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Local taxes › Kossuth County › Algona

City

Algona

Kossuth County · How cities work

$2,990 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($35.46 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,410 a yearof that goes to the city ($16.75 per $1,000)
$4.9Mproperty taxes the city levies, FY27
$13.3Mcity 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.

  • Carl WestlingAlgona City Council Ward 1 · elected November 4, 2025
  • Rick MurphyAlgona Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Donald Craig JohnsonAlgona City Council Ward 3 · elected November 7, 2023
  • Harley KohlhaasAlgona City Council Ward 4 · elected November 7, 2023
  • Jessica M GronauAlgona City Council Ward 2 · elected November 7, 2023
  • Kathy DearchsAlgona 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.3

City Council · Tuesday, November 10, 2026Agenda (PDF)

AI summary

  • Provide updates on the exterior and interior renovation projects.
  • Discuss the library's circulation policy.
  • Hear reports from the Director and various committees, including Personnel, Facility, Finance, and Long Range Planning.
City Council · Tuesday, October 13, 2026Agenda (PDF)

AI summary

  • Staff will present statistics regarding Summer Reading and information on upcoming Fall programs.
  • The Board will receive updates on the exterior and interior renovation projects.
  • Committee reports will be provided regarding personnel, facilities, finance, and long-range planning.
City Council · Tuesday, September 8, 2026Agenda (PDF)
Show 5 more meetings
City Council · Tuesday, August 11, 2026Agenda (PDF)
City Council · Tuesday, July 14, 2026Agenda (PDF)
City Council · Tuesday, June 9, 2026Agenda (PDF)
City Council · Tuesday, May 12, 2026Agenda (PDF)
City Council · Tuesday, April 14, 2026Agenda (PDF)

Property taxes

How the bill is collected · What each levy is for

Who gets a property owner’s tax bill in Algona

Homes and businesses in most of Algona pay a combined $35.46 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Kossuth County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $16.75. Estimate your bill.

  • City of Algona$16.7547%
  • Algona schools$10.0928%
  • Kossuth County$5.7916%
  • Iowa Lakes Community College$1.274%
  • Kossuth County Hospital$1.083%
  • Kossuth County Assessor$0.32<1%
  • Kossuth County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.15<1%

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.39$15.11
FY21$33.67$15.51
FY22$33.87$15.97
FY23$34.27$16.07
FY24$33.84$15.64
FY25$35.51$16.98
FY26$35.70$17.14
FY27$35.46$16.75
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.39$15.11
FY21$33.67$15.51
FY22$33.87$15.97
FY23$34.27$16.07
FY24$33.84$15.64
FY25$35.51$16.98
FY26$35.70$17.14
FY27$35.46$16.75

Compared with places this size4

Algona’s city property tax rate of $16.75 per $1,000 is the 13th highest of 59 Iowa cities with 3,600–7,800 people. The middle of the group is $14.88.

