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Local taxes › Jones County › Olin

City

Olin

Jones County · How cities work

$2,690 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($31.94 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,190 a yearof that goes to the city ($14.19 per $1,000)
$190,304property taxes the city levies, FY27
$613,875city 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.

  • Mason SmithOlin City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Matt DickenOlin City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Zach BorstOlin Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Corey L. SchneppOlin City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • David DircksOlin City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Kahm SauerOlin 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 Olin

Homes and businesses in most of Olin pay a combined $31.94 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Jones County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $14.19. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$38.92$17.88
FY21$35.83$14.92
FY22$34.03$13.51
FY23$34.26$14.26
FY24$34.28$13.45
FY25$33.40$13.63
FY26$32.53$14.20
FY27$31.94$14.19
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$38.92$17.88
FY21$35.83$14.92
FY22$34.03$13.51
FY23$34.26$14.26
FY24$34.28$13.45
FY25$33.40$13.63
FY26$32.53$14.20
FY27$31.94$14.19

Compared with places this size3

Olin’s city property tax rate of $14.19 per $1,000 is the 66th highest of 185 Iowa cities with 440–980 people. The middle of the group is $12.99.

Exira: $24.81Rolfe: $22.67Dayton: $22.51Charter Oak: $21.32Correctionville: $19.84Pomeroy: $19.60Allison: $19.06Dumont: $19.04Seymour: $18.78Dexter: $18.69Fonda: $18.52Kanawha: $18.11Swea City: $18.04Greene: $17.91Alden: $17.90Elma: $17.82Dows: $17.70New Hartford: $17.69Lansing: $17.67Walnut: $17.46Murray: $17.44Thompson: $17.25Gowrie: $17.17Colo: $17.14Latimer: $16.96Adair: $16.84Eddyville: $16.82Elk Horn: $16.78Oxford: $16.70Buffalo Center: $16.58Whittemore: $16.54Bancroft: $16.52Titonka: $16.45Eldon: $16.42Early: $16.35Truro: $16.34Mechanicsville: $16.12Scranton: $16.01Armstrong: $15.87Ruthven: $15.84Minden: $15.77Walker: $15.74Newell: $15.49Riceville: $15.31Neola: $15.30Russell: $15.18Gilbertville: $15.15Stanwood: $15.12Stratford: $15.03Griswold: $15.01Zearing: $14.99Readlyn: $14.99Maynard: $14.85Wyoming: $14.81Humeston: $14.80Hopkinton: $14.79Essex: $14.76Gilmore City: $14.60Garnavillo: $14.52Maxwell: $14.50Sabula: $14.38Collins: $14.32Clermont: $14.30Moulton: $14.25Mcgregor: $14.20Primghar: $14.18Garwin: $14.08Farragut: $14.07Elgin: $14.05Lime Springs: $13.95Dow City: $13.94Ossian: $13.88Redfield: $13.73Victor: $13.72Edgewood: $13.64Sioux Rapids: $13.63Donnellson: $13.63Albion: $13.58Gladbrook: $13.58New Albin: $13.55Rockford: $13.52Boyden: $13.39Anita: $13.28Van Horne: $13.27Keota: $13.21De Soto: $13.18Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Anthon: $13.05Little Rock: $13.03Odebolt: $13.00Coggon: $12.99Earlville: $12.90Brighton: $12.88Danville: $12.87Underwood: $12.85Montrose: $12.78Goldfield: $12.73Wellsburg: $12.68Delmar: $12.68Badger: $12.67Stanton: $12.62Hospers: $12.58Norway: $12.53Everly: $12.51Hazleton: $12.48West Point: $12.39Hinton: $12.38Preston: $12.38Alburnett: $12.30Hubbard: $12.30Moravia: $12.27Hedrick: $12.22Carson: $12.22Wheatland: $12.18Schaller: $12.14Afton: $11.96Lowden: $11.93Albert City: $11.88Aurelia: $11.84Runnells: $11.79Merrill: $11.64Ellsworth: $11.57Morning Sun: $11.50Battle Creek: $11.49Wall Lake: $11.43West Bend: $11.42Dakota City: $11.39Dunkerton: $11.30Sutherland: $11.25Arcadia: $11.23Whiting: $11.21Shelby: $11.17Blairstown: $11.04Manilla: $11.01Hamburg: $10.95Ireton: $10.93Fontanelle: $10.88Richland: $10.82Grand Mound: $10.78Cambridge: $10.53Lovilia: $10.46Swisher: $10.39Schleswig: $10.39Melbourne: $10.38Radcliffe: $10.37Stacyville: $10.36Ventura: $10.22Inwood: $10.22Milo: $10.20Hartford: $10.16What Cheer: $10.01Newhall: $9.99Cumming: $9.85Graettinger: $9.81Breda: $9.80Doon: $9.78Long Grove: $9.59Alleman: $9.12Winthrop: $8.94Crescent: $8.72Ainsworth: $8.62Keosauqua: $8.58Grand Junction: $8.57Princeton: $8.24Gilman: $8.10Kellogg: $8.10Lakeside: $8.10Agency: $7.94Hills: $7.94Fremont: $7.86Delhi: $7.81Larchwood: $7.52Sully: $7.41Fruitland: $7.21Lawton: $7.10Wayland: $7.07Raymond: $6.85Keystone: $6.80Shueyville: $6.79New Virginia: $5.97University Park: $5.27Orleans: $4.13Okoboji: $3.83Olin: $14.19$3.83 lowest$24.81 highestmiddle
