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Menlo

Guthrie County · How cities work

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$2,780 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($32.97 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,090 a yearof that goes to the city ($12.92 per $1,000)
$118,578property taxes the city levies, FY27
$393,562city 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.

  • Gary C ForesmanMenlo City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • James Paul JonesMenlo City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Steve RenslowMenlo Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Dorothy KorradiMenlo City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Molly GriswoldMenlo City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Steven RenslowMenlo 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 Menlo

The combined rate in most of Menlo is $32.97 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). The city sets only its own piece. Estimate your bill.

  • City of Menlo$12.9239%
  • West Central Valley schools$9.2028%
  • Guthrie County$6.2419%
  • Guthrie County Hospital$2.708%
  • Des Moines Area Community. College$0.812%
  • Guthrie County Assessor$0.652%
  • Guthrie County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.25<1%
  • Beaver-Menlo Cemetery$0.20<1%

Compared with places this size3

Menlo’s city property tax rate of $12.92 per $1,000 is the 93rd highest of 200 Iowa cities with 230–520 people. The middle of the group is $12.56.

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

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$74,77263%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$28,99825%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$14,37012%

Budget and spending

Where each dollar of Menlo’s budget goes, FY26

Public Works: 37¢ of every dollar37¢General Government: 24¢ of every dollar24¢Business Type / Enterprise: 18¢ of every dollar18¢Culture and Recreation: 18¢ of every dollar18¢Community and Economic Development: 2¢ of every dollarEverything else: 2¢ of every dollar$1$1
Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (198)
Public Works37¢20¢
General Government24¢15¢
Business Type / Enterprise18¢39¢
Culture and Recreation18¢8¢
Community and Economic Development2¢2¢
Everything else2¢9¢

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 (230–520 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.

  • Public Works$153,76439%
  • Capital Projects$100,00025%
  • General Government$67,46417%
  • Culture and Recreation$63,88416%
  • Public Safety$4,7001%
  • Community and Economic Development$3,7501%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($52,420 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$107,130$102,377
Public Safety$20,310$20,212
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$59,242$44,359
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$47,610$47,334
Community and Economic Development$5,436$6,038
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$50,725$43,217

What it spent each year

$363,319
$263,537
’17’18’19’20’21’22’23

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.

In today's dollarsActual dollars
$30,000$37,500$45,000$52,500$60,000’23’24’25’26Today's $Actual
$30,000$37,500$45,000$52,500$60,000’23’24’25’26Today's $Actual
Show the numbers
ProgramFY27FY26FY25FY24FY23
Local option sales tax$3,764$44,807$43,227$40,322$39,813

Elections

Most recent: November 4, 2025

Ballot measures · 1

Passed Yes 78.7% (48) · No 21.3% (13)

Passes with more yes votes than no.

City · 2

2 seats: the top 2 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Menlo; official results are on each county auditor’s site.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress4

Jesse Green (Sen. 24)Carter F. Nordman (Rep. 47)

U.S. House:District 3

Guthrie CountyWest Central Valley schools