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Local taxes › Henry County › New London

City

New London

Henry County · How cities work

$3,150 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($37.35 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,060 a yearof that goes to the city ($12.56 per $1,000)
$633,440property taxes the city levies, FY27
$1.6Mcity 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.

  • Brad HelmersonNew London City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Dan BernerNew London City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Scott CampbellNew London City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Dawn SinesNew London City Council · elected November 7, 2023
  • Kirk MillerNew London Mayor · elected November 7, 2023
  • Travis BenzNew London City Council · 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 New London

Homes and businesses in most of New London pay a combined $42.13 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Henry County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $12.56. Estimate your bill.

  • New London schools$15.6537%
  • City of New London$12.5630%
  • Henry County$9.1922%
  • Henry County Soldiers And Sailors Memorial Hospital$2.285%
  • Southeastern Community College$1.584%
  • Henry County Assessor$0.581%
  • Henry County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.28<1%

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$34.56$11.87
FY21$35.29$11.76
FY22$36.70$12.00
FY23$36.27$12.15
FY24$37.02$12.63
FY25$37.03$13.26
FY26$38.34$13.11
FY27$37.35$12.56
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$34.56$11.87
FY21$35.29$11.76
FY22$36.70$12.00
FY23$36.27$12.15
FY24$37.02$12.63
FY25$37.03$13.26
FY26$38.34$13.11
FY27$37.35$12.56

Compared with places this size3

New London’s city property tax rate of $12.56 per $1,000 is the 31st lowest of 107 Iowa cities with 1,200–2,800 people. The middle of the group is $14.25.

