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Local taxes › Harrison County › Pisgah

City

Pisgah

Harrison County · How cities work

$3,010 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($35.74 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,440 a yearof that goes to the city ($17.09 per $1,000)
$93,868property taxes the city levies, FY27
$293,526city 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.

  • Meredith D. JensonPisgah City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Ronny WoodwardPisgah City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Tim HamerPisgah City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Bradford MitschPisgah Mayor · elected November 7, 2023
  • Karen WilsonPisgah City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Michael DreessenPisgah City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Nichole MadsenPisgah 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 Pisgah

Homes and businesses in most of Pisgah pay a combined $35.74 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, $17.09. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$39.24$20.68
FY21$38.18$20.68
FY22$38.26$20.68
FY23$38.87$20.88
FY24$42.00$23.43
FY25$47.89$28.75
FY26$48.02$28.36
FY27$35.74$17.09
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$39.24$20.68
FY21$38.18$20.68
FY22$38.26$20.68
FY23$38.87$20.88
FY24$42.00$23.43
FY25$47.89$28.75
FY26$48.02$28.36
FY27$35.74$17.09

Compared with places this size3

Pisgah’s city property tax rate of $17.09 per $1,000 is the 20th highest of 199 Iowa cities with 170–370 people. The middle of the group is $12.03.

