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Local taxes › Lee County › Houghton

City

Houghton

Lee County · How cities work

$2,620 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($31.16 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$570 a yearof that goes to the city ($6.73 per $1,000)
$84,579property taxes the city levies, FY27
$105,100city 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.

  • D. Brent DochtermanHoughton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Gale ThompsonHoughton Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jay W. HenrichHoughton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Kyle HoltkampHoughton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Marty BentlerHoughton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Trevor BentlerHoughton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Cheryl BrockHoughton City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Jay W HenrichHoughton City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Kurt D LowenbergHoughton City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Terrell WilsonHoughton 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 Houghton

Homes and businesses in most of Houghton pay a combined $31.16 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, $6.73. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$29.61$7.20
FY21$29.97$7.20
FY22$28.99$7.20
FY23$28.65$7.20
FY24$32.45$7.36
FY25$31.67$7.14
FY26$31.12$6.93
FY27$31.16$6.73
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$29.61$7.20
FY21$29.97$7.20
FY22$28.99$7.20
FY23$28.65$7.20
FY24$32.45$7.36
FY25$31.67$7.14
FY26$31.12$6.93
FY27$31.16$6.73

Compared with places this size3

Houghton’s city property tax rate of $6.73 per $1,000 is the 16th lowest of 159 Iowa cities with 90–190 people. The middle of the group is $10.35.

Castana: $34.13Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Whitten: $22.65Soldier: $21.92Smithland: $21.12Stanley: $20.69Coin: $19.59Rowan: $19.53Chester: $19.30Bouton: $19.25Ricketts: $19.22Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Derby: $18.13Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Prescott: $16.53Monmouth: $16.41Blockton: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Waterville: $16.25Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Woodburn: $15.59Kamrar: $15.47Goodell: $15.16Marne: $15.03Baldwin: $14.91Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Ferguson: $13.53Lanesboro: $13.53Calumet: $13.16Portsmouth: $13.05Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Clemons: $12.69Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Bridgewater: $12.29Arion: $12.14Webb: $12.10Decatur: $12.08Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92East Peru: $11.89Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Morley: $11.74Ledyard: $11.74Toronto: $11.68Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54College Springs: $11.44Melrose: $11.27Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Promise City: $11.13Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Masonville: $11.00Somers: $10.99Havelock: $10.95Alexander: $10.90Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Woden: $10.68Pacific Junction: $10.56Barnes City: $10.44Stockton: $10.37Randall: $10.35Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24North Washington: $10.23Dawson: $10.19Barnum: $9.96Hartwick: $9.90Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Rutland: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Superior: $9.58Webster: $9.55Martinsburg: $9.49Larrabee: $9.41Hamilton: $9.35Wiota: $9.32Floris: $9.29Mitchell: $9.22Westphalia: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Welton: $8.86Archer: $8.84Luther: $8.83Fraser: $8.81Macksburg: $8.81Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Thor: $8.38Andover: $8.28Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Carpenter: $8.10Rome: $8.10Westfield: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Morrison: $7.86Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Oyens: $7.86Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Cromwell: $7.81Mcclelland: $7.79Arispe: $7.71Luzerne: $7.69Lidderdale: $7.68Westwood: $7.67Bernard: $7.56Braddyville: $7.49Franklin: $7.31Spragueville: $7.20Weldon: $7.18Brunsville: $6.95Zwingle: $6.93Packwood: $6.77Williamson: $6.72Lincoln: $6.32Gravity: $6.18Ackworth: $5.90Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Harper: $5.29Panorama Park: $4.62Keomah Village: $3.15Mcintire: $2.78Sherrill: $2.66Centralia: $2.41New Liberty: $2.27North Buena Vista: $1.78Houghton: $6.73$1.78 lowest$34.13 highestmiddle
See all 159
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Castana$34.13103
2Brayton$25.07138
3Harris$23.13145
4Whitten$22.6598
5Soldier$21.92176
6Smithland$21.12184
7Stanley$20.6986
8Coin$19.59171
9Rowan$19.53118
10Chester$19.30134
11Bouton$19.25125
12Ricketts$19.22105
13Garden Grove$19.20173
14Hastings$18.95157
15Swaledale$18.62136
16Derby$18.1389
17Hillsboro$17.68158
18Bristow$17.39139
19Woolstock$17.26141
20Prescott$16.53186
21Monmouth$16.41129
22Blockton$16.37123
23Geneva$16.25137
24Waterville$16.25112
25Little Sioux$15.74170
26Moorhead$15.68186
27Woodburn$15.59133
28Kamrar$15.47178
29Goodell$15.16139
30Marne$15.03109
31Baldwin$14.9199
32Davis City$14.45178
33Lucas$14.40176
34Westgate$14.05190
35Palmer$13.89137
36Ayrshire$13.55128
37Searsboro$13.55129
38Ferguson$13.5398
39Lanesboro$13.53112
40Calumet$13.16144
41Portsmouth$13.05187
42Delaware$12.86139
43Patterson$12.84176
44Clemons$12.69135
45Millersburg$12.40135
46Aurora$12.40165
47Bridgewater$12.29145
48Arion$12.1499
49Webb$12.10139
50Decatur$12.08174
51Shambaugh$11.98161
52Lone Rock$11.92143
53East Peru$11.89119
54Henderson$11.85140
55Parnell$11.78190
56Reasnor$11.76157
57Morley$11.7494
58Ledyard$11.74118
59Toronto$11.68101
60Exline$11.60157
61Beaman$11.54155
62College Springs$11.44172
63Melrose$11.27110
64Linn Grove$11.15155
65Dundee$11.14193
66Promise City$11.1391
67Randolph$11.08183
68Leighton$11.07153
69Rake$11.05179
70Masonville$11.0098
71Somers$10.99121
72Havelock$10.95127
73Alexander$10.90165
74Lambs Grove$10.78174
75Wallingford$10.75154
76Woden$10.68183
77Pacific Junction$10.5699
78Barnes City$10.44152
79Stockton$10.37171
80Randall$10.35156
81Meriden$10.28175
82Drakesville$10.24170
83North Washington$10.23107
84Dawson$10.19110
85Barnum$9.96186
86Hartwick$9.9091
87Clare$9.81133
88Tingley$9.81146
89Rutland$9.65116
90Van Wert$9.62175
91Rock Falls$9.61143
92Kirkville$9.59159
93Superior$9.58127
94Webster$9.5594
95Martinsburg$9.49109
96Larrabee$9.41116
97Hamilton$9.35125
98Wiota$9.3291
99Floris$9.29119
100Mitchell$9.22118
101Westphalia$9.18133
102Elberon$9.16178
103Blairsburg$8.93175
104Prairieburg$8.91156
105Welton$8.86124
106Archer$8.84116
107Luther$8.83147
108Fraser$8.81107
109Macksburg$8.81103
110Moorland$8.61169
111Pilot Mound$8.54155
112Thor$8.38182
113Andover$8.28106
114Thurman$8.26162
115Boxholm$8.11177
116Carpenter$8.1092
117Rome$8.10112
118Westfield$8.10121
119Vincent$8.09125
120Morrison$7.86101
121Mount Auburn$7.86162
122Haverhill$7.86164
123Oyens$7.8688
124Grand River$7.86192
125Olds$7.86174
126Castalia$7.86141
127Dickens$7.86146
128Rose Hill$7.86156
129West Chester$7.82147
130Cromwell$7.81104
131Mcclelland$7.79147
132Arispe$7.7195
133Luzerne$7.69111
134Lidderdale$7.68162
135Westwood$7.6796
136Bernard$7.56117
137Braddyville$7.49142
138Franklin$7.31133
139Spragueville$7.2092
140Weldon$7.18134
141Brunsville$6.95128
142Zwingle$6.9386
143Packwood$6.77186
144Houghton$6.73129
145Williamson$6.72126
146Lincoln$6.32119
147Gravity$6.18149
148Ackworth$5.90117
149Oakland Acres$5.88178
150Springbrook$5.79145
151Maysville$5.77155
152Harper$5.29117
153Panorama Park$4.62142
154Keomah Village$3.15107
155Mcintire$2.78115
156Sherrill$2.66176
157Centralia$2.41117
158New Liberty$2.27141
159North Buena Vista$1.78107

