Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Barry AnksorusEllsworth Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Brian PhippsEllsworth City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Curtis JensenEllsworth City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- LaDana SogardEllsworth City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Marcella OlsonEllsworth City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Jeremy LaubeEllsworth City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Kalib KingEllsworth City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- William FunkEllsworth 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 Ellsworth
Homes and businesses in most of Ellsworth pay a combined $35.56 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Hamilton County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $11.57. Estimate your bill.
- South Hamilton schools$13.6038%
- City of Ellsworth$11.5733%
- Hamilton County$6.0317%
- Hamilton County Hospital$1.905%
- Iowa Central Community College$1.574%
- Hamilton County Assessor$0.672%
- Hamilton County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.21<1%
Rates over time
Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Ellsworth pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $34.65 | $10.11 |
| FY21 | $34.65 | $9.88 |
| FY22 | $35.09 | $10.09 |
| FY23 | $34.69 | $10.22 |
| FY24 | $34.83 | $10.32 |
| FY25 | $34.71 | $10.16 |
| FY26 | $34.78 | $10.20 |
| FY27 | $35.56 | $11.57 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $34.65 | $10.11 |
| FY21 | $34.65 | $9.88 |
| FY22 | $35.09 | $10.09 |
| FY23 | $34.69 | $10.22 |
| FY24 | $34.83 | $10.32 |
| FY25 | $34.71 | $10.16 |
| FY26 | $34.78 | $10.20 |
| FY27 | $35.56 | $11.57 |
Compared with places this size3
Ellsworth’s city property tax rate of $11.57 per $1,000 is the 66th lowest of 194 Iowa cities with 330–740 people. The middle of the group is $12.94.
See all 194
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanhope | $29.10 | 354 |
| 2 | Rolfe | $22.67 | 505 |
| 3 | Charter Oak | $21.32 | 521 |
| 4 | Oxford Junction | $20.84 | 424 |
| 5 | Earling | $20.47 | 394 |
| 6 | Pomeroy | $19.60 | 511 |
| 7 | Salem | $19.15 | 380 |
| 8 | Dumont | $19.04 | 614 |
| 9 | Seymour | $18.78 | 646 |
| 10 | Dexter | $18.69 | 631 |
| 11 | Fonda | $18.52 | 636 |
| 12 | Massena | $18.23 | 352 |
| 13 | Kanawha | $18.11 | 638 |
| 14 | Swea City | $18.04 | 545 |
| 15 | Alden | $17.90 | 738 |
| 16 | Elma | $17.82 | 493 |
| 17 | Callender | $17.78 | 361 |
| 18 | Casey | $17.72 | 387 |
| 19 | Dows | $17.70 | 509 |
| 20 | New Hartford | $17.69 | 555 |
| 21 | Vail | $17.66 | 383 |
| 22 | Ringsted | $17.65 | 346 |
| 23 | Emerson | $17.54 | 401 |
| 24 | Walnut | $17.46 | 728 |
| 25 | Murray | $17.44 | 609 |
| 26 | Thompson | $17.25 | 478 |
| 27 | Ashton | $17.17 | 434 |
| 28 | Pierson | $17.12 | 335 |
| 29 | Burt | $17.10 | 404 |
| 30 | Latimer | $16.96 | 477 |
| 31 | Lohrville | $16.95 | 366 |
| 32 | Elk Horn | $16.78 | 631 |
| 33 | Oxford | $16.70 | 715 |
| 34 | Mccallsburg | $16.58 | 356 |
| 35 | Whittemore | $16.54 | 478 |
| 36 | Bancroft | $16.52 | 677 |
| 37 | Titonka | $16.45 | 491 |
| 38 | Early | $16.35 | 571 |
| 39 | Truro | $16.34 | 515 |
| 40 | Lewis | $16.25 | 358 |
| 41 | Duncombe | $16.10 | 374 |
| 42 | Bayard | $16.05 | 402 |
| 43 | Scranton | $16.01 | 496 |
| 44 | Ruthven | $15.84 | 710 |
| 45 | Minden | $15.77 | 581 |
| 46 | Walker | $15.74 | 671 |
| 47 | Russell | $15.18 | 475 |
| 48 | Stanwood | $15.12 | 612 |
| 49 | Stratford | $15.03 | 688 |
| 50 | Zearing | $14.99 | 508 |
| 51 | Arlington | $14.98 | 415 |
| 52 | Maynard | $14.85 | 466 |
| 53 | Plainfield | $14.84 | 392 |
| 54 | Ryan | $14.84 | 348 |
| 55 | Otho | $14.82 | 417 |
| 56 | Wyoming | $14.81 | 526 |
| 57 | Humeston | $14.80 | 472 |
| 58 | Hopkinton | $14.79 | 622 |
