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Local taxes › Lee County › Donnellson

City

Donnellson

Lee County · How cities work

$3,070 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($36.44 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,150 a yearof that goes to the city ($13.63 per $1,000)
$382,409property taxes the city levies, FY27
$768,004city 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.

  • Taylor YoungDonnellson City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Tony KeefeDonnellson City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • William DahmsDonnellson City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Willis KrehbielDonnellson Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Erin WagnerDonnellson City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Jeremy MarshallDonnellson 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 Donnellson

Homes and businesses in most of Donnellson pay a combined $36.44 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Lee County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $13.63. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$32.05$10.59
FY21$31.96$10.62
FY22$31.37$10.61
FY23$31.06$10.45
FY24$36.02$11.98
FY25$35.79$11.87
FY26$35.58$12.16
FY27$36.44$13.63
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$32.05$10.59
FY21$31.96$10.62
FY22$31.37$10.61
FY23$31.06$10.45
FY24$36.02$11.98
FY25$35.79$11.87
FY26$35.58$12.16
FY27$36.44$13.63

Compared with places this size3

Donnellson’s city property tax rate of $13.63 per $1,000 is the 69th highest of 183 Iowa cities with 580–1,300 people. The middle of the group is $12.88.

Elkader: $27.11Exira: $24.81Laurens: $24.16Dayton: $22.51Correctionville: $19.84Villisca: $19.74Allison: $19.06Dumont: $19.04Seymour: $18.78Dexter: $18.69Fonda: $18.52Kanawha: $18.11Dysart: $17.95Greene: $17.91Alden: $17.90Lansing: $17.67Strawberry Point: $17.58Rockwell: $17.54Walnut: $17.46Murray: $17.44Gowrie: $17.17Colo: $17.14Mapleton: $16.90George: $16.89Fayette: $16.85Adair: $16.84Eddyville: $16.82Elk Horn: $16.78Oxford: $16.70Buffalo Center: $16.58Bancroft: $16.52Eldon: $16.42Aplington: $16.34Panora: $16.14Mechanicsville: $16.12Armstrong: $15.87Ruthven: $15.84Minden: $15.77Walker: $15.74Shell Rock: $15.52Newell: $15.49Riceville: $15.31Neola: $15.30Sidney: $15.19Gilbertville: $15.15Stanwood: $15.12Stratford: $15.03Griswold: $15.01Readlyn: $14.99Tripoli: $14.99Hopkinton: $14.79Essex: $14.76Dunlap: $14.56Garnavillo: $14.52Maxwell: $14.50Coon Rapids: $14.49Moulton: $14.25Mcgregor: $14.20Olin: $14.19Primghar: $14.18Sheffield: $14.16Elgin: $14.05Ossian: $13.88Alton: $13.87Redfield: $13.73Victor: $13.72Edgewood: $13.64Sioux Rapids: $13.63Gladbrook: $13.58Clarksville: $13.53Rockford: $13.52Janesville: $13.43Glidden: $13.43Calmar: $13.39Boyden: $13.39Baxter: $13.32Manly: $13.29Anita: $13.28Van Horne: $13.27Conrad: $13.23Springville: $13.22Keota: $13.21Shellsburg: $13.20De Soto: $13.18Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Treynor: $13.03Odebolt: $13.00Coggon: $12.99Earlville: $12.90Brighton: $12.88Danville: $12.87Underwood: $12.85New Sharon: $12.80Malvern: $12.79Montrose: $12.78Goldfield: $12.73Wellsburg: $12.68Buffalo: $12.68Stanton: $12.62Hospers: $12.58Hazleton: $12.48West Point: $12.39Hinton: $12.38Preston: $12.38Alburnett: $12.30Hubbard: $12.30Moravia: $12.27Hedrick: $12.22Carson: $12.22Wheatland: $12.18Schaller: $12.14Winfield: $12.04Elkhart: $12.00Afton: $11.96Lowden: $11.93Tabor: $11.88Albert City: $11.88Aurelia: $11.84Merrill: $11.64Morning Sun: $11.50Battle Creek: $11.49Wall Lake: $11.43West Bend: $11.42Dakota City: $11.39Marcus: $11.31Dunkerton: $11.30Sutherland: $11.25Arcadia: $11.23Whiting: $11.21Melcher-Dallas: $11.21Shelby: $11.17University Heights: $11.12Blairstown: $11.04Manilla: $11.01Hamburg: $10.95Clarence: $10.94Fontanelle: $10.88Grand Mound: $10.78Cambridge: $10.53Swisher: $10.39Schleswig: $10.39Melbourne: $10.38Elk Run Heights: $10.33Fredericksburg: $10.27Lake Park: $10.25Ventura: $10.22Inwood: $10.22Milo: $10.20Hartford: $10.16Central City: $10.01What Cheer: $10.01Newhall: $9.99Graettinger: $9.81Doon: $9.78Long Grove: $9.59Lake View: $9.39Paullina: $9.21Fairbank: $9.00Winthrop: $8.94Crescent: $8.72Keosauqua: $8.58Grand Junction: $8.57Princeton: $8.24Kellogg: $8.10Lakeside: $8.10Riverside: $8.02Agency: $7.94Hills: $7.94Fremont: $7.86Larchwood: $7.52North English: $7.49Sloan: $7.49Sully: $7.41Fruitland: $7.21Lawton: $7.10Wayland: $7.07Raymond: $6.85Keystone: $6.80Shueyville: $6.79Arnolds Park: $4.95Okoboji: $3.83Donnellson: $13.63$3.83 lowest$27.11 highestmiddle