Eldora: $26.87Laurens: $24.16Pocahontas: $20.79Rockwell City: $20.74Bloomfield: $20.41Belmond: $19.86Sac City: $19.69Traer: $19.56Corning: $19.36Lake City: $19.32Corydon: $18.22Toledo: $18.21La Porte City: $18.08Dysart: $17.95Clarion: $17.74Britt: $17.72Missouri Valley: $17.68Manson: $16.87Nashua: $16.81Ackley: $16.63West Union: $16.60Audubon: $16.52Roland: $16.51Monona: $16.41Belle Plaine: $16.34Colfax: $16.25Durant: $16.24Lamoni: $16.15Marengo: $16.10Dike: $15.94Holstein: $15.81State Center: $15.80Pleasantville: $15.80Postville: $15.68Earlham: $15.55Shell Rock: $15.52Brooklyn: $15.49Stuart: $15.48Mount Ayr: $15.32Granger: $15.22Sigourney: $15.20Guttenberg: $15.19Logan: $15.05Sumner: $14.83Woodbine: $14.80Bedford: $14.66Lenox: $14.65Manning: $14.62Van Meter: $14.60Rock Rapids: $14.57Coon Rapids: $14.49Jesup: $14.31Nora Springs: $14.25Kingsley: $14.25Urbana: $14.20Parkersburg: $14.15Hartley: $14.11Ida Grove: $14.10Woodward: $14.05Guthrie Center: $14.04Alton: $13.87Lake Mills: $13.82Montezuma: $13.79Gilbert: $13.71Clarksville: $13.53Avoca: $13.51Wapello: $13.29Center Point: $13.19Greenfield: $13.13Hawarden: $13.02Akron: $12.93Leon: $12.93New Sharon: $12.80Slater: $12.79Bellevue: $12.67Sanborn: $12.62Lisbon: $12.50Dallas Center: $12.42Remsen: $12.32Monroe: $12.28Denver: $12.27Alta: $12.13Reinbeck: $12.10Atkins: $11.99Wellman: $11.88Blue Grass: $11.79Hull: $11.79Columbus Junction: $11.71Cascade: $11.64Mitchellville: $11.54Palo: $11.49Prairie City: $11.38Northwood: $11.28Mediapolis: $11.27Ely: $11.08Ogden: $10.99Farley: $10.91Oakland: $10.85Moville: $10.67Kalona: $10.37Walcott: $10.29Central City: $10.01Peosta: $9.82Epworth: $9.42Walford: $8.72Lone Tree: $8.13New London: $12.56$8.13 lowest$26.87 highestmiddle
See all 107
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Eldora$26.872,595
2Laurens$24.161,253
3Pocahontas$20.791,848
4Rockwell City$20.742,185
5Bloomfield$20.412,773
6Belmond$19.862,405
7Sac City$19.691,992
8Traer$19.561,547
9Corning$19.361,509
10Lake City$19.321,656
11Corydon$18.221,563
12Toledo$18.212,372
13La Porte City$18.082,267
14Dysart$17.951,266
15Clarion$17.742,751
16Britt$17.722,001
17Missouri Valley$17.682,638
18Manson$16.871,646
19Nashua$16.811,515
20Ackley$16.631,538
21West Union$16.602,435
22Audubon$16.522,008
23Roland$16.511,376
24Monona$16.411,462
25Belle Plaine$16.342,335
26Colfax$16.252,305
27Durant$16.241,798
28Lamoni$16.152,072
29Marengo$16.102,415
30Dike$15.941,293
31Holstein$15.811,475
32State Center$15.801,403
33Pleasantville$15.801,696
34Postville$15.682,418
35Earlham$15.551,411
36Shell Rock$15.521,265
37Brooklyn$15.491,474
38Stuart$15.481,887
39Mount Ayr$15.321,616
40Granger$15.222,095
41Sigourney$15.201,974
42Guttenberg$15.191,804
43Logan$15.051,351
44Sumner$14.832,032
45Woodbine$14.801,707
46Bedford$14.661,474
47Lenox$14.651,355
48Manning$14.621,390
49Van Meter$14.601,840
50Rock Rapids$14.572,709
51Coon Rapids$14.491,258
52Jesup$14.312,541
53Nora Springs$14.251,330
54Kingsley$14.251,394
55Urbana$14.201,635
56Parkersburg$14.151,986
57Hartley$14.111,584
58Ida Grove$14.101,988
59Woodward$14.051,383
60Guthrie Center$14.041,579
61Alton$13.871,248
62Lake Mills$13.822,077
63Montezuma$13.791,421
64Gilbert$13.711,397
65Clarksville$13.531,238
66Avoca$13.511,685
67Wapello$13.292,026
68Center Point$13.192,578
69Greenfield$13.131,988
70Hawarden$13.022,630
71Akron$12.931,545
72Leon$12.931,779
73New Sharon$12.801,249
74Slater$12.791,626
75Bellevue$12.672,321
76Sanborn$12.621,463
77New London$12.561,853
78Lisbon$12.502,238
79Dallas Center$12.421,993
80Remsen$12.321,681
81Monroe$12.282,021
82Denver$12.271,955
83Alta$12.132,039
84Reinbeck$12.101,673
85Atkins$11.992,168
86Wellman$11.881,531
87Blue Grass$11.791,707
88Hull$11.792,459
89Columbus Junction$11.711,794
90Cascade$11.642,396
91Mitchellville$11.542,686
92Palo$11.491,554
93Prairie City$11.381,722
94Northwood$11.282,047
95Mediapolis$11.271,679
96Ely$11.082,371
97Ogden$10.991,970
98Farley$10.911,723
99Oakland$10.851,519
100Moville$10.671,707
101Kalona$10.372,762
102Walcott$10.291,556
103Central City$10.011,254
104Peosta$9.822,195
105Epworth$9.422,042
106Walford$8.721,357
107Lone Tree$8.131,341

The $8.10 limit

New London’s general levy is $7.94 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.16 below the limit.4 497 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.10 · FY26 $8.02 · FY27 $7.94 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $4.62 more5

  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$3.93 · $197,637
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$0.70 · $35,000

Tax increment financing (TIF)

New London’s TIF revenue, from its reports to the state. It budgeted $20,000 in TIF revenue for FY25.

