Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Abigail FundermannBattle Creek City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Daltyn SwangerBattle Creek City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Jary VermeysBattle Creek Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Jessica WallaceBattle Creek City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
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 Battle Creek
Homes and businesses in most of Battle Creek pay a combined $31.26 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Ida County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $11.49. Estimate your bill.
- Everyone else$14.9648%
- City of Battle Creek$11.4937%
- Ida County$4.8215%
Rates over time
Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Battle Creek pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $29.81 | $12.71 |
| FY21 | $31.31 | $12.45 |
| FY22 | $31.45 | $12.26 |
| FY23 | $31.80 | $12.58 |
| FY24 | $31.01 | $11.60 |
| FY25 | $32.33 | $11.95 |
| FY26 | $32.27 | $12.07 |
| FY27 | $31.26 | $11.49 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $29.81 | $12.71 |
| FY21 | $31.31 | $12.45 |
| FY22 | $31.45 | $12.26 |
| FY23 | $31.80 | $12.58 |
| FY24 | $31.01 | $11.60 |
| FY25 | $32.33 | $11.95 |
| FY26 | $32.27 | $12.07 |
| FY27 | $31.26 | $11.49 |
Compared with places this size3
Battle Creek’s city property tax rate of $11.49 per $1,000 is the 60th lowest of 186 Iowa cities with 460–1,000 people. The middle of the group is $12.89.
See all 186
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exira | $24.81 | 766 |
| 2 | Rolfe | $22.67 | 505 |
| 3 | Dayton | $22.51 | 766 |
| 4 | Charter Oak | $21.32 | 521 |
| 5 | Correctionville | $19.84 | 759 |
| 6 | Pomeroy | $19.60 | 511 |
| 7 | Allison | $19.06 | 937 |
| 8 | Dumont | $19.04 | 614 |
| 9 | Seymour | $18.78 | 646 |
| 10 | Dexter | $18.69 | 631 |
| 11 | Fonda | $18.52 | 636 |
| 12 | Kanawha | $18.11 | 638 |
| 13 | Swea City | $18.04 | 545 |
| 14 | Greene | $17.91 | 971 |
| 15 | Alden | $17.90 | 738 |
| 16 | Elma | $17.82 | 493 |
| 17 | Dows | $17.70 | 509 |
| 18 | New Hartford | $17.69 | 555 |
| 19 | Lansing | $17.67 | 959 |
| 20 | Walnut | $17.46 | 728 |
| 21 | Murray | $17.44 | 609 |
| 22 | Thompson | $17.25 | 478 |
| 23 | Gowrie | $17.17 | 943 |
| 24 | Colo | $17.14 | 856 |
| 25 | Latimer | $16.96 | 477 |
| 26 | Adair | $16.84 | 792 |
| 27 | Eddyville | $16.82 | 965 |
| 28 | Elk Horn | $16.78 | 631 |
| 29 | Oxford | $16.70 | 715 |
| 30 | Buffalo Center | $16.58 | 839 |
| 31 | Whittemore | $16.54 | 478 |
| 32 | Bancroft | $16.52 | 677 |
| 33 | Titonka | $16.45 | 491 |
| 34 | Eldon | $16.42 | 788 |
| 35 | Early | $16.35 | 571 |
| 36 | Truro | $16.34 | 515 |
| 37 | Mechanicsville | $16.12 | 974 |