The $8.10 limit

Houghton’s general levy is $6.73 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $1.37 below the limit.4 865 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $7.20 · FY24 $7.36 · FY25 $7.14 · FY26 $6.93 · FY27 $6.73 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

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$84,579100%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Houghton’s budget goes, FY26

Public Works: 38¢ of every dollar38¢Business Type / Enterprise: 30¢ of every dollar30¢General Government: 15¢ of every dollar15¢Culture and Recreation: 11¢ of every dollar11¢Community and Economic Development: 4¢ of every dollarEverything else: 2¢ 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 159 Iowa cities closest in size (90–190 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (159)
Public Works38¢27¢
Business Type / Enterprise30¢25¢
General Government15¢25¢
Culture and Recreation11¢8¢
Community and Economic Development4¢1¢
Everything else2¢10¢

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$54,00051%
  • General Government$34,60033%
  • Culture and Recreation$8,0008%
  • Public Safety$4,5004%
  • Community and Economic Development$3,5003%
  • Health and Social Services$5000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($64,120 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$58,100$65,106
Public Safety$7,500$394
Health and Social Services$500$0
General Government$30,338$37,504
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$20,650$168,385
Community and Economic Development$8,500$345,835
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$0$452,203

What it spent each year

FY24 left out5

$1.1M
$127,964

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Houghton owes

$528,000 at June 30, 2026: $3,745 per resident. 209th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).6

$581,170
$528,000
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$528,000$3,745
2025$556,000$3,943
2024$581,170$4,122
2023$306,531$2,174
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 30OwedPer resident
2026$528,000$3,745
2025$556,000$3,943
2024$581,170$4,122
2023$306,531$2,174
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

Up 72% since 2023.

The 5% limit7

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $989,247 (5% of $19.8M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

1 obligation at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsSewer rehab project.2042$528,000

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 balances8. Houghton’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Monday, March 31, 2025 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Monday, March 31, 2025 (PDF), released Tuesday, December 30, 2025, by the Auditor of State.

1 earlier report for Houghton

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? 10

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: $24,400 in FY25, up 47% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 17% more. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$17,276$16,830$17,253$17,346
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)–––$7,054

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.

$69,230
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$0
    FY21$2,560
    FY22$13,886
    FY23$69,230
    FY24$773
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$0
    FY21$2,560
    FY22$13,886
    FY23$69,230
    FY24$773
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−17%$16,612 → $17,346, up 4% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 17% 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.

    $22,865
    $20,989

    Federal grants, for comparison: $10,168 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)11.

    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

    5 seats: the top 5 win.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Houghton; 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.

    • Houghton City Council At-Large (5 seats)
      Now held by Jay W Henrich, Kurt D Lowenberg, Marty Bentler, Cheryl Brock, Terrell Wilson
    • Houghton Mayor
      Now held by Gale Thompson

    Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here12.

    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 ballot13.

    Related places

    At the Statehouse and in Congress14

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

    U.S. House:District 1

    Lee CountyFort Madison schools