Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Chris GammackHayesville Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Larry BirdHayesville City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Zebulen WebbHayesville City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Marcus AndersonHayesville City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Melissa BirdHayesville City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Steven ClubbHayesville 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 Hayesville
Homes and businesses in most of Hayesville pay a combined $32.29 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Keokuk County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $11.13. Estimate your bill.
- Sigourney schools$11.4936%
- City of Hayesville$11.1334%
- Keokuk County$5.6417%
- Keokuk County Hospital$1.765%
- Indian Hills Community College$1.244%
- Keokuk County Assessor$0.602%
- Keokuk County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.31<1%
- West Lancaster-Hayesville Cemetery$0.11<1%
Rates over time
Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Hayesville pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $32.07 | $10.02 |
| FY21 | $31.88 | $10.06 |
| FY22 | $31.97 | $10.32 |
| FY23 | $31.83 | $10.29 |
| FY24 | $31.51 | $10.28 |
| FY25 | $31.87 | $10.57 |
| FY26 | $32.26 | $11.02 |
| FY27 | $32.29 | $11.13 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $32.07 | $10.02 |
| FY21 | $31.88 | $10.06 |
| FY22 | $31.97 | $10.32 |
| FY23 | $31.83 | $10.29 |
| FY24 | $31.51 | $10.28 |
| FY25 | $31.87 | $10.57 |
| FY26 | $32.26 | $11.02 |
| FY27 | $32.29 | $11.13 |
Compared with places this size3
Hayesville’s city property tax rate of $11.13 per $1,000 is the 13th highest of 52 Iowa cities with 30–60 people. The middle of the group is $8.29.
See all 52
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dougherty | $25.38 | 61 |
| 2 | Vining | $16.97 | 53 |
| 3 | Northboro | $15.81 | 52 |
| 4 | Benton | $15.12 | 40 |
| 5 | Truesdale | $14.56 | 64 |
| 6 | Yorktown | $14.48 | 60 |
| 7 | Gillett Grove | $14.27 | 31 |
| 8 | Rodney | $13.04 | 43 |
| 9 | Rinard | $12.56 | 38 |
| 10 | Aredale | $12.19 | 59 |
| 11 | Colwell | $12.14 | 52 |
| 12 | Dolliver | $11.85 | 63 |
| 13 | Hayesville | $11.13 | 43 |
| 14 | Plover | $11.10 | 52 |
| 15 | Curlew | $10.85 | 38 |
| 16 | Dana | $10.85 | 34 |
| 17 | Owasa | $10.58 | 30 |
| 18 | Guernsey | $10.13 | 59 |
| 19 | Rathbun | $9.96 | 44 |
| 20 | Gray | $9.85 | 62 |
| 21 | Kirkman | $9.44 | 60 |
| 22 | Ottosen | $9.10 | 41 |
| 23 | Imogene | $9.10 | 37 |
| 24 | Buck Grove | $9.08 | 31 |
| 25 | Carbon | $8.78 | 32 |
| 26 | Aspinwall | $8.45 | 35 |
| 27 | Knierim | $8.13 | 53 |
| 28 | Elkport | $8.10 | 29 |
| 29 | Orchard | $8.10 | 64 |
| 30 | Valeria | $8.10 | 41 |
| 31 | Coppock | $7.94 | 35 |
| 32 | Gruver | $7.89 | 63 |
| 33 | Marysville | $7.89 | 46 |
| 34 | Redding | $7.86 | 64 |
| 35 | Bassett | $7.86 | 42 |
| 36 | Millerton | $7.86 | 37 |
| 37 | Cotter | $7.73 | 40 |
| 38 | Thornburg | $7.57 | 46 |
| 39 | Blanchard | $7.52 | 29 |
| 40 | Bevington | $7.41 | 62 |
| 41 | Thayer | $7.39 | 48 |
| 42 | Udell | $6.85 | 31 |
| 43 | Pleasanton | $6.65 | 32 |
| 44 | Rossie | $6.32 | 46 |
| 45 | Sandyville | $6.06 | 59 |
| 46 | Clayton | $5.08 | 45 |
| 47 | Plano | $4.66 | 57 |
| 48 | Hardy | $4.36 | 55 |
| 49 | Jackson Junction | $3.66 | 38 |
| 50 | Beaver | $2.71 | 46 |
| 51 | Osterdock | $2.44 | 45 |
| 52 | Gibson | $1.88 | 58 |
The $8.10 limit
Hayesville’s general levy is $7.97 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.13 below the limit.4 447 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.
FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.37 · FY26 $8.21 · FY27 $7.97 (before FY25, the general levy alone)
Outside the limit: $3.16 more5
- Liability, property & self insurance costs$3.16 · $2,411
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 Hayesville’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 51 Iowa cities closest in size (30–60 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (51) |
|---|---|---|
| General Government | 55¢ | 39¢ |
| Public Works | 29¢ | 38¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 11¢ | 7¢ |
| Public Safety | 2¢ | 9¢ |
| Community and Economic Development | 2¢ | 2¢ |
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.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $8,000 | $4,714 |
| Public Safety | $1,469 | $458 |
| Health and Social Services | $0 | $0 |
| General Government | $20,750 | $11,547 |
| Debt Service | $0 | $0 |
| Culture and Recreation | $4,063 | $1,028 |
| Community and Economic Development | $600 | $100 |
| Capital Projects | $0 | $0 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $0 | $0 |
What it spent each year
FY24 left out6
Debt, reserves and audits
How local debt works · What an audit tells you
What Hayesville owes
No debt at June 30, 2026.7
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0 | $0 |
| 2025 | $0 | $0 |
| 2024 | $0 | $0 |
| 2023 | $0 | $0 |
| 2022 | $0 | $0 |
| 2021 | $0 | $0 |
| 2020 | $0 | $0 |
| 2019 | $0 | $0 |
| 2018 | $0 | $0 |
| 2017 | $0 | $0 |
| 2016 | $0 | $0 |
| 2015 | $0 | $0 |
| 2014 | $0 | $0 |
| 2013 | $0 | $0 |
| 2012 | $0 | $0 |
| 2011 | $0 | $0 |
| 2010 | $0 | $0 |
Show the numbers
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0 | $0 |
| 2025 | $0 | $0 |
| 2024 | $0 | $0 |
| 2023 | $0 | $0 |
| 2022 | $0 | $0 |
| 2021 | $0 | $0 |
| 2020 | $0 | $0 |
| 2019 | $0 | $0 |
| 2018 | $0 | $0 |
| 2017 | $0 | $0 |
| 2016 | $0 | $0 |
| 2015 | $0 | $0 |
| 2014 | $0 | $0 |
| 2013 | $0 | $0 |
| 2012 | $0 | $0 |
| 2011 | $0 | $0 |
| 2010 | $0 | $0 |
The 5% limit8
General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $98,736 (5% of $2.0M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).
Money in reserve
The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. Hayesville’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Monday, March 31, 2025 (PDF).
Audits10
The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Monday, March 31, 2025 (PDF), released Friday, October 10, 2025, by the Auditor of State.
1 earlier report for Hayesville
- Periodic Examination, period ending Sunday, December 31, 2017Wednesday, November 14, 2018
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: $3,815 in FY25, down 11% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 29% less. Grants are below.
Show the numbers
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $3,901 | $3,700 | $3,794 | $3,815 |
Has it kept up with prices?
Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.
- Road Use Tax (streets)−29%$4,276 → $3,815, down 11% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 29% 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.
Business awards
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.
- Zebulen Webb Winner1155.0%
- Larry Bird Winner945.0%
- Chris Gammack Unopposed10100.0%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Hayesville; 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.
- Hayesville City Council At-Large (3 seats)Now held by Steven Clubb, Marcus Anderson, Melissa Bird
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
Adrian Dickey (Sen. 44)Helena Hayes (Rep. 88)
U.S. House:District 1