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Local taxes › Jackson County › Sabula

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Sabula

Jackson County · How cities work

$2,950 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($35.08 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,210 a yearof that goes to the city ($14.38 per $1,000)
$281,577property taxes the city levies, FY27
$751,527city 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.

  • Curtis D. JohnsonSabula Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Erica ShoemakerSabula City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jeremy Lee DiercksSabula City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Timothy HibbardSabula City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Dave WardSabula City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • James PhillipsSabula City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Mike O'HaraSabula 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 Sabula

Homes and businesses in most of Sabula pay a combined $35.08 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Jackson County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $14.38. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Sabula 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$32.96$10.94
FY21$33.23$10.91
FY22$33.34$11.16
FY23$34.01$11.73
FY24$34.91$12.60
FY25$35.36$13.12
FY26$36.18$14.38
FY27$35.08$14.38
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$32.96$10.94
FY21$33.23$10.91
FY22$33.34$11.16
FY23$34.01$11.73
FY24$34.91$12.60
FY25$35.36$13.12
FY26$36.18$14.38
FY27$35.08$14.38

Compared with places this size3

Sabula’s city property tax rate of $14.38 per $1,000 is the 61st highest of 191 Iowa cities with 340–740 people. The middle of the group is $12.92.

Stanhope: $29.10Rolfe: $22.67Charter Oak: $21.32Oxford Junction: $20.84Earling: $20.47Pomeroy: $19.60Salem: $19.15Dumont: $19.04Seymour: $18.78Dexter: $18.69Fonda: $18.52Massena: $18.23Kanawha: $18.11Swea City: $18.04Alden: $17.90Elma: $17.82Callender: $17.78Casey: $17.72Dows: $17.70New Hartford: $17.69Vail: $17.66Ringsted: $17.65Emerson: $17.54Walnut: $17.46Murray: $17.44Thompson: $17.25Ashton: $17.17Pierson: $17.12Burt: $17.10Latimer: $16.96Lohrville: $16.95Elk Horn: $16.78Oxford: $16.70Mccallsburg: $16.58Whittemore: $16.54Bancroft: $16.52Titonka: $16.45Early: $16.35Truro: $16.34Lewis: $16.25Duncombe: $16.10Bayard: $16.05Scranton: $16.01Ruthven: $15.84Minden: $15.77Walker: $15.74Russell: $15.18Stanwood: $15.12Stratford: $15.03Zearing: $14.99Arlington: $14.98Maynard: $14.85Plainfield: $14.84Ryan: $14.84Otho: $14.82Wyoming: $14.81Humeston: $14.80Hopkinton: $14.79Essex: $14.76Gilmore City: $14.60Garrison: $14.38Lorimor: $14.36Collins: $14.32Clermont: $14.30Moulton: $14.25Ocheyedan: $14.22Mcgregor: $14.20Olin: $14.19Garwin: $14.08Farragut: $14.07Elgin: $14.05Lime Springs: $13.95Dow City: $13.94Wesley: $13.91Bussey: $13.83Mondamin: $13.82Livermore: $13.78Redfield: $13.73Sioux Rapids: $13.63Albion: $13.58Lamont: $13.57New Albin: $13.55Rockford: $13.52Boyden: $13.39Lawler: $13.39Lacona: $13.38New Market: $13.25Plymouth: $13.21Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Anthon: $13.05Little Rock: $13.03Coggon: $12.99Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Earlville: $12.90Brighton: $12.88Montrose: $12.78Goldfield: $12.73Wellsburg: $12.68Delmar: $12.68Galva: $12.68Badger: $12.67Martensdale: $12.63Stanton: $12.62Hospers: $12.58Norway: $12.53Everly: $12.51Hazleton: $12.48Spillville: $12.40Alburnett: $12.30Moravia: $12.27Hedrick: $12.22Bonaparte: $12.17Schaller: $12.14Hawkeye: $12.11Colesburg: $11.97Albert City: $11.88Thornton: $11.86Runnells: $11.79Allerton: $11.72Orient: $11.66Merrill: $11.64Ellsworth: $11.57Morning Sun: $11.50Battle Creek: $11.49Wall Lake: $11.43Churdan: $11.31Miles: $11.28Sutherland: $11.25Arcadia: $11.23Whiting: $11.21Shelby: $11.17Blairstown: $11.04Milton: $10.98Ireton: $10.93New Vienna: $10.91Letts: $10.91Fontanelle: $10.88Birmingham: $10.87Charlotte: $10.86Richland: $10.82Grand Mound: $10.78Batavia: $10.77Riverdale: $10.67Union: $10.58Calamus: $10.47Lovilia: $10.46Radcliffe: $10.37Stacyville: $10.36Ventura: $10.22Andrew: $10.22Royal: $10.20Hartford: $10.16Rudd: $10.13What Cheer: $10.01Cumming: $9.85Breda: $9.80Doon: $9.78Lynnville: $9.68Farnhamville: $9.18Middletown: $9.16Alleman: $9.12Crescent: $8.72Ainsworth: $8.62Grand Junction: $8.57Gilman: $8.10Lakeside: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Kellogg: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Agency: $7.94Fremont: $7.86Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Beacon: $7.56Worthington: $7.50Marquette: $7.08Columbus City: $6.94Donahue: $6.83Keystone: $6.80Shueyville: $6.79New Virginia: $5.97Holy Cross: $5.91Conesville: $5.86University Park: $5.27Orleans: $4.13Okoboji: $3.83Wahpeton: $3.19Sabula: $14.38$3.19 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 191
