilot Mound | $8.54 | 155 |
| 159 | Ollie | $8.44 | 196 |
| 160 | Thor | $8.38 | 182 |
| 161 | Rowley | $8.31 | 264 |
| 162 | South English | $8.27 | 196 |
| 163 | Thurman | $8.26 | 162 |
| 164 | Boxholm | $8.11 | 177 |
| 165 | Fostoria | $8.10 | 229 |
| 166 | Low Moor | $8.10 | 242 |
| 167 | Bertram | $8.10 | 267 |
| 168 | Laurel | $8.10 | 214 |
| 169 | Lineville | $8.10 | 194 |
| 170 | Lockridge | $7.92 | 245 |
| 171 | Mount Auburn | $7.86 | 162 |
| 172 | Haverhill | $7.86 | 164 |
| 173 | Grand River | $7.86 | 192 |
| 174 | Olds | $7.86 | 174 |
| 175 | Dickens | $7.86 | 146 |
| 176 | Castalia | $7.86 | 141 |
| 177 | Rose Hill | $7.86 | 156 |
| 178 | West Chester | $7.82 | 147 |
| 179 | Mcclelland | $7.79 | 147 |
| 180 | Lidderdale | $7.68 | 162 |
| 181 | Pulaski | $7.58 | 259 |
| 182 | Fredonia | $7.55 | 227 |
| 183 | Braddyville | $7.49 | 142 |
| 184 | Harpers Ferry | $7.49 | 273 |
| 185 | Alvord | $7.41 | 216 |
| 186 | Franklin | $7.31 | 133 |
| 187 | Weldon | $7.18 | 134 |
| 188 | Packwood | $6.77 | 186 |
| 189 | Libertyville | $6.60 | 278 |
| 190 | Keswick | $6.49 | 238 |
| 191 | Crawfordsville | $6.44 | 278 |
| 192 | Gravity | $6.18 | 149 |
| 193 | Oakland Acres | $5.88 | 178 |
| 194 | Springbrook | $5.79 | 145 |
| 195 | Maysville | $5.77 | 155 |
| 196 | Panorama Park | $4.62 | 142 |
| 197 | Maharishi Vedic City | $3.87 | 290 |
| 198 | Sherrill | $2.66 | 176 |
| 199 | Rickardsville | $2.27 | 204 |
| 200 | New Liberty | $2.27 | 141 |
FY27 rates from the Department of Management. A higher rate isn’t always a bigger bill: it depends on how much property there is to tax. Sizes: Census Bureau 2024 estimates.
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.
Budget and spending
Where each dollar of Jamaica’s budget goes, FY26
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (198) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Type / Enterprise | 82¢ | 33¢ |
| General Government | 8¢ | 21¢ |
| Public Works | 5¢ | 23¢ |
| Public Safety | 3¢ | 9¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 3¢ | 8¢ |
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 (130–290 people).
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.
The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($626,900 in FY26), so this total is low.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $16,500 | $27,666 |
| Public Safety | $14,500 | $20,045 |
| Health and Social Services | $0 | $0 |
| General Government | $44,000 | $46,246 |
| Debt Service | $0 | $0 |
| Culture and Recreation | $30,000 | $23,352 |
| Community and Economic Development | $0 | $0 |
| Capital Projects | $2.6M | $0 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $55,500 | $1.0M |
What it spent each year
State money
What the state sends the city
Sales tax and property tax credits the state paid the city: up 13% since FY23; up 3% after inflation.
Show the numbers
| Program | FY27 | FY26 | FY25 | FY24 | FY23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local option sales tax | $2,118 | $25,216 | $24,327 | $22,692 | $22,406 |
Elections
Most recent: November 4, 2025
City · 2
3 seats: the top 3 win.
- Dina Martinez Winner2043.5%
- Richard McAlister Winner1634.8%
- HD Meinecke Winner1021.7%
- Dennis Meinecke Unopposed19100.0%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Jamaica; official results are on each county auditor’s site.
Related places
At the Statehouse and in Congress
Jesse Green (Sen. 24)Carter F. Nordman (Rep. 47)
U.S. House:District 3
Districts that cover Jamaica; percentages are rough shares of its area. They write the state laws and budget Jamaica works within.
City budgets and levies from the Department of Management; budgets are adopted each spring for the year starting July 1. State payments from the Department of Revenue; prices from the consumer price index.