Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Beverly LoukYale Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Clint DeardorffYale City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Diane N ChaseYale City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Gerald McCombYale City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Tim WalkerYale City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Beverly LoukYale City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Scott Van GundyYale 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 Yale
Homes and businesses in most of Yale pay a combined $31.82 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Guthrie County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $10.85. Estimate your bill.
- City of Yale$10.8534%
- Panorama schools$10.1032%
- Guthrie County$6.2420%
- Guthrie County Hospital$2.708%
- Des Moines Area Community College$0.813%
- Guthrie County Assessor$0.652%
- Guthrie County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.25<1%
- Cass-Panora-Yale Cemetery$0.22<1%
Rates over time
Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Yale pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $32.01 | $8.71 |
| FY21 | $32.50 | $8.71 |
| FY22 | $33.03 | $8.96 |
| FY23 | $32.72 | $9.01 |
| FY24 | $32.84 | $9.11 |
| FY25 | $33.40 | $10.63 |
| FY26 | $32.43 | $11.17 |
| FY27 | $31.82 | $10.85 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $32.01 | $8.71 |
| FY21 | $32.50 | $8.71 |
| FY22 | $33.03 | $8.96 |
| FY23 | $32.72 | $9.01 |
| FY24 | $32.84 | $9.11 |
| FY25 | $33.40 | $10.63 |
| FY26 | $32.43 | $11.17 |
| FY27 | $31.82 | $10.85 |
Compared with places this size3
Yale’s city property tax rate of $10.85 per $1,000 is the 72nd lowest of 207 Iowa cities with 180–400 people. The middle of the group is $12.09.
See all 207
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanhope | $29.10 | 354 |
| 2 | Fenton | $22.05 | 250 |
| 3 | Coulter | $21.80 | 220 |
| 4 | Chelsea | $21.61 | 207 |
| 5 | Elliott | $21.61 | 328 |
| 6 | Smithland | $21.12 | 184 |
| 7 | Earling | $20.47 | 394 |
| 8 | Volga | $20.23 | 200 |
| 9 | Alta Vista | $19.88 | 219 |
| 10 | Arthur | $19.86 | 218 |
| 11 | Fort Atkinson | $19.19 | 300 |
| 12 | Salem | $19.15 | 380 |
| 13 | Cumberland | $18.42 | 248 |
| 14 | Jamaica | $18.24 | 196 |
| 15 | Massena | $18.23 | 352 |
| 16 | Callender | $17.78 | 361 |
| 17 | Casey | $17.72 | 387 |
| 18 | Vail | $17.66 | 383 |
| 19 | Ringsted | $17.65 | 346 |
| 20 | Pierson | $17.12 | 335 |
| 21 | Pisgah | $17.09 | 248 |
| 22 | Lohrville | $16.95 | 366 |
| 23 | Lakota | $16.84 | 261 |
| 24 | Marble Rock | $16.78 | 258 |
| 25 | Auburn | $16.65 | 253 |
| 26 | Mccallsburg | $16.58 | 356 |
| 27 | Prescott | $16.53 | 186 |
| 28 | Irwin | $16.46 | 320 |
| 29 | Montour | $16.37 | 199 |
| 30 | Lewis | $16.25 | 358 |
| 31 | Corwith | $16.22 | 259 |
| 32 | Deep River | $16.18 | 243 |
| 33 | Waucoma | $16.17 | 235 |
| 34 | Duncombe | $16.10 | 374 |
| 35 | Granville | $16.00 | 302 |
| 36 | Minburn | $15.75 | 317 |
| 37 | Moorhead | $15.68 | 186 |
| 38 | Onslow | $15.63 | 198 |
| 39 | Linden | $15.62 | 206 |
| 40 | Kamrar | $15.47 | 178 |
| 41 | Peterson | $15.27 | 321 |
| 42 | Greeley | $15.23 | 216 |
| 43 | Riverton | $14.94 | 243 |
| 44 | Marathon | $14.89 | 221 |
| 45 | Plainfield | $14.84 | 392 |
| 46 | Ryan | $14.84 | 348 |
| 47 | Ladora | $14.74 | 223 |
| 48 | Magnolia | $14.68 | 194 |
| 49 | Bagley | $14.63 | 230 |
| 50 | Davis City | $14.45 | 178 |
| 51 | Garrison | $14.38 | 345 |
| 52 | Halbur | $14.37 | 268 |
| 53 | Lorimor | $14.36 | 377 |
| 54 | Crystal Lake | $14.36 | 243 |
| 55 | Kimballton | $14.27 | 281 |
| 56 | Steamboat Rock | $14.19 | 261 |
| 57 | Westgate | $14.05 | 190 |