YearTIF revenue
FY22$2,530
FY23$12,510
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY22$2,530
FY23$12,510

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$399,69463%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$197,63731%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$35,0006%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of New London’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 64¢ of every dollar64¢Capital Projects: 12¢ of every dollar12¢Public Safety: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Public Works: 6¢ of every dollarCulture and Recreation: 4¢ of every dollarEverything else: 4¢ 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 106 Iowa cities closest in size (1,200–2,800 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (106)
Business Type / Enterprise64¢41¢
Capital Projects12¢13¢
Public Safety9¢11¢
Public Works6¢11¢
Culture and Recreation4¢8¢
Everything else4¢16¢

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$556,53234%
  • Culture and Recreation$413,00325%
  • Public Works$369,02122%
  • General Government$184,28411%
  • Debt Service$118,5907%
  • Capital Projects$3,0000%
  • Community and Economic Development$5000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($3.6M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$346,945$272,771
Public Safety$427,756$969,124
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$154,851$134,918
Debt Service$35,750$35,950
Culture and Recreation$246,920$278,744
Community and Economic Development$400$420
Capital Projects$3,000$633,925
Business Type / Enterprise$3.2M$3.1M

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$6.1M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What New London owes

$5.1M at June 30, 2026: $2,652 per resident. 314th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$8.7M
$5.1M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$5.1M$2,652
2025$5.7M$2,999
2024$5.8M$3,028
2023$6.3M$3,322
2022$6.0M$3,126
2021$6.7M$3,499
2020$6.9M$3,607
2019$7.5M$3,913
2018$8.0M$4,167
2017$8.4M$4,424
2016$8.3M$4,328
2015$8.7M$4,565
2014$6.9M$3,626
2013$5.3M$2,763
2012$5.1M$2,662
2011$5.2M$2,735
2010$820,221$429
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$5.1M$2,652
2025$5.7M$2,999
2024$5.8M$3,028
2023$6.3M$3,322
2022$6.0M$3,126
2021$6.7M$3,499
2020$6.9M$3,607
2019$7.5M$3,913
2018$8.0M$4,167
2017$8.4M$4,424
2016$8.3M$4,328
2015$8.7M$4,565
2014$6.9M$3,626
2013$5.3M$2,763
2012$5.1M$2,662
2011$5.2M$2,735
2010$820,221$429

Up 517% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $1.7M, 33% of the limit of about $5.2M (5% of $103.6M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

8 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsSewer - SAGR Units/Improvements to Waste Water Treatment Plant #C0583R2034$1.8M
Revenue BondsWind Energy Converter - Bond Refinance Series 20162029$925,000
General ObligationPine St. Subdivision Phase 2 - TIF2040$590,000
General ObligationPine St. Subdivision Phase 3 - TIF2042$570,000
Revenue BondsWater - Tank, Pumps & Well #D0385R2036$458,000
General ObligationPine St. Subdivision Phase 1 - TIF2036$285,000
General ObligationFire Truck Loan Two Rivers #52008056-059012033$246,491
Revenue BondsWater - Main Improvement Project Loan #D0298R2034$166,000

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. New London’s latest audit has them: Financial Statement, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Financial Statement for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Friday, January 30, 2026, by a CPA firm.

15 earlier reports for New London

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: $271,257 in FY25, up 11% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 12% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$263,702$262,838$269,793$271,257
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)–$5,840$5,006–

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.

$112,451
$4,172
  • State grants$4,172100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$68,904
FY20$112,451
FY21$740
FY22$0
FY23$0
FY24$0
FY25$4,172
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$68,904
FY20$112,451
FY21$740
FY22$0
FY23$0
FY24$0
FY25$4,172

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−12%$245,065 → $271,257, 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 35% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 8% more.

$249,013

Federal grants, for comparison: $66,792 in FY24.

Business awards

Every award statewide

State economic development awards

Community college new jobs training: 1 contract since 2005 worth $95K, for 32 pledged jobs.

Awards statewide

Elections

Running for mayor and city council

Filing opens Monday, August 23, 2027: in 284 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 · 1

3 seats: the top 3 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for New London; 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.

  • New London City Council (2 seats)
    Now held by Dawn Sines, Travis Benz
  • New London Mayor
    Now held by Kirk Miller

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 S. Lofgren (Sen. 48)Taylor R. Collins (Rep. 95)

U.S. House:District 1

Henry CountyNew London schools