Stanhope: $29.10Fenton: $22.05Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Elliott: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Coin: $19.59Garden Grove: $19.20Fort Atkinson: $19.19Cumberland: $18.42Jamaica: $18.24Massena: $18.23Callender: $17.78Ringsted: $17.65Pierson: $17.12Lohrville: $16.95Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Mccallsburg: $16.58Prescott: $16.53Irwin: $16.46Montour: $16.37Lewis: $16.25Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Granville: $16.00Minburn: $15.75Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Kamrar: $15.47Peterson: $15.27Greeley: $15.23Riverton: $14.94Marathon: $14.89Ryan: $14.84Ladora: $14.74Magnolia: $14.68Bagley: $14.63Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Garrison: $14.38Halbur: $14.37Crystal Lake: $14.36Kimballton: $14.27Steamboat Rock: $14.19Westgate: $14.05Mystic: $14.01Diagonal: $13.91Mondamin: $13.82Fertile: $13.70Stockport: $13.68Kellerton: $13.60Quimby: $13.58Meservey: $13.43Persia: $13.41Lacona: $13.38Leland: $13.31Ute: $13.26Plymouth: $13.21Harcourt: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Silver City: $12.87Patterson: $12.84Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Blencoe: $12.57Williams: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Clearfield: $12.50Kensett: $12.47Mccausland: $12.45Spillville: $12.40Modale: $12.34Mingo: $12.31Brandon: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Cushing: $12.18Bonaparte: $12.17Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Macedonia: $12.12Paton: $12.09Decatur: $12.08Kiron: $12.03Rembrandt: $12.03Liscomb: $11.96New Providence: $11.88Parnell: $11.78Joice: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Cantril: $11.69Kelley: $11.69Orient: $11.66Wadena: $11.65Cincinnati: $11.57Delta: $11.52Terril: $11.48Westside: $11.45College Springs: $11.44Holland: $11.37Churdan: $11.31Mallard: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Rake: $11.05Frederika: $10.99Letts: $10.91Goose Lake: $10.89Birmingham: $10.87Yale: $10.85Lambs Grove: $10.78Hornick: $10.74Woden: $10.68Bode: $10.64Cleghorn: $10.49Calamus: $10.47Danbury: $10.43Lytton: $10.38Stockton: $10.37Rhodes: $10.36Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $10.28Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24Bronson: $10.14Hancock: $10.13Rudd: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Melvin: $10.05Defiance: $10.05Floyd: $10.02Barnum: $9.96Panama: $9.85Grafton: $9.83Ionia: $9.65Salix: $9.63Van Wert: $9.62Luxemburg: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Farnhamville: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Middletown: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Lester: $8.94Blairsburg: $8.93Oakville: $8.89Harvey: $8.71Washta: $8.65Moorland: $8.61Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Rowley: $8.31South English: $8.27Boxholm: $8.11Bertram: $8.10Fostoria: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Nichols: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Luana: $7.98Lockridge: $7.92Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Pulaski: $7.58Sheldahl: $7.56Fredonia: $7.55Harpers Ferry: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Donahue: $6.83Packwood: $6.77Libertyville: $6.60Keswick: $6.49Crawfordsville: $6.44Holy Cross: $5.91Oakland Acres: $5.88Conesville: $5.86Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87Wahpeton: $3.19West Okoboji: $2.92Sherrill: $2.66Rickardsville: $2.27Pisgah: $17.09$2.27 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 199
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Stanhope$29.10354
2Fenton$22.05250
3Soldier$21.92176
4Coulter$21.80220
5Chelsea$21.61207
6Elliott$21.61328
7Smithland$21.12184
8Volga$20.23200
9Alta Vista$19.88219
10Arthur$19.86218
11Coin$19.59171
12Garden Grove$19.20173
13Fort Atkinson$19.19300
14Cumberland$18.42248
15Jamaica$18.24196
16Massena$18.23352
17Callender$17.78361
18Ringsted$17.65346
19Pierson$17.12335
20Pisgah$17.09248
21Lohrville$16.95366
22Lakota$16.84261
23Marble Rock$16.78258
24Auburn$16.65253
25Mccallsburg$16.58356
26Prescott$16.53186
27Irwin$16.46320
28Montour$16.37199
29Lewis$16.25358
30Corwith$16.22259
31Deep River$16.18243
32Waucoma$16.17235
33Granville$16.00302
34Minburn$15.75317
35Little Sioux$15.74170
36Moorhead$15.68186
37Onslow$15.63198
38Linden$15.62206
39Kamrar$15.47178
40Peterson$15.27321
41Greeley$15.23216
42Riverton$14.94243
43Marathon$14.89221
44Ryan$14.84348
45Ladora$14.74223
46Magnolia$14.68194
47Bagley$14.63230
48Davis City$14.45178
49Lucas$14.40176
50Garrison$14.38345
51Halbur$14.37268
52Crystal Lake$14.36243
53Kimballton$14.27281
54Steamboat Rock$14.19261
55Westgate$14.05190
56Mystic$14.01318
57Diagonal$13.91331
58Mondamin$13.82335
59Fertile$13.70300
60Stockport$13.68272
61Kellerton$13.60241
62Quimby$13.58245
63Meservey$13.43212
64Persia$13.41292
65Lacona$13.38336
66Leland$13.31240
67Ute$13.26326
68Plymouth$13.21368
69Harcourt$13.21257
70Bennett$13.16330
71Ridgeway$13.10261
72Farmersburg$13.09264
73Portsmouth$13.05187
74Clutier$13.03209
75Menlo$12.92347
76Templeton$12.91337
77Silver City$12.87244
78Patterson$12.84176
79Martelle$12.83250
80Malcom$12.82257
81Blencoe$12.57223
82Williams$12.57299
83Maurice$12.56271
84Clearfield$12.50277
85Kensett$12.47256
86Mccausland$12.45314
87Spillville$12.40371
88Modale$12.34284
89Mingo$12.31314
90Brandon$12.29331
91Blakesburg$12.21273
92Cushing$12.18225
93Bonaparte$12.17357
94Hanlontown$12.17200
95Stout$12.14194
96Macedonia$12.12266
97Paton$12.09217
98Decatur$12.08174
99Kiron$12.03262
100Rembrandt$12.03199
101Liscomb$11.96292
102New Providence$11.88233
103Parnell$11.78190
104Joice$11.72206
105Atalissa$11.71287
106Cantril$11.69224
107Kelley$11.69312
108Orient$11.66363
109Wadena$11.65201
110Cincinnati$11.57280
111Delta$11.52257
112Terril$11.48310
113Westside$11.45283
114College Springs$11.44172
115Holland$11.37261
116Churdan$11.31359
117Mallard$11.28255
118Renwick$11.16228
119Dundee$11.14193
120Randolph$11.08183
121Rake$11.05179
122Frederika$10.99206
123Letts$10.91358
124Goose Lake$10.89250
125Birmingham$10.87371
126Yale$10.85265
127Lambs Grove$10.78174
128Hornick$10.74255
129Woden$10.68183
130Bode$10.64304
131Cleghorn$10.49235
132Calamus$10.47348
133Danbury$10.43315
134Lytton$10.38274
135Stockton$10.37171
136Rhodes$10.36269
137Dedham$10.28221
138Deloit$10.28246
139Protivin$10.28264
140Meriden$10.28175
141Drakesville$10.24170
142Bronson$10.14294
143Hancock$10.13199
144Rudd$10.13339
145La Motte$10.09235
146Melvin$10.05196
147Defiance$10.05248
148Floyd$10.02297
149Barnum$9.96186
150Panama$9.85234
151Grafton$9.83212
152Ionia$9.65220
153Salix$9.63303
154Van Wert$9.62175
155Luxemburg$9.58240
156Rippey$9.42217
157Farnhamville$9.18364
158Elberon$9.16178
159Middletown$9.16365
160Dixon$9.03204
161Lester$8.94309
162Blairsburg$8.93175
163Oakville$8.89198
164Harvey$8.71242
165Washta$8.65206
166Moorland$8.61169
167Ollie$8.44196
168Thor$8.38182
169Rowley$8.31264
170South English$8.27196
171Boxholm$8.11177
172Bertram$8.10267
173Fostoria$8.10229
174Low Moor$8.10242
175Nichols$8.10317
176Laurel$8.10214
177Lineville$8.10194
178Luana$7.98303
179Lockridge$7.92245
180Grand River$7.86192
181Olds$7.86174
182Pulaski$7.58259
183Sheldahl$7.56312
184Fredonia$7.55227
185Harpers Ferry$7.49273
186Alvord$7.41216
187Donahue$6.83336
188Packwood$6.77186
189Libertyville$6.60278
190Keswick$6.49238
191Crawfordsville$6.44278
192Holy Cross$5.91348
193Oakland Acres$5.88178
194Conesville$5.86350
195Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
196Wahpeton$3.19337
197West Okoboji$2.92311
198Sherrill$2.66176
199Rickardsville$2.27204

