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Local taxes › Hancock County › Kanawha

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Kanawha

Hancock County · How cities work

$2,980 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($35.37 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,530 a yearof that goes to the city ($18.11 per $1,000)
$439,526property taxes the city levies, FY27
$845,449city 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.

  • Chad LangKanawha City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Dana L KraftKanawha City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jessica FowlesKanawha City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Randy YeakelKanawha Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Tim LodinKanawha City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Judy Vander PloegKanawha Mayor · elected November 7, 2023
  • Mathieu LemayKanawha City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Ray BassettKanawha 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 Kanawha

Homes and businesses in most of Kanawha pay a combined $35.37 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Hancock County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $18.11. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

CombinedCity’s own
0$10$20$30$40’20’22’24’26’27CombinedCity’s own
0$10$20$30$40’20’21’22’23’24’25’26’27CombinedCity’s own
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$37.28$19.71
FY21$32.92$15.08
FY22$34.25$16.68
FY23$37.09$19.33
FY24$35.87$18.67
FY25$34.99$18.04
FY26$36.24$18.89
FY27$35.37$18.11
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$37.28$19.71
FY21$32.92$15.08
FY22$34.25$16.68
FY23$37.09$19.33
FY24$35.87$18.67
FY25$34.99$18.04
FY26$36.24$18.89
FY27$35.37$18.11

Compared with places this size3

Kanawha’s city property tax rate of $18.11 per $1,000 is the 12th highest of 184 Iowa cities with 430–950 people. The middle of the group is $12.82.