| 58 | Mystic | $14.01 | 318 |
| 59 | Wesley | $13.91 | 382 |
| 60 | Diagonal | $13.91 | 331 |
| 61 | Bussey | $13.83 | 378 |
| 62 | Mondamin | $13.82 | 335 |
| 63 | Livermore | $13.78 | 382 |
| 64 | Fertile | $13.70 | 300 |
| 65 | Stockport | $13.68 | 272 |
| 66 | Kellerton | $13.60 | 241 |
| 67 | Quimby | $13.58 | 245 |
| 68 | Meservey | $13.43 | 212 |
| 69 | Persia | $13.41 | 292 |
| 70 | Lawler | $13.39 | 392 |
| 71 | Lacona | $13.38 | 336 |
| 72 | Leland | $13.31 | 240 |
| 73 | Ute | $13.26 | 326 |
| 74 | New Market | $13.25 | 381 |
| 75 | Plymouth | $13.21 | 368 |
| 76 | Harcourt | $13.21 | 257 |
| 77 | Bennett | $13.16 | 330 |
| 78 | Ridgeway | $13.10 | 261 |
| 79 | Farmersburg | $13.09 | 264 |
| 80 | Portsmouth | $13.05 | 187 |
| 81 | Clutier | $13.03 | 209 |
| 82 | Lehigh | $12.97 | 395 |
| 83 | Menlo | $12.92 | 347 |
| 84 | Templeton | $12.91 | 337 |
| 85 | Silver City | $12.87 | 244 |
| 86 | Martelle | $12.83 | 250 |
| 87 | Malcom | $12.82 | 257 |
| 88 | Blencoe | $12.57 | 223 |
| 89 | Williams | $12.57 | 299 |
| 90 | Maurice | $12.56 | 271 |
| 91 | Clearfield | $12.50 | 277 |
| 92 | Kensett | $12.47 | 256 |
| 93 | Mccausland | $12.45 | 314 |
| 94 | Spillville | $12.40 | 371 |
| 95 | Modale | $12.34 | 284 |
| 96 | Mingo | $12.31 | 314 |
| 97 | Brandon | $12.29 | 331 |
| 98 | Blakesburg | $12.21 | 273 |
| 99 | Cushing | $12.18 | 225 |
| 100 | Bonaparte | $12.17 | 357 |
| 101 | Hanlontown | $12.17 | 200 |
| 102 | Stout | $12.14 | 194 |
| 103 | Macedonia | $12.12 | 266 |
| 104 | Paton | $12.09 | 217 |
| 105 | Kiron | $12.03 | 262 |
| 106 | Rembrandt | $12.03 | 199 |
| 107 | Colesburg | $11.97 | 379 |
| 108 | Liscomb | $11.96 | 292 |
| 109 | New Providence | $11.88 | 233 |
| 110 | Thornton | $11.86 | 394 |
| 111 | Parnell | $11.78 | 190 |
| 112 | Joice | $11.72 | 206 |
| 113 | Atalissa | $11.71 | 287 |
| 114 | Cantril | $11.69 | 224 |
| 115 | Kelley | $11.69 | 312 |
| 116 | Orient | $11.66 | 363 |
| 117 | Wadena | $11.65 | 201 |
| 118 | Cincinnati | $11.57 | 280 |
| 119 | Delta | $11.52 | 257 |
| 120 | Terril | $11.48 | 310 |
| 121 | Westside | $11.45 | 283 |
| 122 | Holland | $11.37 | 261 |
| 123 | Churdan | $11.31 | 359 |
| 124 | Mallard | $11.28 | 255 |
| 125 | Renwick | $11.16 | 228 |
| 126 | Dundee | $11.14 | 193 |
| 127 | Randolph | $11.08 | 183 |
| 128 | Rake | $11.05 | 179 |
| 129 | Frederika | $10.99 | 206 |
| 130 | Milton | $10.98 | 395 |
| 131 | New Vienna | $10.91 | 384 |
| 132 | Letts | $10.91 | 358 |
| 133 | Goose Lake | $10.89 | 250 |
| 134 | Birmingham | $10.87 | 371 |
| 135 | Charlotte | $10.86 | 386 |
| 136 | Yale | $10.85 | 265 |
| 137 | Hornick | $10.74 | 255 |
| 138 | Woden | $10.68 | 183 |
| 139 | Riverdale | $10.67 | 385 |
| 140 | Bode | $10.64 | 304 |
| 141 | Union | $10.58 | 378 |
| 142 | Cleghorn | $10.49 | 235 |
| 143 | Calamus | $10.47 | 348 |
| 144 | Danbury | $10.43 | 315 |
| 145 | Lytton | $10.38 | 274 |
| 146 | Rhodes | $10.36 | 269 |
| 147 | Dedham | $10.28 | 221 |
| 148 | Deloit | $10.28 | 246 |
| 149 | Protivin | $10.28 | 264 |
| 150 | Andrew | $10.22 | 374 |
| 151 | Royal | $10.20 | 379 |
| 152 | Bronson | $10.14 | 294 |
| 153 | Hancock | $10.13 | 199 |
| 154 | Rudd | $10.13 | 339 |
| 155 | La Motte | $10.09 | 235 |
| 156 | Melvin | $10.05 | 196 |
| 157 | Defiance | $10.05 | 248 |
| 158 | Floyd | $10.02 | 297 |
| 159 | Barnum | $9.96 | 186 |
| 160 | Panama | $9.85 | 234 |
| 161 | Grafton | $9.83 | 212 |
| 162 | Lynnville | $9.68 | 382 |
| 163 | Ionia | $9.65 | 220 |
| 164 | Salix | $9.63 | 303 |
| 165 | Luxemburg | $9.58 | 240 |
| 166 | Rippey | $9.42 | 217 |
| 167 | Farnhamville | $9.18 | 364 |
| 168 | Elberon | $9.16 | 178 |
| 169 | Middletown | $9.16 | 365 |
| 170 | Dixon | $9.03 | 204 |
| 171 | Lester | $8.94 | 309 |
| 172 | Oakville | $8.89 | 198 |