| 38 | Scranton | $16.01 | 496 |
| 39 | Armstrong | $15.87 | 847 |
| 40 | Ruthven | $15.84 | 710 |
| 41 | Minden | $15.77 | 581 |
| 42 | Walker | $15.74 | 671 |
| 43 | Newell | $15.49 | 850 |
| 44 | Riceville | $15.31 | 807 |
| 45 | Neola | $15.30 | 917 |
| 46 | Russell | $15.18 | 475 |
| 47 | Gilbertville | $15.15 | 792 |
| 48 | Stanwood | $15.12 | 612 |
| 49 | Stratford | $15.03 | 688 |
| 50 | Griswold | $15.01 | 975 |
| 51 | Zearing | $14.99 | 508 |
| 52 | Readlyn | $14.99 | 857 |
| 53 | Maynard | $14.85 | 466 |
| 54 | Wyoming | $14.81 | 526 |
| 55 | Humeston | $14.80 | 472 |
| 56 | Hopkinton | $14.79 | 622 |
| 57 | Essex | $14.76 | 721 |
| 58 | Gilmore City | $14.60 | 484 |
| 59 | Garnavillo | $14.52 | 751 |
| 60 | Maxwell | $14.50 | 862 |
| 61 | Sabula | $14.38 | 498 |
| 62 | Collins | $14.32 | 503 |
| 63 | Clermont | $14.30 | 571 |
| 64 | Moulton | $14.25 | 596 |
| 65 | Mcgregor | $14.20 | 725 |
| 66 | Olin | $14.19 | 652 |
| 67 | Primghar | $14.18 | 893 |
| 68 | Garwin | $14.08 | 469 |
| 69 | Farragut | $14.07 | 480 |
| 70 | Elgin | $14.05 | 676 |
| 71 | Lime Springs | $13.95 | 467 |
| 72 | Dow City | $13.94 | 477 |
| 73 | Ossian | $13.88 | 777 |
| 74 | Redfield | $13.73 | 719 |
| 75 | Victor | $13.72 | 852 |
| 76 | Edgewood | $13.64 | 908 |
| 77 | Sioux Rapids | $13.63 | 722 |
| 78 | Donnellson | $13.63 | 859 |
| 79 | Gladbrook | $13.58 | 775 |
| 80 | Rockford | $13.52 | 722 |
| 81 | Boyden | $13.39 | 694 |
| 82 | Baxter | $13.32 | 983 |
| 83 | Anita | $13.28 | 953 |
| 84 | Van Horne | $13.27 | 768 |
| 85 | Keota | $13.21 | 888 |
| 86 | Shellsburg | $13.20 | 987 |
| 87 | De Soto | $13.18 | 937 |
| 88 | Quasqueton | $13.12 | 587 |
| 89 | Farmington | $13.10 | 583 |
| 90 | Anthon | $13.05 | 534 |
| 91 | Odebolt | $13.00 | 967 |
| 92 | Coggon | $12.99 | 691 |
| 93 | Earlville | $12.90 | 713 |
| 94 | Brighton | $12.88 | 592 |
| 95 | Danville | $12.87 | 910 |
| 96 | Underwood | $12.85 | 973 |
| 97 | Montrose | $12.78 | 734 |
| 98 | Goldfield | $12.73 | 617 |
| 99 | Wellsburg | $12.68 | 709 |
| 100 | Delmar | $12.68 | 541 |
| 101 | Badger | $12.67 | 540 |
| 102 | Stanton | $12.62 | 664 |
| 103 | Hospers | $12.58 | 703 |
| 104 | Norway | $12.53 | 463 |
| 105 | Everly | $12.51 | 570 |
| 106 | Hazleton | $12.48 | 711 |
| 107 | West Point | $12.39 | 903 |
| 108 | Hinton | $12.38 | 959 |
| 109 | Preston | $12.38 | 940 |
| 110 | Alburnett | $12.30 | 672 |
| 111 | Hubbard | $12.30 | 837 |
| 112 | Moravia | $12.27 | 625 |
| 113 | Hedrick | $12.22 | 717 |
| 114 | Carson | $12.22 | 772 |
| 115 | Wheatland | $12.18 | 765 |
| 116 | Schaller | $12.14 | 702 |
| 117 | Winfield | $12.04 | 1,006 |
| 118 | Afton | $11.96 | 864 |
| 119 | Lowden | $11.93 | 767 |
| 120 | Tabor | $11.88 | 983 |
| 121 | Albert City | $11.88 | 627 |
| 122 | Aurelia | $11.84 | 970 |