Red Oak: $20.65Oelwein: $20.16Albia: $19.70Eagle Grove: $19.32Independence: $19.01Iowa Falls: $18.86West Liberty: $18.68Chariton: $18.37Atlantic: $17.48Knoxville: $17.46Clarinda: $17.25Centerville: $16.85Webster City: $16.51Vinton: $16.25Winterset: $16.15Cresco: $16.13Humboldt: $16.00Anamosa: $15.95Charles City: $15.95Forest City: $15.77Decorah: $15.52Sheldon: $15.33Estherville: $15.27Washington: $15.21Harlan: $15.07Shenandoah: $15.02Creston: $14.99Manchester: $14.96Jefferson: $14.88Hampton: $14.86Carlisle: $14.82Cherokee: $14.82Glenwood: $14.77Waukon: $14.76Nevada: $14.58Monticello: $14.49Osceola: $14.37Windsor Heights: $14.30Orange City: $14.01Hiawatha: $13.78Rock Valley: $13.76Sergeant Bluff: $13.70Emmetsburg: $13.70Mount Vernon: $13.50Adel: $13.43Maquoketa: $12.85Camanche: $12.75Le Claire: $12.64Tiffin: $11.80Huxley: $11.68Polk City: $11.00Carter Lake: $10.67Dyersville: $10.27Spirit Lake: $10.17Clear Lake: $9.85Asbury: $8.32Eldridge: $8.13Evansdale: $8.00Algona: $16.75$8.00 lowest$20.65 highestmiddle
See all 59
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Red Oak$20.655,420
2Oelwein$20.165,788
3Albia$19.703,579
4Eagle Grove$19.323,615
5Independence$19.016,266
6Iowa Falls$18.864,993
7West Liberty$18.683,724
8Chariton$18.374,278
9Atlantic$17.486,717
10Knoxville$17.467,440
11Clarinda$17.255,334
12Centerville$16.855,345
13Algona$16.755,341
14Webster City$16.517,763
15Vinton$16.254,962
16Winterset$16.155,421
17Cresco$16.133,890
18Humboldt$16.004,774
19Anamosa$15.955,845
20Charles City$15.957,081
21Forest City$15.774,199
22Decorah$15.527,454
23Sheldon$15.335,584
24Estherville$15.275,796
25Washington$15.217,281
26Harlan$15.074,898
27Shenandoah$15.024,878
28Creston$14.997,421
29Manchester$14.965,283
30Jefferson$14.884,148
31Hampton$14.864,340
32Carlisle$14.824,381
33Cherokee$14.825,186
34Glenwood$14.775,250
35Waukon$14.763,799
36Nevada$14.587,082
37Monticello$14.494,095
38Osceola$14.375,585
39Windsor Heights$14.305,106
40Orange City$14.016,547
41Hiawatha$13.787,347
42Rock Valley$13.764,024
43Sergeant Bluff$13.705,335
44Emmetsburg$13.703,632
45Mount Vernon$13.504,518
46Adel$13.436,763
47Maquoketa$12.856,064
48Camanche$12.754,536
49Le Claire$12.644,776
50Tiffin$11.806,695
51Huxley$11.684,737
52Polk City$11.006,430
53Carter Lake$10.673,752
54Dyersville$10.274,559
55Spirit Lake$10.175,548
56Clear Lake$9.857,602
57Asbury$8.326,051
58Eldridge$8.136,967
59Evansdale$8.004,515

The $8.10 limit

Algona’s general levy is $8.12 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.02 above the limit; it has to come down in steps.5 238 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.37 · FY26 $8.37 · FY27 $8.12 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $8.62 more6

  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$4.69 · $1.3M
  • Debt Service Levy$2.49 · $749,652
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.14 · $326,992
  • Opr & Maint publicly owned Transit$0.30 · $84,983
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$0.02 · $4,950

Tax increment financing (TIF)

$12.1M of taxable value in Algona is in TIF districts’ increment (4% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.7 It budgeted $502,426 in TIF revenue for FY25.

$260,948
$246,387

What that value would raise at each government’s rate, FY278

Taxes on TIF value go to the city’s TIF fund instead of the governments that levy them, including about $172,711 of the city’s own.

  • Algona schools$107,511
  • Kossuth County$70,060
YearTIF revenue
FY16$11,676
FY17$129,339
FY18$73,150
FY19$120,318
FY20$131,157
FY21$260,948
FY22$242,304
FY23$246,387
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$11,676
FY17$129,339
FY18$73,150
FY19$120,318
FY20$131,157
FY21$260,948
FY22$242,304
FY23$246,387

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$2.3M48%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.3M28%
  • Debt Service Levy$749,65215%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$326,9927%
  • Opr & Maint publicly owned Transit$84,9832%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$4,9500%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Algona’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 49¢ of every dollar49¢Capital Projects: 21¢ of every dollar21¢Public Safety: 8¢ of every dollar8¢Public Works: 7¢ of every dollarCulture and Recreation: 6¢ of every dollarEverything else: 10¢ of every dollar10¢

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 58 Iowa cities closest in size (3,600–7,800 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (58)
Business Type / Enterprise49¢37¢
Capital Projects21¢19¢
Public Safety8¢13¢
Public Works7¢8¢
Culture and Recreation6¢8¢
Everything else10¢15¢

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.

