Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Jason BehrendsenIda Grove City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Jeffrey MiesnerIda Grove City Council Ward 2 · elected November 4, 2025
- Nathan C. WeitlIda Grove Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Gregor ErnstIda Grove City Council Ward 1 · elected November 7, 2023
- Jared BogueIda Grove City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Jason SchableIda Grove City Council Ward 3 · 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 Ida Grove
Homes and businesses in most of Ida Grove pay a combined $33.87 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, $14.10. Estimate your bill.
- Everyone else$14.9644%
- City of Ida Grove$14.1042%
- Ida County$4.8214%
Rates over time
Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Ida Grove pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $30.52 | $13.43 |
| FY21 | $33.52 | $14.67 |
| FY22 | $33.42 | $14.22 |
| FY23 | $33.62 | $14.40 |
| FY24 | $33.86 | $14.46 |
| FY25 | $35.36 | $14.98 |
| FY26 | $34.45 | $14.26 |
| FY27 | $33.87 | $14.10 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $30.52 | $13.43 |
| FY21 | $33.52 | $14.67 |
| FY22 | $33.42 | $14.22 |
| FY23 | $33.62 | $14.40 |
| FY24 | $33.86 | $14.46 |
| FY25 | $35.36 | $14.98 |
| FY26 | $34.45 | $14.26 |
| FY27 | $33.87 | $14.10 |
Compared with places this size3
Ida Grove’s city property tax rate of $14.10 per $1,000 is the 51st lowest of 106 Iowa cities with 1,300–2,900 people. The middle of the group is $14.18.
See all 106
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eldora | $26.87 | 2,595 |
| 2 | Pocahontas | $20.79 | 1,848 |
| 3 | Rockwell City | $20.74 | 2,185 |
| 4 | Bloomfield | $20.41 | 2,773 |
| 5 | Belmond | $19.86 | 2,405 |
| 6 | Sibley | $19.77 | 2,787 |
| 7 | Sac City | $19.69 | 1,992 |
| 8 | Traer | $19.56 | 1,547 |
| 9 | Corning | $19.36 | 1,509 |
| 10 | Lake City | $19.32 | 1,656 |
| 11 | Corydon | $18.22 | 1,563 |
| 12 | Toledo | $18.21 | 2,372 |
| 13 | La Porte City | $18.08 | 2,267 |
| 14 | Clarion | $17.74 | 2,751 |
| 15 | Britt | $17.72 | 2,001 |
| 16 | Missouri Valley | $17.68 | 2,638 |
| 17 | Madrid | $16.93 | 2,824 |
| 18 | Manson | $16.87 | 1,646 |
| 19 | Nashua | $16.81 | 1,515 |
| 20 | Ackley | $16.63 | 1,538 |
| 21 | West Union | $16.60 | 2,435 |
| 22 | Audubon | $16.52 | 2,008 |
| 23 | Roland | $16.51 | 1,376 |
| 24 | Monona | $16.41 | 1,462 |
| 25 | Grundy Center | $16.36 | 2,821 |
| 26 | Belle Plaine | $16.34 | 2,335 |
| 27 | Colfax | $16.25 | 2,305 |
| 28 | Durant | $16.24 | 1,798 |
| 29 | Lamoni | $16.15 | 2,072 |
| 30 | Marengo | $16.10 | 2,415 |
| 31 | Holstein | $15.81 | 1,475 |
| 32 | State Center | $15.80 | 1,403 |
| 33 | Pleasantville | $15.80 | 1,696 |