| 59 | Essex | $14.76 | 721 |
| 60 | Gilmore City | $14.60 | 484 |
| 61 | Sabula | $14.38 | 498 |
| 62 | Garrison | $14.38 | 345 |
| 63 | Lorimor | $14.36 | 377 |
| 64 | Collins | $14.32 | 503 |
| 65 | Clermont | $14.30 | 571 |
| 66 | Moulton | $14.25 | 596 |
| 67 | Ocheyedan | $14.22 | 424 |
| 68 | Mcgregor | $14.20 | 725 |
| 69 | Olin | $14.19 | 652 |
| 70 | Garwin | $14.08 | 469 |
| 71 | Farragut | $14.07 | 480 |
| 72 | Elgin | $14.05 | 676 |
| 73 | Lime Springs | $13.95 | 467 |
| 74 | Dow City | $13.94 | 477 |
| 75 | Wesley | $13.91 | 382 |
| 76 | Diagonal | $13.91 | 331 |
| 77 | Bussey | $13.83 | 378 |
| 78 | Mondamin | $13.82 | 335 |
| 79 | Livermore | $13.78 | 382 |
| 80 | Redfield | $13.73 | 719 |
| 81 | Sioux Rapids | $13.63 | 722 |
| 82 | Albion | $13.58 | 444 |
| 83 | Lamont | $13.57 | 429 |
| 84 | New Albin | $13.55 | 435 |
| 85 | Rockford | $13.52 | 722 |
| 86 | Boyden | $13.39 | 694 |
| 87 | Lawler | $13.39 | 392 |
| 88 | Lacona | $13.38 | 336 |
| 89 | New Market | $13.25 | 381 |
| 90 | Plymouth | $13.21 | 368 |
| 91 | Bennett | $13.16 | 330 |
| 92 | Quasqueton | $13.12 | 587 |
| 93 | Farmington | $13.10 | 583 |
| 94 | Anthon | $13.05 | 534 |
| 95 | Little Rock | $13.03 | 447 |
| 96 | Coggon | $12.99 | 691 |
| 97 | Lehigh | $12.97 | 395 |
| 98 | Menlo | $12.92 | 347 |
| 99 | Templeton | $12.91 | 337 |
| 100 | Earlville | $12.90 | 713 |
| 101 | Brighton | $12.88 | 592 |
| 102 | Montrose | $12.78 | 734 |
| 103 | Goldfield | $12.73 | 617 |
| 104 | Wellsburg | $12.68 | 709 |
| 105 | Delmar | $12.68 | 541 |
| 106 | Galva | $12.68 | 416 |
| 107 | Badger | $12.67 | 540 |
| 108 | Martensdale | $12.63 | 413 |
| 109 | Stanton | $12.62 | 664 |
| 110 | Hospers | $12.58 | 703 |
| 111 | Norway | $12.53 | 463 |
| 112 | Everly | $12.51 | 570 |
| 113 | Hazleton | $12.48 | 711 |
| 114 | Spillville | $12.40 | 371 |
| 115 | Alburnett | $12.30 | 672 |
| 116 | Brandon | $12.29 | 331 |
| 117 | Moravia | $12.27 | 625 |
| 118 | Hedrick | $12.22 | 717 |
| 119 | Bonaparte | $12.17 | 357 |
| 120 | Schaller | $12.14 | 702 |
| 121 | Hawkeye | $12.11 | 429 |
| 122 | Colesburg | $11.97 | 379 |
| 123 | Albert City | $11.88 | 627 |
| 124 | Thornton | $11.86 | 394 |
| 125 | Runnells | $11.79 | 467 |
| 126 | Allerton | $11.72 | 432 |
| 127 | Orient | $11.66 | 363 |
| 128 | Merrill | $11.64 | 713 |
| 129 | Ellsworth | $11.57 | 495 |
| 130 | Morning Sun | $11.50 | 702 |
| 131 | Battle Creek | $11.49 | 683 |
| 132 | Wall Lake | $11.43 | 739 |
| 133 | Churdan | $11.31 | 359 |
| 134 | Miles | $11.28 | 400 |
| 135 | Sutherland | $11.25 | 628 |
| 136 | Arcadia | $11.23 | 588 |
| 137 | Whiting | $11.21 | 725 |
| 138 | Shelby | $11.17 | 730 |
| 139 | Blairstown | $11.04 | 705 |
| 140 | Milton | $10.98 | 395 |
| 141 | Ireton | $10.93 | 571 |
| 142 | New Vienna | $10.91 | 384 |
| 143 | Letts | $10.91 | 358 |
| 144 | Fontanelle | $10.88 | 684 |
| 145 | Birmingham | $10.87 | 371 |
| 146 | Charlotte | $10.86 | 386 |
| 147 | Richland | $10.82 | 532 |
| 148 | Grand Mound | $10.78 | 608 |
| 149 | Batavia | $10.77 | 434 |
| 150 | Riverdale | $10.67 | 385 |
| 151 | Union | $10.58 | 378 |
| 152 | Calamus | $10.47 | 348 |
| 153 | Lovilia | $10.46 | 456 |
| 154 | Radcliffe | $10.37 | 540 |
| 155 | Stacyville | $10.36 | 436 |
| 156 | Ventura | $10.22 | 701 |
| 157 | Andrew | $10.22 | 374 |
| 158 | Royal | $10.20 | 379 |
| 159 | Hartford | $10.16 | 729 |
| 160 | Rudd | $10.13 | 339 |
| 161 | What Cheer | $10.01 | 595 |
| 162 | Cumming | $9.85 | 527 |
| 163 | Breda | $9.80 | 492 |
| 164 | Doon | $9.78 | 640 |
| 165 | Lynnville | $9.68 | 382 |
| 166 | Farnhamville | $9.18 | 364 |
| 167 | Middletown | $9.16 | 365 |
| 168 | Alleman | $9.12 | 439 |
| 169 | Crescent | $8.72 | 626 |
| 170 | Ainsworth | $8.62 | 511 |
| 171 | Grand Junction | $8.57 | 715 |
| 172 | Gilman | $8.10 | 530 |
| 173 | Lakeside | $8.10 | 695 |