See all 183
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Elkader$27.111,192
2Exira$24.81766
3Laurens$24.161,253
4Dayton$22.51766
5Correctionville$19.84759
6Villisca$19.741,106
7Allison$19.06937
8Dumont$19.04614
9Seymour$18.78646
10Dexter$18.69631
11Fonda$18.52636
12Kanawha$18.11638
13Dysart$17.951,266
14Greene$17.91971
15Alden$17.90738
16Lansing$17.67959
17Strawberry Point$17.581,141
18Rockwell$17.541,044
19Walnut$17.46728
20Murray$17.44609
21Gowrie$17.17943
22Colo$17.14856
23Mapleton$16.901,114
24George$16.891,106
25Fayette$16.851,193
26Adair$16.84792
27Eddyville$16.82965
28Elk Horn$16.78631
29Oxford$16.70715
30Buffalo Center$16.58839
31Bancroft$16.52677
32Eldon$16.42788
33Aplington$16.341,088
34Panora$16.141,096
35Mechanicsville$16.12974
36Armstrong$15.87847
37Ruthven$15.84710
38Minden$15.77581
39Walker$15.74671
40Shell Rock$15.521,265
41Newell$15.49850
42Riceville$15.31807
43Neola$15.30917
44Sidney$15.191,048
45Gilbertville$15.15792
46Stanwood$15.12612
47Stratford$15.03688
48Griswold$15.01975
49Readlyn$14.99857
50Tripoli$14.991,208
51Hopkinton$14.79622
52Essex$14.76721
53Dunlap$14.561,030
54Garnavillo$14.52751
55Maxwell$14.50862
56Coon Rapids$14.491,258
57Moulton$14.25596
58Mcgregor$14.20725
59Olin$14.19652
60Primghar$14.18893
61Sheffield$14.161,123
62Elgin$14.05676
63Ossian$13.88777
64Alton$13.871,248
65Redfield$13.73719
66Victor$13.72852
67Edgewood$13.64908
68Sioux Rapids$13.63722
69Donnellson$13.63859
70Gladbrook$13.58775
71Clarksville$13.531,238
72Rockford$13.52722
73Janesville$13.431,052
74Glidden$13.431,140
75Calmar$13.391,100
76Boyden$13.39694
77Baxter$13.32983
78Manly$13.291,233
79Anita$13.28953
80Van Horne$13.27768
81Conrad$13.231,098
82Springville$13.221,161
83Keota$13.21888
84Shellsburg$13.20987
85De Soto$13.18937
86Quasqueton$13.12587
87Farmington$13.10583
88Treynor$13.031,104
89Odebolt$13.00967
90Coggon$12.99691
91Earlville$12.90713
92Brighton$12.88592
93Danville$12.87910
94Underwood$12.85973
95New Sharon$12.801,249
96Malvern$12.791,056
97Montrose$12.78734
98Goldfield$12.73617
99Wellsburg$12.68709
100Buffalo$12.681,163
101Stanton$12.62664
102Hospers$12.58703
103Hazleton$12.48711
104West Point$12.39903
105Hinton$12.38959
106Preston$12.38940
107Alburnett$12.30672
108Hubbard$12.30837
109Moravia$12.27625
110Hedrick$12.22717
111Carson$12.22772
112Wheatland$12.18765
113Schaller$12.14702
114Winfield$12.041,006
115Elkhart$12.001,079
116Afton$11.96864
117Lowden$11.93767
118Tabor$11.88983
119Albert City$11.88627
120Aurelia$11.84970
121Merrill$11.64713
122Morning Sun$11.50702
123Battle Creek$11.49683
124Wall Lake$11.43739
125West Bend$11.42770
126Dakota City$11.39764
127Marcus$11.311,069
128Dunkerton$11.30840
129Sutherland$11.25628
130Arcadia$11.23588
131Whiting$11.21725
132Melcher-Dallas$11.211,193
133Shelby$11.17730
134University Heights$11.121,188
135Blairstown$11.04705
136Manilla$11.01756
137Hamburg$10.95863
138Clarence$10.94991
139Fontanelle$10.88684
140Grand Mound$10.78608
141Cambridge$10.53844
142Swisher$10.39909
143Schleswig$10.39820
144Melbourne$10.38771
145Elk Run Heights$10.331,061
146Fredericksburg$10.27983
147Lake Park$10.251,155
148Ventura$10.22701
149Inwood$10.22962
150Milo$10.20762
151Hartford$10.16729
152Central City$10.011,254
153What Cheer$10.01595
154Newhall$9.99887
155Graettinger$9.81810
156Doon$9.78640
157Long Grove$9.59849
158Lake View$9.391,120
159Paullina$9.21979
160Fairbank$9.001,133
161Winthrop$8.94814
162Crescent$8.72626
163Keosauqua$8.58944
164Grand Junction$8.57715
165Princeton$8.24917
166Kellogg$8.10597
167Lakeside$8.10695
168Riverside$8.021,063
169Agency$7.94623
170Hills$7.94911
171Fremont$7.86688
172Larchwood$7.52954
173North English$7.491,030
174Sloan$7.491,078
175Sully$7.41891
176Fruitland$7.21928
177Lawton$7.10949
178Wayland$7.07935
179Raymond$6.85754
180Keystone$6.80616
181Shueyville$6.79725
182Arnolds Park$4.951,214
183Okoboji$3.83729