  • Debt Service$3.4M25%
  • Public Safety$2.7M20%
  • Capital Projects$2.2M17%
  • Culture and Recreation$1.8M13%
  • Public Works$1.7M13%
  • General Government$872,9157%
  • Community and Economic Development$661,1495%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($16.3M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$1.7M$8.6M
Public Safety$2.2M$2.3M
Health and Social Services$270$0
General Government$743,590$702,061
Debt Service$1.4M$1.4M
Culture and Recreation$1.8M$3.0M
Community and Economic Development$628,510$623,347
Capital Projects$9.4M$0
Business Type / Enterprise$3.5M$2.8M

What it spent each year

FY24 left out9

$28.9M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Algona owes

$44.8M at June 30, 2026: $8,173 per resident. 36th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).10

$44.8M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$44.8M$8,173
2025$41.3M$7,531
2024$42.6M$7,761
2023$12.6M$2,296
2022$13.7M$2,493
2021$14.6M$2,668
2020$6.7M$1,215
2019$5.6M$1,018
2018$6.4M$1,164
2017$4.8M$872
2016$3.1M$562
2015$3.2M$585
2014$3.6M$661
2013$4.0M$736
2012$4.4M$793
2011$3.0M$547
2010$2.8M$503
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$44.8M$8,173
2025$41.3M$7,531
2024$42.6M$7,761
2023$12.6M$2,296
2022$13.7M$2,493
2021$14.6M$2,668
2020$6.7M$1,215
2019$5.6M$1,018
2018$6.4M$1,164
2017$4.8M$872
2016$3.1M$562
2015$3.2M$585
2014$3.6M$661
2013$4.0M$736
2012$4.4M$793
2011$3.0M$547
2010$2.8M$503

Up 1526% since 2010.

The 5% limit11

General obligation debt is $11.8M, 48% of the limit of about $24.7M (5% of $494.5M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

9 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue Bonds2024 WWTF Improvements2046$30.8M
General ObligationStreet Reconstruction Rural Fire Pumper2040$6.1M
General Obligation2025 Nebraska Thorington Street Parking Lot2045$4.4M
Revenue Bonds2017 Sanitary Sewer Improvements2037$1.6M
General ObligationNew City Hall LOSST2032$935,000
Revenue BondsWastewater Treatment Plant upgrades 2010 Series2031$561,000
General ObligationIndustrial Related2032$380,000
LoansIndustrial Park Land Acquisition (TIF)2031$118,566
LoansIndustrial Park Land Acquisition (TIF)2029$40,823

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 balances12. Algona’s latest audit has them: Financial Statement, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).

Audits13

The latest: Financial Statement for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Tuesday, December 2, 2025, by a CPA firm.

15 earlier reports for Algona

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? 14

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: $963,823 in FY25, up 13% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 10% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$760,308$755,073$775,053$779,260
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$146,316$128,027$211,302$184,563

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.

$1.4M
$596,439
  • State grants$569,04795%
  • CEBA grants$27,3925%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$120,506
FY20$483,764
FY21$561,237
FY22$1.4M
FY23$57,265
FY24$123,339
FY25$596,439
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$120,506
FY20$483,764
FY21$561,237
FY22$1.4M
FY23$57,265
FY24$123,339
FY25$596,439

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−14%$718,273 → $779,260, up 8% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 14% less
  • Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)+10%$133,816 → $184,563, up 38% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 10% 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 30% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 4% more.

$1.0M
$974,227

Federal grants, for comparison: $1.1M in FY25.

Business awards

Every award statewide

State economic development awards

Community college new jobs training: 13 contracts since 2001 worth $3.9M, for 405 pledged jobs.

Awards 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)15.

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 · 4

    No candidates listed.

      No candidates listed.

      Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Algona; 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.

      • Algona City Council At-Large
        Now held by Kathy Dearchs
      • Algona City Council Ward 2
        Now held by Jessica M Gronau
      • Algona City Council Ward 4
        Now held by Harley Kohlhaas
      • Algona Mayor
        Now held by Rick Murphy

      Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here16.

      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 ballot17.

      Related places

      At the Statehouse and in Congress18

      David D. Rowley (Sen. 5)Henry Stone (Rep. 9)

      U.S. House:District 4

      Kossuth CountyAlgona schools