| 173 | Harvey | $8.71 | 242 |
| 174 | Washta | $8.65 | 206 |
| 175 | Ollie | $8.44 | 196 |
| 176 | Thor | $8.38 | 182 |
| 177 | Rowley | $8.31 | 264 |
| 178 | South English | $8.27 | 196 |
| 179 | Boxholm | $8.11 | 177 |
| 180 | Fostoria | $8.10 | 229 |
| 181 | Low Moor | $8.10 | 242 |
| 182 | Bertram | $8.10 | 267 |
| 183 | Nichols | $8.10 | 317 |
| 184 | Laurel | $8.10 | 214 |
| 185 | Lineville | $8.10 | 194 |
| 186 | Luana | $7.98 | 303 |
| 187 | Lockridge | $7.92 | 245 |
| 188 | Grand River | $7.86 | 192 |
| 189 | Pulaski | $7.58 | 259 |
| 190 | Sheldahl | $7.56 | 312 |
| 191 | Fredonia | $7.55 | 227 |
| 192 | Worthington | $7.50 | 374 |
| 193 | Harpers Ferry | $7.49 | 273 |
| 194 | Alvord | $7.41 | 216 |
| 195 | Columbus City | $6.94 | 385 |
| 196 | Donahue | $6.83 | 336 |
| 197 | Packwood | $6.77 | 186 |
| 198 | Libertyville | $6.60 | 278 |
| 199 | Keswick | $6.49 | 238 |
| 200 | Crawfordsville | $6.44 | 278 |
| 201 | Holy Cross | $5.91 | 348 |
| 202 | Oakland Acres | $5.88 | 178 |
| 203 | Conesville | $5.86 | 350 |
| 204 | Maharishi Vedic City | $3.87 | 290 |
| 205 | Wahpeton | $3.19 | 337 |
| 206 | West Okoboji | $2.92 | 311 |
| 207 | Rickardsville | $2.27 | 204 |
The $8.10 limit
Yale’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.4 204 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: $2.72 more5
- Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.99 · $17,772
- Total Employee Benefit Levies$0.74 · $6,580
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 Yale’s budget goes, FY26
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 205 Iowa cities closest in size (180–400 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (205) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Type / Enterprise | 80¢ | 37¢ |
| Public Works | 7¢ | 21¢ |
| General Government | 6¢ | 18¢ |
| Public Safety | 4¢ | 9¢ |
| Community and Economic Development | 2¢ | 2¢ |
| Everything else | 1¢ | 8¢ |
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 ($1.1M in FY26), so this total is low.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $51,000 | $43,797 |
| Public Safety | $36,700 | $13,578 |
| Health and Social Services | $3,000 | $1,949 |
| General Government | $50,100 | $58,027 |
| Debt Service | $0 | $0 |
| Culture and Recreation | $17,000 | $7,214 |
| Community and Economic Development | $12,625 | $29,407 |
| Capital Projects | $0 | $67,200 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $605,120 | $88,263 |
What it spent each year
FY24 left out6
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? 7
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: $32,425 in FY25, up 19% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 5% less. Grants are below.
Show the numbers
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $34,478 | $31,434 | $32,250 | $32,425 |
Has it kept up with prices?
Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.
- Road Use Tax (streets)−5%$27,343 → $32,425, up 19% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 5% 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 70% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 36% more.
Federal grants, for comparison: $251,629 in FY25.
Elections
Most recent: November 4, 2025
City · 3
3 seats: the top 3 win.
- Clint Deardorff Winner4376.8%
- Tim Walker Winner35.4%
- Gerald McComb Winner23.6%
- Anna Arganbright 23.6%
- Johanne Godwin 23.6%
2 seats: the top 2 win.
- Diane N Chase Winner3992.9%
- Tim Walker Winner37.1%
- Beverly Louk Unopposed40100.0%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Yale; official results are on each county auditor’s site.
Related places
At the Statehouse and in Congress8
Jesse Green (Sen. 24)Carter F. Nordman (Rep. 47)
U.S. House:District 3