| 34 | Postville | $15.68 | 2,418 |
| 35 | Earlham | $15.55 | 1,411 |
| 36 | Brooklyn | $15.49 | 1,474 |
| 37 | Stuart | $15.48 | 1,887 |
| 38 | Mount Ayr | $15.32 | 1,616 |
| 39 | Granger | $15.22 | 2,095 |
| 40 | Sigourney | $15.20 | 1,974 |
| 41 | Guttenberg | $15.19 | 1,804 |
| 42 | Logan | $15.05 | 1,351 |
| 43 | Sumner | $14.83 | 2,032 |
| 44 | Woodbine | $14.80 | 1,707 |
| 45 | Bedford | $14.66 | 1,474 |
| 46 | Lenox | $14.65 | 1,355 |
| 47 | Manning | $14.62 | 1,390 |
| 48 | Van Meter | $14.60 | 1,840 |
| 49 | Rock Rapids | $14.57 | 2,709 |
| 50 | Jesup | $14.31 | 2,541 |
| 51 | Nora Springs | $14.25 | 1,330 |
| 52 | Kingsley | $14.25 | 1,394 |
| 53 | Urbana | $14.20 | 1,635 |
| 54 | Parkersburg | $14.15 | 1,986 |
| 55 | Hartley | $14.11 | 1,584 |
| 56 | Ida Grove | $14.10 | 1,988 |
| 57 | Woodward | $14.05 | 1,383 |
| 58 | Guthrie Center | $14.04 | 1,579 |
| 59 | Lake Mills | $13.82 | 2,077 |
| 60 | Montezuma | $13.79 | 1,421 |
| 61 | Gilbert | $13.71 | 1,397 |
| 62 | Wilton | $13.62 | 2,914 |
| 63 | Avoca | $13.51 | 1,685 |
| 64 | Wapello | $13.29 | 2,026 |
| 65 | Hudson | $13.19 | 2,916 |
| 66 | Center Point | $13.19 | 2,578 |
| 67 | Greenfield | $13.13 | 1,988 |
| 68 | Hawarden | $13.02 | 2,630 |
| 69 | Akron | $12.93 | 1,545 |
| 70 | Leon | $12.93 | 1,779 |
| 71 | Slater | $12.79 | 1,626 |
| 72 | Bellevue | $12.67 | 2,321 |
| 73 | Sanborn | $12.62 | 1,463 |
| 74 | New London | $12.56 | 1,853 |
| 75 | Lisbon | $12.50 | 2,238 |
| 76 | Dallas Center | $12.42 | 1,993 |
| 77 | Onawa | $12.32 | 2,795 |
| 78 | Remsen | $12.32 | 1,681 |
| 79 | Monroe | $12.28 | 2,021 |
| 80 | Denver | $12.27 | 1,955 |
| 81 | Alta | $12.13 | 2,039 |
| 82 | Reinbeck | $12.10 | 1,673 |
| 83 | Atkins | $11.99 | 2,168 |
| 84 | Wellman | $11.88 | 1,531 |
| 85 | Blue Grass | $11.79 | 1,707 |
| 86 | Hull | $11.79 | 2,459 |
| 87 | Columbus Junction | $11.71 | 1,794 |
| 88 | Cascade | $11.64 | 2,396 |
| 89 | West Branch | $11.63 | 2,876 |
| 90 | Mitchellville | $11.54 | 2,686 |
| 91 | Palo | $11.49 | 1,554 |
| 92 | Prairie City | $11.38 | 1,722 |
| 93 | Northwood | $11.28 | 2,047 |
| 94 | Mediapolis | $11.27 | 1,679 |
| 95 | Ely | $11.08 | 2,371 |
| 96 | Ogden | $10.99 | 1,970 |
| 97 | Farley | $10.91 | 1,723 |
| 98 | Oakland | $10.85 | 1,519 |
| 99 | Moville | $10.67 | 1,707 |
| 100 | Kalona | $10.37 | 2,762 |
| 101 | Walcott | $10.29 | 1,556 |
| 102 | Peosta | $9.82 | 2,195 |
| 103 | Epworth | $9.42 | 2,042 |
| 104 | Walford | $8.72 | 1,357 |
| 105 | Lone Tree | $8.13 | 1,341 |
| 106 | Fairfax | $8.10 | 2,937 |
The $8.10 limit
Ida Grove’s general levy is $8.26 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.16 above the limit; it has to come down in steps.4 126 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.
FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.51 · FY26 $8.51 · FY27 $8.26 (before FY25, the general levy alone)
Outside the limit: $5.84 more5
- Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.79 · $146,203
- Unified Law Enforcement$1.50 · $122,242
- Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.27 · $103,644
- Debt Service Levy$1.10 · $99,045
- Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$0.17 · $14,110
Tax increment financing (TIF)
$1.3M of taxable value in Ida Grove is in TIF districts’ increment (2% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.6 It budgeted $252,535 in TIF revenue for FY25.
What that value would raise at each government’s rate, FY277
Taxes on TIF value go to the city’s TIF fund instead of the governments that levy them, including about $16,959 of the city’s own.
| Year | TIF revenue |
|---|---|
| FY16 | $84,667 |
| FY17 | $44,609 |
| FY18 | $61,547 |
| FY19 | $60,567 |
| FY20 | $65,490 |
| FY21 | $59,310 |
| FY22 | $60,270 |
| FY23 | $58,309 |
Show the numbers
| Year | TIF revenue |
|---|---|
| FY16 | $84,667 |
| FY17 | $44,609 |
| FY18 | $61,547 |
| FY19 | $60,567 |
| FY20 | $65,490 |
| FY21 | $59,310 |
| FY22 | $60,270 |
| FY23 | $58,309 |
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 Ida Grove’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 105 Iowa cities closest in size (1,300–2,900 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (105) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Type / Enterprise | 68¢ | 41¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 8¢ | 8¢ |
| Public Safety | 6¢ | 11¢ |
| Public Works | 6¢ | 11¢ |
| Debt Service | 4¢ | 6¢ |
| Everything else | 7¢ | 23¢ |
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 ($5.6M in FY26), so this total is low.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $445,899 | $507,424 |
| Public Safety | $626,939 | $568,193 |
| Health and Social Services | $5,205 | $5,205 |
| General Government | $220,628 | $219,208 |
| Debt Service | $334,277 | $438,179 |
| Culture and Recreation | $566,302 | $737,666 |
| Community and Economic Development | $35,700 | $70,698 |
| Capital Projects | $2.0M | $282,504 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $2.7M | $2.1M |
What it spent each year
FY24 left out8
Debt, reserves and audits
How local debt works · What an audit tells you
What Ida Grove owes
$5.4M at June 30, 2026: $2,642 per resident. 317th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).9
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $5.4M | $2,642 |
| 2025 | $6.2M | $3,014 |
| 2024 | $5.9M | $2,866 |
| 2023 | $6.2M | $3,008 |
| 2022 | $1.7M | $850 |
| 2021 | $608,817 | $297 |
| 2020 | $712,250 | $347 |
| 2019 | $644,684 | $314 |
| 2018 | $727,117 | $355 |
| 2017 | $769,000 | $375 |
| 2016 | $1.1M | $516 |
| 2015 | $1.2M | $609 |
| 2014 | $609,781 | $297 |
| 2013 | $750,046 | $366 |
| 2012 | $805,067 | $393 |
| 2011 | $675,000 | $329 |
| 2010 | $805,000 | $392 |
Show the numbers
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $5.4M | $2,642 |
| 2025 | $6.2M | $3,014 |
| 2024 | $5.9M | $2,866 |
| 2023 | $6.2M | $3,008 |
| 2022 | $1.7M | $850 |
| 2021 | $608,817 | $297 |
| 2020 | $712,250 | $347 |
| 2019 | $644,684 | $314 |
| 2018 | $727,117 | $355 |
| 2017 | $769,000 | $375 |
| 2016 | $1.1M | $516 |
| 2015 | $1.2M | $609 |
| 2014 | $609,781 | $297 |
| 2013 | $750,046 | $366 |
| 2012 | $805,067 | $393 |
| 2011 | $675,000 | $329 |
| 2010 | $805,000 | $392 |
Up 573% since 2010.