See all 185
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Exira$24.81766
2Rolfe$22.67505
3Dayton$22.51766
4Charter Oak$21.32521
5Correctionville$19.84759
6Pomeroy$19.60511
7Allison$19.06937
8Dumont$19.04614
9Seymour$18.78646
10Dexter$18.69631
11Fonda$18.52636
12Kanawha$18.11638
13Swea City$18.04545
14Greene$17.91971
15Alden$17.90738
16Elma$17.82493
17Dows$17.70509
18New Hartford$17.69555
19Lansing$17.67959
20Walnut$17.46728
21Murray$17.44609
22Thompson$17.25478
23Gowrie$17.17943
24Colo$17.14856
25Latimer$16.96477
26Adair$16.84792
27Eddyville$16.82965
28Elk Horn$16.78631
29Oxford$16.70715
30Buffalo Center$16.58839
31Whittemore$16.54478
32Bancroft$16.52677
33Titonka$16.45491
34Eldon$16.42788
35Early$16.35571
36Truro$16.34515
37Mechanicsville$16.12974
38Scranton$16.01496
39Armstrong$15.87847
40Ruthven$15.84710
41Minden$15.77581
42Walker$15.74671
43Newell$15.49850
44Riceville$15.31807
45Neola$15.30917
46Russell$15.18475
47Gilbertville$15.15792
48Stanwood$15.12612
49Stratford$15.03688
50Griswold$15.01975
51Zearing$14.99508
52Readlyn$14.99857
53Maynard$14.85466
54Wyoming$14.81526
55Humeston$14.80472
56Hopkinton$14.79622
57Essex$14.76721
58Gilmore City$14.60484
59Garnavillo$14.52751
60Maxwell$14.50862
61Sabula$14.38498
62Collins$14.32503
63Clermont$14.30571
64Moulton$14.25596
65Mcgregor$14.20725
66Olin$14.19652
67Primghar$14.18893
68Garwin$14.08469
69Farragut$14.07480
70Elgin$14.05676
71Lime Springs$13.95467
72Dow City$13.94477
73Ossian$13.88777
74Redfield$13.73719
75Victor$13.72852
76Edgewood$13.64908
77Sioux Rapids$13.63722
78Donnellson$13.63859
79Albion$13.58444
80Gladbrook$13.58775
81New Albin$13.55435
82Rockford$13.52722
83Boyden$13.39694
84Anita$13.28953
85Van Horne$13.27768
86Keota$13.21888
87De Soto$13.18937
88Quasqueton$13.12587
89Farmington$13.10583
90Anthon$13.05534
91Little Rock$13.03447
92Odebolt$13.00967
93Coggon$12.99691
94Earlville$12.90713
95Brighton$12.88592
96Danville$12.87910
97Underwood$12.85973
98Montrose$12.78734
99Goldfield$12.73617
100Wellsburg$12.68709
101Delmar$12.68541
102Badger$12.67540
103Stanton$12.62664
104Hospers$12.58703
105Norway$12.53463
106Everly$12.51570
107Hazleton$12.48711
108West Point$12.39903
109Hinton$12.38959
110Preston$12.38940
111Alburnett$12.30672
112Hubbard$12.30837
113Moravia$12.27625
114Hedrick$12.22717
115Carson$12.22772
116Wheatland$12.18765
117Schaller$12.14702
118Afton$11.96864
119Lowden$11.93767
120Albert City$11.88627
121Aurelia$11.84970
122Runnells$11.79467
123Merrill$11.64713
124Ellsworth$11.57495
125Morning Sun$11.50702
126Battle Creek$11.49683
127Wall Lake$11.43739
128West Bend$11.42770
129Dakota City$11.39764
130Dunkerton$11.30840
131Sutherland$11.25628
132Arcadia$11.23588
133Whiting$11.21725
134Shelby$11.17730
135Blairstown$11.04705
136Manilla$11.01756
137Hamburg$10.95863
138Ireton$10.93571
139Fontanelle$10.88684
140Richland$10.82532
141Grand Mound$10.78608
142Cambridge$10.53844
143Lovilia$10.46456
144Swisher$10.39909
145Schleswig$10.39820
146Melbourne$10.38771
147Radcliffe$10.37540
148Stacyville$10.36436
149Ventura$10.22701
150Inwood$10.22962
151Milo$10.20762
152Hartford$10.16729
153What Cheer$10.01595
154Newhall$9.99887
155Cumming$9.85527
156Graettinger$9.81810
157Breda$9.80492
158Doon$9.78640
159Long Grove$9.59849
160Alleman$9.12439
161Winthrop$8.94814
162Crescent$8.72626
163Ainsworth$8.62511
164Keosauqua$8.58944
165Grand Junction$8.57715
166Princeton$8.24917
167Gilman$8.10530
168Kellogg$8.10597
169Lakeside$8.10695
170Agency$7.94623
171Hills$7.94911
172Fremont$7.86688
173Delhi$7.81438
174Larchwood$7.52954
175Sully$7.41891
176Fruitland$7.21928
177Lawton$7.10949
178Wayland$7.07935
179Raymond$6.85754
180Keystone$6.80616
181Shueyville$6.79725
182New Virginia$5.97499
183University Park$5.27476
184Orleans$4.13503
185Okoboji$3.83729

