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Local taxes › Harrison County › Magnolia

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Magnolia

Harrison County · How cities work

$3,010 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($35.75 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,240 a yearof that goes to the city ($14.68 per $1,000)
$67,373property taxes the city levies, FY27
$101,700city 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.

  • Alvin PloenMagnolia City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • David WeigeltMagnolia Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Lisa PittMagnolia City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Thomas J. FisherMagnolia City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Colton AndersonMagnolia City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Diane ArcherMagnolia 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 Magnolia

Homes and businesses in most of Magnolia pay a combined $35.75 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Harrison County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $14.68. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Magnolia 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$32.81$12.29
FY21$32.23$12.19
FY22$32.52$12.20
FY23$34.13$12.51
FY24$35.33$13.51
FY25$36.51$14.90
FY26$35.19$13.12
FY27$35.75$14.68
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$32.81$12.29
FY21$32.23$12.19
FY22$32.52$12.20
FY23$34.13$12.51
FY24$35.33$13.51
FY25$36.51$14.90
FY26$35.19$13.12
FY27$35.75$14.68

Compared with places this size3

Magnolia’s city property tax rate of $14.68 per $1,000 is the 42nd highest of 197 Iowa cities with 130–290 people. The middle of the group is $11.54.

Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Fenton: $22.05Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Coin: $19.59Chester: $19.30Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Cumberland: $18.42Jamaica: $18.24Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Pisgah: $17.09Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Prescott: $16.53Montour: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Woodburn: $15.59Kamrar: $15.47Greeley: $15.23Goodell: $15.16Riverton: $14.94Marathon: $14.89Ladora: $14.74Bagley: $14.63Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Halbur: $14.37Crystal Lake: $14.36Kimballton: $14.27Steamboat Rock: $14.19Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Stockport: $13.68Kellerton: $13.60Quimby: $13.58Meservey: $13.43Leland: $13.31Harcourt: $13.21Calumet: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Silver City: $12.87Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Clemons: $12.69Blencoe: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Clearfield: $12.50Kensett: $12.47Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Modale: $12.34Bridgewater: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Cushing: $12.18Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Macedonia: $12.12Webb: $12.10Paton: $12.09Decatur: $12.08Kiron: $12.03Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92New Providence: $11.88Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Joice: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Cantril: $11.69Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Cincinnati: $11.57Beaman: $11.54Delta: $11.52Westside: $11.45College Springs: $11.44Holland: $11.37Mallard: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Frederika: $10.99Alexander: $10.90Goose Lake: $10.89Yale: $10.85Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Hornick: $10.74Woden: $10.68Cleghorn: $10.49Barnes City: $10.44Lytton: $10.38Stockton: $10.37Rhodes: $10.36Randall: $10.35Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $10.28Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24Hancock: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Melvin: $10.05Defiance: $10.05Barnum: $9.96Panama: $9.85Grafton: $9.83Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Ionia: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Luxemburg: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Westphalia: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Luther: $8.83Harvey: $8.71Washta: $8.65Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Rowley: $8.31South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Fostoria: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Bertram: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Lockridge: $7.92Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Mcclelland: $7.79Lidderdale: $7.68Pulaski: $7.58Fredonia: $7.55Braddyville: $7.49Harpers Ferry: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Franklin: $7.31Weldon: $7.18Packwood: $6.77Libertyville: $6.60Keswick: $6.49Crawfordsville: $6.44Gravity: $6.18Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Panorama Park: $4.62Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87Sherrill: $2.66Rickardsville: $2.27New Liberty: $2.27Magnolia: $14.68$2.27 lowest$25.07 highestmiddle
See all 197
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Brayton$25.07138
2Harris$23.13145
3Fenton$22.05250
4Soldier$21.92176
5Coulter$21.80220
6Chelsea$21.61207
7Smithland$21.12184
8Volga$20.23200
9Alta Vista$19.88219
10Arthur$19.86218
11Coin$19.59171
12Chester$19.30134
13Garden Grove$19.20173
14Hastings$18.95157
15Swaledale$18.62136
16Cumberland$18.42248
17Jamaica$18.24196
18Hillsboro$17.68158
19Bristow$17.39139
20Woolstock$17.26141
21Pisgah$17.09248
22Lakota$16.84261
23Marble Rock$16.78258
24Auburn$16.65253
25Prescott$16.53186
26Montour$16.37199
27Geneva$16.25137
28Corwith$16.22259
29Deep River$16.18243
30Waucoma$16.17235
31Little Sioux$15.74170
32Moorhead$15.68186
33Onslow$15.63198
34Linden$15.62206
35Woodburn$15.59133
36Kamrar$15.47178
37Greeley$15.23216
38Goodell$15.16139
39Riverton$14.94243
40Marathon$14.89221
41Ladora$14.74223
42Magnolia$14.68194
43Bagley$14.63230
44Davis City$14.45178
45Lucas$14.40176
46Halbur$14.37268
47Crystal Lake$14.36243
48Kimballton$14.27281
49Steamboat Rock$14.19261
50Westgate$14.05190
51Palmer$13.89137
52Stockport$13.68272
53Kellerton$13.60241
54Quimby$13.58245
55Meservey$13.43212
56Leland$13.31240
57Harcourt$13.21257
58Calumet$13.16144
59Ridgeway$13.10261
60Farmersburg$13.09264
61Portsmouth$13.05187
62Clutier$13.03209
63Silver City$12.87244
64Delaware$12.86139
65Patterson$12.84176
66Martelle$12.83250
67Malcom$12.82257
68Clemons$12.69135
69Blencoe$12.57223
70Maurice$12.56271
71Clearfield$12.50277
72Kensett$12.47256
73Millersburg$12.40135
74Aurora$12.40165
75Modale$12.34284
76Bridgewater$12.29145
77Blakesburg$12.21273
78Cushing$12.18225
79Hanlontown$12.17200
80Stout$12.14194
81Macedonia$12.12266
82Webb$12.10139
83Paton$12.09217
84Decatur$12.08174
85Kiron$12.03262
86Rembrandt$12.03199
87Shambaugh$11.98161
88Lone Rock$11.92143
89New Providence$11.88233
90Henderson$11.85140
91Parnell$11.78190
92Reasnor$11.76157
93Joice$11.72206
94Atalissa$11.71287
95Cantril$11.69224
96Wadena$11.65201
97Exline$11.60157
98Cincinnati$11.57280
99Beaman$11.54155
100Delta$11.52257
101Westside$11.45283
102College Springs$11.44172
103Holland$11.37261
104Mallard$11.28255
105Renwick$11.16228
106Linn Grove$11.15155
107Dundee$11.14193
108Randolph$11.08183
109Leighton$11.07153
110Rake$11.05179
111Frederika$10.99206
112Alexander$10.90165
113Goose Lake$10.89250
114Yale$10.85265
115Lambs Grove$10.78174
116Wallingford$10.75154
117Hornick$10.74255
118Woden$10.68183
119Cleghorn$10.49235
120Barnes City$10.44152
121Lytton$10.38274
122Stockton$10.37171
123Rhodes$10.36269
124Randall$10.35156
125Dedham$10.28221
126Deloit$10.28246
127Protivin$10.28264
128Meriden$10.28175
129Drakesville$10.24170
130Hancock$10.13199
131La Motte$10.09235
132Melvin$10.05196
133Defiance$10.05248
134Barnum$9.96186
135Panama$9.85234
136Grafton$9.83212
137Clare$9.81133
138Tingley$9.81146
139Ionia$9.65220
140Van Wert$9.62175
141Rock Falls$9.61143
142Kirkville$9.59159
143Luxemburg$9.58240
144Rippey$9.42217
145Westphalia$9.18133
146Elberon$9.16178
147Dixon$9.03204
148Blairsburg$8.93175
149Prairieburg$8.91156
150Oakville$8.89198
151Luther$8.83147
152Harvey$8.71242
153Washta$8.65206
154Moorland$8.61169
155Pilot Mound$8.54155
156Ollie$8.44196
157Thor$8.38182
158Rowley$8.31264
159South English$8.27196
160Thurman$8.26162
161Boxholm$8.11177
162Fostoria$8.10229
163Low Moor$8.10242
164Bertram$8.10267
165Laurel$8.10214
166Lineville$8.10194
167Lockridge$7.92245
168Mount Auburn$7.86162
169Haverhill$7.86164
170Grand River$7.86192
171Olds$7.86174
172Dickens$7.86146
173Castalia$7.86141
174Rose Hill$7.86156
175West Chester$7.82147
176Mcclelland$7.79147
177Lidderdale$7.68162
178Pulaski$7.58259
179Fredonia$7.55227
180Braddyville$7.49142
181Harpers Ferry$7.49273
182Alvord$7.41216
183Franklin$7.31133
184Weldon$7.18134
185Packwood$6.77186
186Libertyville$6.60278
187Keswick$6.49238
188Crawfordsville$6.44278
189Gravity$6.18149
190Oakland Acres$5.88178
191Springbrook$5.79145
192Maysville$5.77155
193Panorama Park$4.62142
194Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
195Sherrill$2.66176
196Rickardsville$2.27204
197New Liberty$2.27141