The 5% limit10
General obligation debt is $3.1M, 39% of the limit of about $7.9M (5% of $158.8M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).
6 obligations at June 30, 2026
| Kind | For | Paid off by | Owed |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Obligation | City Hall Construction | 2040 | $2.1M |
| Revenue Bonds | Water Improvement Project New Well #9, Meter Replacement, Water Tower Painting | 2042 | $2.0M |
| General Obligation | Reconstruction of Moorehead Avenue Bridge | 2036 | $915,000 |
| Revenue Bonds | SRF planning and design loan #2 for sewer improvement project. | 2027 | $288,296 |
| Revenue Bonds | Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade with chlorine disinfection system | 2034 | $64,000 |
| General Obligation | 2,200 gallon Tanker for Fire Department | 2030 | $60,000 |
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 balances11. Ida Grove’s latest audit has them: Financial Statement, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).
Audits12
The latest: Financial Statement for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Tuesday, December 2, 2025, by a CPA firm.
16 earlier reports for Ida Grove
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2024Tuesday, June 24, 2025
- Financial Statement, period ending Friday, June 30, 2023Tuesday, November 26, 2024
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2022Friday, June 30, 2023
- Financial Statement, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021Friday, July 22, 2022
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2020Tuesday, August 31, 2021
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2019Thursday, March 18, 2021
- Financial Statement, period ending Saturday, June 30, 2018Monday, March 15, 2021
- Financial Statement, period ending Friday, June 30, 2017Tuesday, February 6, 2018
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2016Tuesday, February 6, 2018
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2015Friday, April 1, 2016
- Financial Statement, period ending Monday, June 30, 2014Wednesday, April 1, 2015
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2013Tuesday, April 1, 2014
- Financial Statement, period ending Saturday, June 30, 2012Monday, April 1, 2013
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2011Monday, March 12, 2012
- Financial Statement, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2010Thursday, March 31, 2011
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2009Wednesday, March 31, 2010
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? 13
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: $291,282 in FY25, up 5% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 16% less. Grants are below.
Show the numbers
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $285,786 | $282,241 | $289,709 | $291,282 |
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 | $2,696 |
| FY20 | $2,635 |
| FY21 | $93,947 |
| FY22 | $796,597 |
| FY23 | $236,755 |
| FY24 | $152,453 |
| FY25 | $129,343 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $2,696 |
| FY20 | $2,635 |
| FY21 | $93,947 |
| FY22 | $796,597 |
| FY23 | $236,755 |
| FY24 | $152,453 |
| FY25 | $129,343 |
Has it kept up with prices?
Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.
- Road Use Tax (streets)−16%$276,716 → $291,282, up 5% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 16% 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 24% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 1% less.
Federal grants, for comparison: $256,653 in FY25.
Business awards
State economic development awards
Community college new jobs training: 2 contracts since 2006 worth $255K, for 54 pledged jobs.
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)14.
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 · 3
- Jason Behrendsen Winner21069.3%
- Shannon Hopkins 9330.7%
- Jeffrey Miesner Unopposed119100.0%
- Nathan C. Weitl Winner22670.8%
- Paul A. Nepper 9329.1%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Ida Grove; 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.
- Ida Grove City Council At-LargeNow held by Jared Bogue
- Ida Grove City Council Ward 1Now held by Gregor Ernst
- Ida Grove City Council Ward 3Now held by Jason Schable
- Ida Grove Mayor To Fill a VacancyNow held by Nathan Weitl
Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here15.
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 ballot16.
Related places
At the Statehouse and in Congress17
Jason Schultz (Sen. 6)Steven C. Holt (Rep. 12)
U.S. House:District 4
Ida CountyBattle Creek-Ida Grove schoolsOdebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove schoolsOdebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Sch Tif schools