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Stanhope$29.10354
2Rolfe$22.67505
3Charter Oak$21.32521
4Oxford Junction$20.84424
5Earling$20.47394
6Pomeroy$19.60511
7Salem$19.15380
8Dumont$19.04614
9Seymour$18.78646
10Dexter$18.69631
11Fonda$18.52636
12Massena$18.23352
13Kanawha$18.11638
14Swea City$18.04545
15Alden$17.90738
16Elma$17.82493
17Callender$17.78361
18Casey$17.72387
19Dows$17.70509
20New Hartford$17.69555
21Vail$17.66383
22Ringsted$17.65346
23Emerson$17.54401
24Walnut$17.46728
25Murray$17.44609
26Thompson$17.25478
27Ashton$17.17434
28Pierson$17.12335
29Burt$17.10404
30Latimer$16.96477
31Lohrville$16.95366
32Elk Horn$16.78631
33Oxford$16.70715
34Mccallsburg$16.58356
35Whittemore$16.54478
36Bancroft$16.52677
37Titonka$16.45491
38Early$16.35571
39Truro$16.34515
40Lewis$16.25358
41Duncombe$16.10374
42Bayard$16.05402
43Scranton$16.01496
44Ruthven$15.84710
45Minden$15.77581
46Walker$15.74671
47Russell$15.18475
48Stanwood$15.12612
49Stratford$15.03688
50Zearing$14.99508
51Arlington$14.98415
52Maynard$14.85466
53Plainfield$14.84392
54Ryan$14.84348
55Otho$14.82417
56Wyoming$14.81526
57Humeston$14.80472
58Hopkinton$14.79622
59Essex$14.76721
60Gilmore City$14.60484
61Sabula$14.38498
62Garrison$14.38345
63Lorimor$14.36377
64Collins$14.32503
65Clermont$14.30571
66Moulton$14.25596
67Ocheyedan$14.22424
68Mcgregor$14.20725
69Olin$14.19652
70Garwin$14.08469
71Farragut$14.07480
72Elgin$14.05676
73Lime Springs$13.95467
74Dow City$13.94477
75Wesley$13.91382
76Bussey$13.83378
77Mondamin$13.82335
78Livermore$13.78382
79Redfield$13.73719
80Sioux Rapids$13.63722
81Albion$13.58444
82Lamont$13.57429
83New Albin$13.55435
84Rockford$13.52722
85Boyden$13.39694
86Lawler$13.39392
87Lacona$13.38336
88New Market$13.25381
89Plymouth$13.21368
90Quasqueton$13.12587
91Farmington$13.10583
92Anthon$13.05534
93Little Rock$13.03447
94Coggon$12.99691
95Lehigh$12.97395
96Menlo$12.92347
97Templeton$12.91337
98Earlville$12.90713
99Brighton$12.88592
100Montrose$12.78734
101Goldfield$12.73617
102Wellsburg$12.68709
103Delmar$12.68541
104Galva$12.68416
105Badger$12.67540
106Martensdale$12.63413
107Stanton$12.62664
108Hospers$12.58703
109Norway$12.53463
110Everly$12.51570
111Hazleton$12.48711
112Spillville$12.40371
113Alburnett$12.30672
114Moravia$12.27625
115Hedrick$12.22717
116Bonaparte$12.17357
117Schaller$12.14702
118Hawkeye$12.11429
119Colesburg$11.97379
120Albert City$11.88627
121Thornton$11.86394
122Runnells$11.79467
123Allerton$11.72432
124Orient$11.66363
125Merrill$11.64713
126Ellsworth$11.57495
127Morning Sun$11.50702
128Battle Creek$11.49683
129Wall Lake$11.43739
130Churdan$11.31359
131Miles$11.28400
132Sutherland$11.25628
133Arcadia$11.23588
134Whiting$11.21725
135Shelby$11.17730
136Blairstown$11.04705
137Milton$10.98395
138Ireton$10.93571
139New Vienna$10.91384
140Letts$10.91358
141Fontanelle$10.88684
142Birmingham$10.87371
143Charlotte$10.86386
144Richland$10.82532
145Grand Mound$10.78608
146Batavia$10.77434
147Riverdale$10.67385
148Union$10.58378
149Calamus$10.47348
150Lovilia$10.46456
151Radcliffe$10.37540
152Stacyville$10.36436
153Ventura$10.22701
154Andrew$10.22374
155Royal$10.20379
156Hartford$10.16729
157Rudd$10.13339
158What Cheer$10.01595
159Cumming$9.85527
160Breda$9.80492
161Doon$9.78640
162Lynnville$9.68382
163Farnhamville$9.18364
164Middletown$9.16365
165Alleman$9.12439
166Crescent$8.72626
167Ainsworth$8.62511
168Grand Junction$8.57715
169Gilman$8.10530
170Lakeside$8.10695
171Lost Nation$8.10425
172Kellogg$8.10597
173Grandview$8.10431
174Agency$7.94623
175Fremont$7.86688
176Delhi$7.81438
177Klemme$7.74429
178Beacon$7.56434
179Worthington$7.50374
180Marquette$7.08434
181Columbus City$6.94385
182Donahue$6.83336
183Keystone$6.80616
184Shueyville$6.79725
185New Virginia$5.97499
186Holy Cross$5.91348
187Conesville$5.86350
188University Park$5.27476
189Orleans$4.13503
190Okoboji$3.83729
191Wahpeton$3.19337