| 123 | Runnells | $11.79 | 467 |
| 124 | Merrill | $11.64 | 713 |
| 125 | Ellsworth | $11.57 | 495 |
| 126 | Morning Sun | $11.50 | 702 |
| 127 | Battle Creek | $11.49 | 683 |
| 128 | Wall Lake | $11.43 | 739 |
| 129 | West Bend | $11.42 | 770 |
| 130 | Dakota City | $11.39 | 764 |
| 131 | Dunkerton | $11.30 | 840 |
| 132 | Sutherland | $11.25 | 628 |
| 133 | Arcadia | $11.23 | 588 |
| 134 | Whiting | $11.21 | 725 |
| 135 | Shelby | $11.17 | 730 |
| 136 | Blairstown | $11.04 | 705 |
| 137 | Manilla | $11.01 | 756 |
| 138 | Hamburg | $10.95 | 863 |
| 139 | Clarence | $10.94 | 991 |
| 140 | Ireton | $10.93 | 571 |
| 141 | Fontanelle | $10.88 | 684 |
| 142 | Richland | $10.82 | 532 |
| 143 | Grand Mound | $10.78 | 608 |
| 144 | Cambridge | $10.53 | 844 |
| 145 | Lovilia | $10.46 | 456 |
| 146 | Swisher | $10.39 | 909 |
| 147 | Schleswig | $10.39 | 820 |
| 148 | Melbourne | $10.38 | 771 |
| 149 | Radcliffe | $10.37 | 540 |
| 150 | Fredericksburg | $10.27 | 983 |
| 151 | Ventura | $10.22 | 701 |
| 152 | Inwood | $10.22 | 962 |
| 153 | Milo | $10.20 | 762 |
| 154 | Hartford | $10.16 | 729 |
| 155 | What Cheer | $10.01 | 595 |
| 156 | Newhall | $9.99 | 887 |
| 157 | Cumming | $9.85 | 527 |
| 158 | Graettinger | $9.81 | 810 |
| 159 | Breda | $9.80 | 492 |
| 160 | Doon | $9.78 | 640 |
| 161 | Long Grove | $9.59 | 849 |
| 162 | Paullina | $9.21 | 979 |
| 163 | Winthrop | $8.94 | 814 |
| 164 | Crescent | $8.72 | 626 |
| 165 | Ainsworth | $8.62 | 511 |
| 166 | Keosauqua | $8.58 | 944 |
| 167 | Grand Junction | $8.57 | 715 |
| 168 | Princeton | $8.24 | 917 |
| 169 | Gilman | $8.10 | 530 |
| 170 | Kellogg | $8.10 | 597 |
| 171 | Lakeside | $8.10 | 695 |
| 172 | Agency | $7.94 | 623 |
| 173 | Hills | $7.94 | 911 |
| 174 | Fremont | $7.86 | 688 |
| 175 | Larchwood | $7.52 | 954 |
| 176 | Sully | $7.41 | 891 |
| 177 | Fruitland | $7.21 | 928 |
| 178 | Lawton | $7.10 | 949 |
| 179 | Wayland | $7.07 | 935 |
| 180 | Raymond | $6.85 | 754 |
| 181 | Keystone | $6.80 | 616 |
| 182 | Shueyville | $6.79 | 725 |
| 183 | New Virginia | $5.97 | 499 |
| 184 | University Park | $5.27 | 476 |
| 185 | Orleans | $4.13 | 503 |
| 186 | Okoboji | $3.83 | 729 |
The $8.10 limit
Battle Creek’s general levy is $8.13 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.03 above the limit; it has to come down in steps.4 215 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.
FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.37 · FY26 $8.37 · FY27 $8.13 (before FY25, the general levy alone)
Outside the limit: $3.36 more5
- Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.60 · $28,333
- Unified Law Enforcement$1.50 · $26,504
- Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$0.26 · $4,533
Tax increment financing (TIF)
Battle Creek’s TIF revenue, from its reports to the state.