The $8.10 limit

Olin’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.4 208 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: $6.06 more5

  • Debt Service Levy$3.29 · $43,820
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$2.77 · $36,975

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$108,31857%
  • Debt Service Levy$43,82023%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$36,97520%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Olin’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 24¢ of every dollar24¢Public Works: 24¢ of every dollar24¢General Government: 14¢ of every dollar14¢Capital Projects: 12¢ of every dollar12¢Public Safety: 12¢ of every dollar12¢Everything else: 14¢ of every dollar14¢

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 184 Iowa cities closest in size (440–980 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (184)
Business Type / Enterprise24¢41¢
Public Works24¢17¢
General Government14¢11¢
Capital Projects12¢6¢
Public Safety12¢9¢
Everything else14¢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 Works$189,00031%
  • General Government$116,12019%
  • Public Safety$107,94118%
  • Capital Projects$98,34416%
  • Debt Service$46,2208%
  • Culture and Recreation$45,5007%
  • Community and Economic Development$10,0002%
  • Health and Social Services$7500%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($194,295 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$168,450$318,515
Public Safety$76,260$116,859
Health and Social Services$5,850$5,000
General Government$88,550$146,571
Debt Service$42,796$52,476
Culture and Recreation$42,758$47,943
Community and Economic Development$3,500$20,736
Capital Projects$160,573$27,567
Business Type / Enterprise$171,095$298,812

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$1.2M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Olin owes

$1.3M at June 30, 2026: $2,012 per resident. 384th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$2.7M
$1.3M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$1.3M$2,012
2025$1.4M$2,200
2024$1.4M$2,212
2023$1.5M$2,345
2022$1.6M$2,508
2021$1.7M$2,594
2020$1.9M$2,906
2019$2.0M$3,099
2018$2.1M$3,296
2017$2.2M$3,387
2016$2.3M$3,560
2015$2.3M$3,558
2014$2.4M$3,748
2013$2.4M$3,649
2012$2.5M$3,771
2011$2.6M$4,027
2010$2.7M$4,194
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$1.3M$2,012
2025$1.4M$2,200
2024$1.4M$2,212
2023$1.5M$2,345
2022$1.6M$2,508
2021$1.7M$2,594
2020$1.9M$2,906
2019$2.0M$3,099
2018$2.1M$3,296
2017$2.2M$3,387
2016$2.3M$3,560
2015$2.3M$3,558
2014$2.4M$3,748
2013$2.4M$3,649
2012$2.5M$3,771
2011$2.6M$4,027
2010$2.7M$4,194

Down 52% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $123,500, 9% of the limit of about $1.4M (5% of $27.7M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

5 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsWWTF - SRF 1382039$993,000
Revenue BondsWWTF - SRF 1802039$193,000
General ObligationWWTF - SRF 1792029$56,000
General ObligationMeter loan 567682029$36,000
General ObligationWhite Truck Loan 567502029$31,500

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. Olin’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2022 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Thursday, June 30, 2022 (PDF), released Thursday, March 30, 2023, by a CPA firm.

3 earlier reports for Olin

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: $92,455 in FY25, up 3% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 18% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$91,144$89,585$91,955$92,455

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.

$52,467
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$1,363
    FY20$1,371
    FY21$9,496
    FY22$12,930
    FY23$52,467
    FY24$1,376
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$1,363
    FY20$1,371
    FY21$9,496
    FY22$12,930
    FY23$52,467
    FY24$1,376
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−18%$90,172 → $92,455, up 3% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 18% 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 42% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 13% more.

    $88,590
    $78,848

    Federal grants, for comparison: $69,357 in FY22.

    Business awards

    Every award 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 · 2

    2 seats: the top 2 win.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Olin; 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.

    • Olin City Council At-Large (3 seats)
      Now held by Corey L. Schnepp, Kahm Sauer, David Dircks
    • Olin Mayor
      Now held by Zach Borst

    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

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

    U.S. House:District 1

    Jones CountyOlin schools