Exira: $24.81Rolfe: $22.67Dayton: $22.51Charter Oak: $21.32Correctionville: $19.84Pomeroy: $19.60Allison: $19.06Dumont: $19.04Seymour: $18.78Dexter: $18.69Fonda: $18.52Swea City: $18.04Alden: $17.90Elma: $17.82Dows: $17.70New Hartford: $17.69Walnut: $17.46Murray: $17.44Thompson: $17.25Gowrie: $17.17Ashton: $17.17Colo: $17.14Latimer: $16.96Adair: $16.84Elk Horn: $16.78Oxford: $16.70Buffalo Center: $16.58Whittemore: $16.54Bancroft: $16.52Titonka: $16.45Eldon: $16.42Early: $16.35Truro: $16.34Scranton: $16.01Armstrong: $15.87Ruthven: $15.84Minden: $15.77Walker: $15.74Newell: $15.49Riceville: $15.31Neola: $15.30Russell: $15.18Gilbertville: $15.15Stanwood: $15.12Stratford: $15.03Zearing: $14.99Readlyn: $14.99Maynard: $14.85Wyoming: $14.81Humeston: $14.80Hopkinton: $14.79Essex: $14.76Gilmore City: $14.60Garnavillo: $14.52Maxwell: $14.50Sabula: $14.38Collins: $14.32Clermont: $14.30Moulton: $14.25Mcgregor: $14.20Olin: $14.19Primghar: $14.18Garwin: $14.08Farragut: $14.07Elgin: $14.05Lime Springs: $13.95Dow City: $13.94Ossian: $13.88Redfield: $13.73Victor: $13.72Edgewood: $13.64Sioux Rapids: $13.63Donnellson: $13.63Albion: $13.58Gladbrook: $13.58Lamont: $13.57New Albin: $13.55Rockford: $13.52Boyden: $13.39Anita: $13.28Van Horne: $13.27Keota: $13.21De Soto: $13.18Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Anthon: $13.05Little Rock: $13.03Coggon: $12.99Earlville: $12.90Brighton: $12.88Danville: $12.87Montrose: $12.78Goldfield: $12.73Wellsburg: $12.68Delmar: $12.68Badger: $12.67Stanton: $12.62Hospers: $12.58Norway: $12.53Everly: $12.51Hazleton: $12.48West Point: $12.39Preston: $12.38Alburnett: $12.30Hubbard: $12.30Moravia: $12.27Hedrick: $12.22Carson: $12.22Wheatland: $12.18Schaller: $12.14Hawkeye: $12.11Afton: $11.96Lowden: $11.93Albert City: $11.88Runnells: $11.79Allerton: $11.72Merrill: $11.64Ellsworth: $11.57Morning Sun: $11.50Battle Creek: $11.49Wall Lake: $11.43West Bend: $11.42Dakota City: $11.39Dunkerton: $11.30Sutherland: $11.25Arcadia: $11.23Whiting: $11.21Shelby: $11.17Blairstown: $11.04Manilla: $11.01Hamburg: $10.95Ireton: $10.93Fontanelle: $10.88Richland: $10.82Grand Mound: $10.78Batavia: $10.77Cambridge: $10.53Lovilia: $10.46Swisher: $10.39Schleswig: $10.39Melbourne: $10.38Radcliffe: $10.37Stacyville: $10.36Ventura: $10.22Milo: $10.20Hartford: $10.16What Cheer: $10.01Newhall: $9.99Cumming: $9.85Graettinger: $9.81Breda: $9.80Doon: $9.78Long Grove: $9.59Alleman: $9.12Winthrop: $8.94Crescent: $8.72Ainsworth: $8.62Keosauqua: $8.58Grand Junction: $8.57Princeton: $8.24Gilman: $8.10Lakeside: $8.10Kellogg: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Agency: $7.94Hills: $7.94Fremont: $7.86Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Beacon: $7.56Larchwood: $7.52Sully: $7.41Fruitland: $7.21Lawton: $7.10Marquette: $7.08Wayland: $7.07Raymond: $6.85Keystone: $6.80Shueyville: $6.79New Virginia: $5.97University Park: $5.27Orleans: $4.13Okoboji: $3.83Kanawha: $18.11$3.83 lowest$24.81 highestmiddle
See all 184
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Exira$24.81766
2Rolfe$22.67505
3Dayton$22.51766
4Charter Oak$21.32521
5Correctionville$19.84759
6Pomeroy$19.60511
7Allison$19.06937
8Dumont$19.04614
9Seymour$18.78646
10Dexter$18.69631
11Fonda$18.52636
12Kanawha$18.11638
13Swea City$18.04545
14Alden$17.90738
15Elma$17.82493
16Dows$17.70509
17New Hartford$17.69555
18Walnut$17.46728
19Murray$17.44609
20Thompson$17.25478
21Gowrie$17.17943
22Ashton$17.17434
23Colo$17.14856
24Latimer$16.96477
25Adair$16.84792
26Elk Horn$16.78631
27Oxford$16.70715
28Buffalo Center$16.58839
29Whittemore$16.54478
30Bancroft$16.52677
31Titonka$16.45491
32Eldon$16.42788
33Early$16.35571
34Truro$16.34515
35Scranton$16.01496
36Armstrong$15.87847
37Ruthven$15.84710
38Minden$15.77581
39Walker$15.74671
40Newell$15.49850
41Riceville$15.31807
42Neola$15.30917
43Russell$15.18475
44Gilbertville$15.15792
45Stanwood$15.12612
46Stratford$15.03688
47Zearing$14.99508
48Readlyn$14.99857
49Maynard$14.85466
50Wyoming$14.81526
51Humeston$14.80472
52Hopkinton$14.79622
53Essex$14.76721
54Gilmore City$14.60484
55Garnavillo$14.52751
56Maxwell$14.50862
57Sabula$14.38498
58Collins$14.32503
59Clermont$14.30571
60Moulton$14.25596
61Mcgregor$14.20725
62Olin$14.19652
63Primghar$14.18893
64Garwin$14.08469
65Farragut$14.07480
66Elgin$14.05676
67Lime Springs$13.95467
68Dow City$13.94477
69Ossian$13.88777
70Redfield$13.73719
71Victor$13.72852
72Edgewood$13.64908
73Sioux Rapids$13.63722
74Donnellson$13.63859
75Albion$13.58444
76Gladbrook$13.58775
77Lamont$13.57429
78New Albin$13.55435
79Rockford$13.52722
80Boyden$13.39694
81Anita$13.28953
82Van Horne$13.27768
83Keota$13.21888
84De Soto$13.18937
85Quasqueton$13.12587
86Farmington$13.10583
87Anthon$13.05534
88Little Rock$13.03447
89Coggon$12.99691
90Earlville$12.90713
91Brighton$12.88592
92Danville$12.87910
93Montrose$12.78734
94Goldfield$12.73617
95Wellsburg$12.68709
96Delmar$12.68541
97Badger$12.67540
98Stanton$12.62664
99Hospers$12.58703
100Norway$12.53463
101Everly$12.51570
102Hazleton$12.48711
103West Point$12.39903
104Preston$12.38940
105Alburnett$12.30672
106Hubbard$12.30837
107Moravia$12.27625
108Hedrick$12.22717
109Carson$12.22772
110Wheatland$12.18765
111Schaller$12.14702
112Hawkeye$12.11429
113Afton$11.96864
114Lowden$11.93767
115Albert City$11.88627
116Runnells$11.79467
117Allerton$11.72432
118Merrill$11.64713
119Ellsworth$11.57495
120Morning Sun$11.50702
121Battle Creek$11.49683
122Wall Lake$11.43739
123West Bend$11.42770
124Dakota City$11.39764
125Dunkerton$11.30840
126Sutherland$11.25628
127Arcadia$11.23588
128Whiting$11.21725
129Shelby$11.17730
130Blairstown$11.04705
131Manilla$11.01756
132Hamburg$10.95863
133Ireton$10.93571
134Fontanelle$10.88684
135Richland$10.82532
136Grand Mound$10.78608
137Batavia$10.77434
138Cambridge$10.53844
139Lovilia$10.46456
140Swisher$10.39909
141Schleswig$10.39820
142Melbourne$10.38771
143Radcliffe$10.37540
144Stacyville$10.36436
145Ventura$10.22701
146Milo$10.20762
147Hartford$10.16729
148What Cheer$10.01595
149Newhall$9.99887
150Cumming$9.85527
151Graettinger$9.81810
152Breda$9.80492
153Doon$9.78640
154Long Grove$9.59849
155Alleman$9.12439
156Winthrop$8.94814
157Crescent$8.72626
158Ainsworth$8.62511
159Keosauqua$8.58944
160Grand Junction$8.57715
161Princeton$8.24917
162Gilman$8.10530
163Lakeside$8.10695
164Kellogg$8.10597
165Grandview$8.10431
166Agency$7.94623
167Hills$7.94911
168Fremont$7.86688
169Delhi$7.81438
170Klemme$7.74429
171Beacon$7.56434
172Larchwood$7.52954
173Sully$7.41891
174Fruitland$7.21928
175Lawton$7.10949
176Marquette$7.08434
177Wayland$7.07935
178Raymond$6.85754
179Keystone$6.80616
180Shueyville$6.79725
181New Virginia$5.97499
182University Park$5.27476
183Orleans$4.13503
184Okoboji$3.83729