| Year | TIF revenue |
|---|---|
| FY17 | $1,870 |
Show the numbers
| Year | TIF revenue |
|---|---|
| FY17 | $1,870 |
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 Battle Creek’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 185 Iowa cities closest in size (460–1,000 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (185) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Type / Enterprise | 35¢ | 41¢ |
| Public Safety | 29¢ | 9¢ |
| Public Works | 13¢ | 17¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 8¢ | 9¢ |
| Community and Economic Development | 8¢ | 2¢ |
| Everything else | 7¢ | 17¢ |
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 ($271,722 in FY26), so this total is low.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $111,145 | $95,564 |
| Public Safety | $329,692 | $384,166 |
| Health and Social Services | $0 | $0 |
| General Government | $31,115 | $31,106 |
| Debt Service | $0 | $0 |
| Culture and Recreation | $55,355 | $55,096 |
| Community and Economic Development | $17,500 | $17,460 |
| Capital Projects | $13,720 | $13,720 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $281,485 | $225,601 |
What it spent each year
FY24 left out6
Debt, reserves and audits
How local debt works · What an audit tells you
What Battle Creek owes
$90,000 at June 30, 2026: $129 per resident. 696th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $90,000 | $129 |
| 2025 | $102,000 | $146 |
| 2024 | $114,000 | $163 |
| 2023 | $125,000 | $179 |
| 2022 | $136,000 | $194 |
| 2021 | $147,000 | $210 |
| 2020 | $167,100 | $239 |
| 2019 | $185,800 | $265 |
| 2018 | $201,122 | $287 |
| 2017 | $212,107 | $303 |
| 2016 | $224,403 | $321 |
| 2015 | $234,403 | $335 |
| 2014 | $109,703 | $157 |
| 2013 | $146,600 | $209 |
| 2012 | $160,000 | $229 |
| 2011 | $173,000 | $247 |
| 2010 | $109,000 | $156 |
Show the numbers
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $90,000 | $129 |
| 2025 | $102,000 | $146 |
| 2024 | $114,000 | $163 |
| 2023 | $125,000 | $179 |
| 2022 | $136,000 | $194 |
| 2021 | $147,000 | $210 |
| 2020 | $167,100 | $239 |
| 2019 | $185,800 | $265 |
| 2018 | $201,122 | $287 |
| 2017 | $212,107 | $303 |
| 2016 | $224,403 | $321 |
| 2015 | $234,403 | $335 |
| 2014 | $109,703 | $157 |
| 2013 | $146,600 | $209 |
| 2012 | $160,000 | $229 |
| 2011 | $173,000 | $247 |
| 2010 | $109,000 | $156 |
Down 17% since 2010.
Money in reserve
The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. Battle Creek’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021 (PDF).
Audits9
The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021 (PDF), released Friday, April 1, 2022, by a CPA firm.
3 earlier reports for Battle Creek
- Annual Examination, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2019Monday, April 13, 2020
- Periodic Examination Follow-Up, period ending Tuesday, May 31, 2016Friday, October 28, 2016
- Periodic Examination, period ending Thursday, July 31, 2014Monday, December 15, 2014
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? 10
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: $102,192 in FY25, up 9% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 13% less. Grants are below.
Show the numbers
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $97,088 | $96,328 | $98,877 | $99,414 |
| Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”) | – | $3,889 | $3,334 | $2,778 |
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.
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $0 |
| FY20 | $0 |
| FY21 | $16,470 |
| FY22 | $0 |
| FY23 | $50,000 |
| FY24 | $0 |
| FY25 | $0 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $0 |
| FY20 | $0 |
| FY21 | $16,470 |
| FY22 | $0 |
| FY23 | $50,000 |
| FY24 | $0 |
| FY25 | $0 |
Has it kept up with prices?
Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.
- Road Use Tax (streets)−14%$92,109 → $99,414, up 8% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 14% less
- Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)+35%$1,641 → $2,778, up 69% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 35% 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 27% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 1% more.
Business awards
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)11.
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
3 seats: the top 3 win.
- Daltyn Swanger Winner13931.7%
- Jessica Wallace Winner11826.9%
- Abigail Fundermann Winner11325.8%
- Ken Feller 6815.5%
- Jary Vermeys Winner10067.6%
- Kyle Lehmann 4832.4%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Battle Creek; official results are on each county auditor’s site.
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 ballot12.
Related places
At the Statehouse and in Congress13
Jason Schultz (Sen. 6)Steven C. Holt (Rep. 12)
U.S. House:District 4
Ida CountyBattle Creek-Ida Grove schools