| 174 | Lost Nation | $8.10 | 425 |
| 175 | Kellogg | $8.10 | 597 |
| 176 | Grandview | $8.10 | 431 |
| 177 | Agency | $7.94 | 623 |
| 178 | Fremont | $7.86 | 688 |
| 179 | Delhi | $7.81 | 438 |
| 180 | Klemme | $7.74 | 429 |
| 181 | Beacon | $7.56 | 434 |
| 182 | Worthington | $7.50 | 374 |
| 183 | Marquette | $7.08 | 434 |
| 184 | Columbus City | $6.94 | 385 |
| 185 | Donahue | $6.83 | 336 |
| 186 | Keystone | $6.80 | 616 |
| 187 | Shueyville | $6.79 | 725 |
| 188 | New Virginia | $5.97 | 499 |
| 189 | Holy Cross | $5.91 | 348 |
| 190 | Conesville | $5.86 | 350 |
| 191 | University Park | $5.27 | 476 |
| 192 | Orleans | $4.13 | 503 |
| 193 | Okoboji | $3.83 | 729 |
| 194 | Wahpeton | $3.19 | 337 |
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 Ellsworth’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 193 Iowa cities closest in size (330–740 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (193) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Type / Enterprise | 68¢ | 40¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 8¢ | 9¢ |
| Public Works | 8¢ | 18¢ |
| Public Safety | 7¢ | 9¢ |
| General Government | 7¢ | 13¢ |
| Everything else | 3¢ | 5¢ |
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 ($1.7M in FY26), so this total is low.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $193,727 | $85,562 |
| Public Safety | $137,912 | $111,638 |
| Health and Social Services | $4,750 | $5,075 |
| General Government | $95,185 | $96,370 |
| Debt Service | $22,698 | $22,698 |
| Culture and Recreation | $111,848 | $90,326 |
| Community and Economic Development | $0 | $29,934 |
| Capital Projects | $70,117 | $0 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $1.4M | $1.2M |
What it spent each year
FY24 left out4
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? 5
What the state pays the city
$93,069 in FY25: up 12% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 10% less. Road Use Tax, the money for streets the state sends every year by formula, is up 5% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 16% less; grants come and go.
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $70,796 | $69,907 | $71,756 | $72,146 |
| State grants | $37,843 | $37,837 | $1,309 | $13,834 |
| Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”) | $14,305 | $11,423 | – | $6,609 |
| Two Teir Assessment Limitation | – | – | $14,185 | $480 |
Show the numbers
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $70,796 | $69,907 | $71,756 | $72,146 |
| State grants | $37,843 | $37,837 | $1,309 | $13,834 |
| Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”) | $14,305 | $11,423 | – | $6,609 |
| Two Teir Assessment Limitation | – | – | $14,185 | $480 |
Has it kept up with prices?
Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.
- Road Use Tax (streets)−16%$68,599 → $72,146, up 5% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 16% less
- State grants+651%$1,469 → $13,834, up 842% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 651% more
- Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)−59%$12,721 → $6,609, down 48% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 59% 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 126% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 80% more.
Elections
Most recent: November 4, 2025
City · 3
2 seats: the top 2 win.
- Brian Phipps Winner6339.1%
- LaDana Sogard Winner3521.7%
- Danny Anderson 3320.5%
- Brian Zimmerman 3018.6%
2 seats: the top 2 win.
- Marcella Olson Winner4854.5%
- Curtis Jensen Winner4045.5%
- Barry Anksorus Winner5060.2%
- Dolorus Yager 3339.8%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Ellsworth; official results are on each county auditor’s site.
Related places
At the Statehouse and in Congress6
Dennis Guth (Sen. 28)Shannon Latham (Rep. 55)
U.S. House:District 4