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$201,27246%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$102,02823%
  • Debt Service Levy$75,74917%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$55,43113%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Kanawha’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 29¢ of every dollar29¢Public Safety: 23¢ of every dollar23¢Public Works: 19¢ of every dollar19¢General Government: 14¢ of every dollar14¢Culture and Recreation: 8¢ of every dollar8¢Everything else: 8¢ of every dollar8¢

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 183 Iowa cities closest in size (430–950 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (183)
Business Type / Enterprise29¢40¢
Public Safety23¢9¢
Public Works19¢17¢
General Government14¢12¢
Culture and Recreation8¢9¢
Everything else8¢7¢

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 Safety$299,78435%
  • General Government$227,98027%
  • Public Works$135,55016%
  • Culture and Recreation$94,11511%
  • Debt Service$78,0209%
  • Community and Economic Development$7,0001%
  • Health and Social Services$3,0000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($337,131 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$145,094$121,657
Public Safety$211,754$236,252
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$125,087$123,296
Debt Service$85,895$85,395
Culture and Recreation$94,717$85,379
Community and Economic Development$5,000$3,630
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$488,102$206,011

What it spent each year

FY24 left out4

$1.2M
$1.1M
’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’25

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 every year

Road Use Tax for streets, the commercial and industrial tax “backfill”, and ambulance reimbursement, paid every year by formula: $93,449 in FY25, down 5% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 24% less. Grants are below.

In today's dollarsActual dollars
$50,000$87,500$125,000$162,500$200,000’19’21’23’25Today's $Actual
$50,000$87,500$125,000$162,500$200,000’19’20’21’22’23’24’25Today's $Actual
Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$90,808$90,548$92,944$93,449
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$27,020$10,631––

Grants and project money

State grants and money for specific projects (roads, development, natural resources) vary with what the city applies for and wins, so they aren’t counted as the state’s regular support.

$21,213
$330
’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
  • State grants$330100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$1,634
FY20$11,727
FY21$1,684
FY22$1,567
FY23$2,142
FY24$21,213
FY25$330
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$1,634
FY20$11,727
FY21$1,684
FY22$1,567
FY23$2,142
FY24$21,213
FY25$330

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−12%$84,229 → $93,449, up 11% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 12% 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 36% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 9% more.

$112,468
$102,547
’19’20’21’22’23’24’25

Federal grants, for comparison: $3,796 in FY25.

Elections

Most recent: November 4, 2025

City · 3

3 seats: the top 3 win.

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

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress6

Dennis Guth (Sen. 28)Mark I. Thompson (Rep. 56)

U.S. House:District 4

Hancock CountyWest Hancock schools