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$153,98655%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$99,83235%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$24,5979%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$3,1621%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Sabula’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 59¢ of every dollar59¢Public Safety: 13¢ of every dollar13¢Public Works: 10¢ of every dollar10¢Culture and Recreation: 6¢ of every dollarGeneral Government: 5¢ of every dollarEverything else: 7¢ 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 190 Iowa cities closest in size (340–740 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (190)
Business Type / Enterprise59¢40¢
Public Safety13¢9¢
Public Works10¢18¢
Culture and Recreation6¢9¢
General Government5¢13¢
Everything else7¢6¢

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$289,85439%
  • Public Works$184,10524%
  • General Government$139,13819%
  • Culture and Recreation$113,28315%
  • Debt Service$24,1473%
  • Community and Economic Development$1,0000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($1.2M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$213,479$198,313
Public Safety$188,903$532,626
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$88,170$91,163
Debt Service$35,286$272,752
Culture and Recreation$137,728$89,135
Community and Economic Development$6,000$1,000
Capital Projects$0$43,702
Business Type / Enterprise$1.2M$1.3M

What it spent each year

FY24 left out4

$2.5M
$1.9M
’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: $73,364 in FY25, down 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 21% less. Grants are below.

In today's dollarsActual dollars
$50,000$87,500$125,000$162,500$200,000’19’21’23’25Today's $Actual
$50,000$87,500$125,000$162,500$200,000’19’20’21’22’23’24’25Today's $Actual
Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$71,692$69,631$71,475$71,862
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)–$2,102$1,802$1,502

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.

$94,024
$64,150
’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
  • State grants$64,150100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$32,735
FY20$94,024
FY21$19,211
FY22$61,568
FY23$1,308
FY24$46,172
FY25$64,150
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$32,735
FY20$94,024
FY21$19,211
FY22$61,568
FY23$1,308
FY24$46,172
FY25$64,150

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−23%$74,411 → $71,862, down 3% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 23% 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 7% more.

$67,371
$63,264
’19’20’21’22’23’24’25

Federal grants, for comparison: $41,466 in FY25.

Elections

Most recent: November 4, 2025

City · 3

2 seats: the top 2 win.

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

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress6

Carrie Koelker (Sen. 33)Dr. Steven P. Bradley (Rep. 66)

U.S. House:District 1

Jackson CountyEast Central schoolsEaston Valley schools