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$35,72054%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$27,58642%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$3,1535%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Magnolia’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 44¢ of every dollar44¢General Government: 31¢ of every dollar31¢Public Works: 13¢ of every dollar13¢Culture and Recreation: 6¢ of every dollarPublic Safety: 5¢ of every dollarEverything else: 1¢ of every dollar

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 195 Iowa cities closest in size (130–290 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (195)
Business Type / Enterprise44¢34¢
General Government31¢20¢
Public Works13¢23¢
Culture and Recreation6¢8¢
Public Safety5¢9¢
Everything else1¢2¢

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.

  • General Government$61,00060%
  • Public Works$19,00019%
  • Culture and Recreation$10,50010%
  • Public Safety$9,2009%
  • Community and Economic Development$2,0002%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($78,612 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$74,500$15,632
Public Safety$8,200$39,739
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$49,400$56,266
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$5,500$12,383
Community and Economic Development$1,500$450
Capital Projects$26,228$0
Business Type / Enterprise$78,412$68,077

What it spent each year

FY24 left out4

$1.6M
$214,271
’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: $27,232 in FY25, up 35% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 7% more. Grants are below.

In today's dollarsActual dollars
$10,000$17,500$25,000$32,500$40,000’19’21’23’25Today's $Actual
$10,000$17,500$25,000$32,500$40,000’19’20’21’22’23’24’25Today's $Actual
Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$22,300$22,636$23,260$27,232

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.

$2,440
$0
’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$300
    FY20$0
    FY21$2,440
    FY22$0
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$300
    FY20$0
    FY21$2,440
    FY22$0
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)+7%$20,206 → $27,232, up 35% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 7% more

    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 56% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 24% more.

    $19,283
    $18,895
    ’19’20’21’22’23’24’25

    Federal grants, for comparison: $13,158 in FY23.

    Elections

    Most recent: November 4, 2025

    City · 2

    3 seats: the top 3 win.

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

    Related places

    At the Statehouse and in Congress6

    Mark Costello (Sen. 8)Matt W. Windschitl (Rep. 15)

    U.S. House:District 4

    Harrison CountyLogan-Magnolia schools