The $8.10 limit

Donnellson’s general levy is $7.94 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.16 below the limit.4 487 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $7.86 · FY26 $8.10 · FY27 $7.94 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $5.69 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$2.22 · $62,112
  • Debt Service Levy$1.82 · $50,991
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.64 · $45,844

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$221,94158%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$62,11216%
  • Debt Service Levy$50,99113%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$45,84412%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Donnellson’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 47¢ of every dollar47¢Public Works: 20¢ of every dollar20¢General Government: 11¢ of every dollar11¢Culture and Recreation: 10¢ of every dollar10¢Public Safety: 8¢ of every dollar8¢Everything else: 5¢ 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 182 Iowa cities closest in size (580–1,300 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (182)
Business Type / Enterprise47¢40¢
Public Works20¢16¢
General Government11¢9¢
Culture and Recreation10¢9¢
Public Safety8¢10¢
Everything else5¢17¢

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$248,83532%
  • General Government$169,89222%
  • Culture and Recreation$155,89220%
  • Public Safety$129,66517%
  • Debt Service$63,7208%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($622,345 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$234,507$211,693
Public Safety$100,677$159,950
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$108,362$109,133
Debt Service$54,000$54,366
Culture and Recreation$109,839$138,160
Community and Economic Development$0$17,663
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$598,025$602,682

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$2.3M
$1.7M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Donnellson owes

$3.3M at June 30, 2026: $3,677 per resident. 214th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$4.2M
$3.3M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$3.3M$3,677
2025$3.3M$3,779
2024$3.5M$3,973
2023$3.7M$4,211
2022$3.9M$4,362
2021$4.0M$4,550
2020$4.2M$4,760
2019$3.7M$4,200
2018$3.1M$3,550
2017$3.3M$3,698
2016$3.4M$3,815
2015$3.3M$3,693
2014$944,223$1,067
2013$847,879$958
2012$302,785$342
2011$153,028$173
2010$195,012$220
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$3.3M$3,677
2025$3.3M$3,779
2024$3.5M$3,973
2023$3.7M$4,211
2022$3.9M$4,362
2021$4.0M$4,550
2020$4.2M$4,760
2019$3.7M$4,200
2018$3.1M$3,550
2017$3.3M$3,698
2016$3.4M$3,815
2015$3.3M$3,693
2014$944,223$1,067
2013$847,879$958
2012$302,785$342
2011$153,028$173
2010$195,012$220

Up 1569% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $319,780, 12% of the limit of about $2.7M (5% of $54.4M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

5 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsSRF Loan for sewer plant Loan #c0518r2042$2.1M
Revenue BondsUSDA Loan - Rathbun Water2060$589,123
General ObligationCombined 2 Donn Munic Waterworks loans to City of Donnellson - old water revenue bond & Public Building Loan2039$319,780
LoansPurchase of 15 acres of land for possible sub division2030$173,359
Revenue BondsSRF Loan for sewer plant C0434R2031$72,000

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 balances9. Donnellson’s latest audit has them: Annual Examination, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2026 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Annual Examination for the period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2026 (PDF), released Thursday, August 6, 2026, by a CPA firm.

The report has no Schedule of Findings Iowa Funnel could read.

13 earlier reports for Donnellson

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: $125,687 in FY25, up 7% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 15% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$123,010$121,786$125,008$125,687

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.

$132,382
$2,235
  • State grants$2,235100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$3,354
FY20$3,238
FY21$27,238
FY22$3,153
FY23$132,382
FY24$2,479
FY25$2,235
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$3,354
FY20$3,238
FY21$27,238
FY22$3,153
FY23$132,382
FY24$2,479
FY25$2,235

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−15%$117,817 → $125,687, up 7% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 15% 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 14% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 9% less.

$119,761
$117,123

Federal grants, for comparison: $63,846 in FY23.

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

3 seats: the top 3 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Donnellson; 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.

  • Donnellson City Council At-Large (2 seats)
    Now held by Jeremy Marshall, Erin Wagner

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

Jeff Reichman (Sen. 50)Blaine C. Watkins (Rep. 100)

U.S. House:District 1

Lee CountyCentral Lee schools