The $8.10 limit

Pisgah’s general levy is $8.05 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.05 below the limit.4 392 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.37 · FY26 $8.29 · FY27 $8.05 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $9.04 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$4.75 · $25,933
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$4.30 · $23,486

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$43,96147%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$25,93328%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$23,48625%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Pisgah’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 35¢ of every dollar35¢Public Works: 22¢ of every dollar22¢General Government: 16¢ of every dollar16¢Capital Projects: 11¢ of every dollar11¢Debt Service: 7¢ of every dollar7¢Everything else: 9¢ of every dollar9¢

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 197 Iowa cities closest in size (170–370 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (197)
Business Type / Enterprise35¢36¢
Public Works22¢21¢
General Government16¢19¢
Capital Projects11¢3¢
Debt Service7¢3¢
Everything else9¢19¢

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$113,36239%
  • General Government$89,46430%
  • Debt Service$40,00014%
  • Culture and Recreation$26,8509%
  • Public Safety$19,8507%
  • Community and Economic Development$4,0001%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($181,095 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$78,365$78,451
Public Safety$10,670$17,259
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$58,265$67,751
Debt Service$35,000$0
Culture and Recreation$6,920$18,912
Community and Economic Development$1,500$21,772
Capital Projects$35,000$0
Business Type / Enterprise$143,800$117,574

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$617,994
$502,836

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Pisgah owes

$562,616 at June 30, 2026: $2,260 per resident. 353rd most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$671,702
$562,616
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$562,616$2,260
2025$576,254$2,314
2024$589,668$2,368
2023$602,863$2,421
2022$612,835$2,461
2021$618,840$2,485
2020$671,702$2,698
2019$408,408$1,640
2018$409,791$1,646
2017$417,826$1,678
2016$439,996$1,767
2015$465,815$1,871
2014$465,815$1,871
2013$509,290$2,045
2012$540,252$2,170
2011$65,000$261
2010$82,000$329
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$562,616$2,260
2025$576,254$2,314
2024$589,668$2,368
2023$602,863$2,421
2022$612,835$2,461
2021$618,840$2,485
2020$671,702$2,698
2019$408,408$1,640
2018$409,791$1,646
2017$417,826$1,678
2016$439,996$1,767
2015$465,815$1,871
2014$465,815$1,871
2013$509,290$2,045
2012$540,252$2,170
2011$65,000$261
2010$82,000$329

Up 586% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $514,616, 111% of the limit of about $464,885 (5% of $9.3M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

3 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
General ObligationSEWER SYSTEM LINING2059$258,601
General ObligationUSDA Lagoon Loan2059$256,015
Revenue Bonds3rd cell lagoon2042$48,000

General obligation bonds are repaid from property taxes; revenue bonds and loans from the fees or revenue they’re tied to. On the Treasurer’s site

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. Pisgah’s latest audit has them: Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2020 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Financial Statement for the period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2020 (PDF), released Tuesday, September 21, 2021, by a CPA firm.

1 earlier report for Pisgah

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? 11

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: $28,678 in FY25, up 131% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 84% more. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$25,333$27,442$28,284$28,431
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)–$346$297$247

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.

$244,980
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$244,980
    FY21$22,953
    FY22$0
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$244,980
    FY21$22,953
    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)+90%$11,932 → $28,431, up 138% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 90% more
    • Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)−59%$478 → $247, 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 50% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 19% more.

    $25,001

    Federal grants, for comparison: $17,943 in FY23.

    Business awards

    Every award statewide

    Elections

    Running for mayor and city council

    Filing opens Monday, August 23, 2027: in 285 days.

    For the Tuesday, November 2, 2027 election, candidates file Monday, August 23, 2027 to Thursday, September 16, 2027 with the county auditor (or the city clerk, if the auditor names the clerk to take them)12.

    In a city that can hold a primary, filing runs Monday, August 9, 2027 to Thursday, August 26, 2027.

    Most recent: November 4, 2025

    City · 2

    2 seats: the top 2 win.

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

    Who has filed for Tuesday, November 2, 2027

    Filing hasn’t opened. These seats are expected on the ballot.

    • Pisgah City Council At-Large (3 seats)
      Now held by Karen Wilson, Michael Dreessen, Nichole Madsen
    • Pisgah Mayor
      Now held by Bradford Mitsch

    Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here13.

    Past ballot measures

    None found since 2022.

    When a measure can be on the ballot

    • Tuesday, March 2, 2027 · no bond or debt questions
    • Tuesday, September 14, 2027 · no bond or debt questions
    • Tuesday, November 2, 2027 · any question, including bonds
    • Tuesday, March 7, 2028 · no bond or debt questions

    Bonds and other borrowing can only go on the November ballot14.

    Related places

    At the Statehouse and in Congress15

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

    U.S. House:District 4

    Harrison CountyWest Harrison schools