Display
Language
About accessibility
Language
Display
Sign in

Local taxes › Lee County › Montrose

City

Montrose

Lee County · How cities work

$3,000 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($35.58 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,080 a yearof that goes to the city ($12.78 per $1,000)
$297,380property taxes the city levies, FY27
$661,544city 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.

  • Kent J. RubeyMontrose City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Mark HollandMontrose City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Matthew R. MullinsMontrose Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Tony SciumbatoMontrose City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Darcie UhlmeyerMontrose City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Jeff JunkinsMontrose 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 Montrose

Homes and businesses in most of Montrose pay a combined $35.58 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, $12.78. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.76$12.31
FY21$33.97$12.63
FY22$33.43$12.67
FY23$33.61$13.00
FY24$36.63$12.59
FY25$36.47$12.55
FY26$36.75$13.33
FY27$35.58$12.78
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.76$12.31
FY21$33.97$12.63
FY22$33.43$12.67
FY23$33.61$13.00
FY24$36.63$12.59
FY25$36.47$12.55
FY26$36.75$13.33
FY27$35.58$12.78

Compared with places this size3

Montrose’s city property tax rate of $12.78 per $1,000 is the 92nd lowest of 186 Iowa cities with 490–1,100 people. The middle of the group is $12.82.

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: $17.67Rockwell: $17.54Walnut: $17.46Murray: $17.44Gowrie: $17.17Colo: $17.14Adair: $16.84Eddyville: $16.82Elk Horn: $16.78Oxford: $16.70Buffalo Center: $16.58Bancroft: $16.52Titonka: $16.45Eldon: $16.42Early: $16.35Truro: $16.34Aplington: $16.34Panora: $16.14Mechanicsville: $16.12Scranton: $16.01Armstrong: $15.87Ruthven: $15.84Minden: $15.77Walker: $15.74Newell: $15.49Riceville: $15.31Neola: $15.30Sidney: $15.19Gilbertville: $15.15Stanwood: $15.12Stratford: $15.03Griswold: $15.01Zearing: $14.99Readlyn: $14.99Wyoming: $14.81Hopkinton: $14.79Essex: $14.76Dunlap: $14.56Garnavillo: $14.52Maxwell: $14.50Sabula: $14.38Collins: $14.32Clermont: $14.30Moulton: $14.25Mcgregor: $14.20Olin: $14.19Primghar: $14.18Elgin: $14.05Ossian: $13.88Redfield: $13.73Victor: $13.72Edgewood: $13.64Sioux Rapids: $13.63Donnellson: $13.63Gladbrook: $13.58Rockford: $13.52Janesville: $13.43Calmar: $13.39Boyden: $13.39Baxter: $13.32Anita: $13.28Van Horne: $13.27Conrad: $13.23Keota: $13.21Shellsburg: $13.20De Soto: $13.18Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Anthon: $13.05Odebolt: $13.00Coggon: $12.99Earlville: $12.90Brighton: $12.88Danville: $12.87Underwood: $12.85Malvern: $12.79Goldfield: $12.73Wellsburg: $12.68Delmar: $12.68Badger: $12.67Stanton: $12.62Hospers: $12.58Everly: $12.51Hazleton: $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: $11.64Ellsworth: $11.57Morning Sun: $11.50Battle Creek: $11.49Wall Lake: $11.43West Bend: $11.42Dakota City: $11.39Marcus: $11.31Dunkerton: $11.30Sutherland: $11.25Arcadia: $11.23Whiting: $11.21Shelby: $11.17Blairstown: $11.04Manilla: $11.01Hamburg: $10.95Clarence: $10.94Ireton: $10.93Fontanelle: $10.88Richland: $10.82Grand Mound: $10.78Cambridge: $10.53Swisher: $10.39Schleswig: $10.39Melbourne: $10.38Radcliffe: $10.37Elk Run Heights: $10.33Fredericksburg: $10.27Ventura: $10.22Inwood: $10.22Milo: $10.20Hartford: $10.16What Cheer: $10.01Newhall: $9.99Cumming: $9.85Graettinger: $9.81Breda: $9.80Doon: $9.78Long Grove: $9.59Paullina: $9.21Winthrop: $8.94Crescent: $8.72Ainsworth: $8.62Keosauqua: $8.58Grand Junction: $8.57Princeton: $8.24Gilman: $8.10Kellogg: $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: $6.79New Virginia: $5.97Orleans: $4.13Okoboji: $3.83Montrose: $12.78$3.83 lowest$24.81 highestmiddle
See all 186
#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
20Rockwell$17.541,044
21Walnut$17.46728
22Murray$17.44609
23Gowrie$17.17943
24Colo$17.14856
25Adair$16.84792
26Eddyville$16.82965
27Elk Horn$16.78631
28Oxford$16.70715
29Buffalo Center$16.58839
30Bancroft$16.52677
31Titonka$16.45491
32Eldon$16.42788
33Early$16.35571
34Truro$16.34515
35Aplington$16.341,088
36Panora$16.141,096
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
46Sidney$15.191,048
47Gilbertville$15.15792
48Stanwood$15.12612
49Stratford$15.03688
50Griswold$15.01975
51Zearing$14.99508
52Readlyn$14.99857
53Wyoming$14.81526
54Hopkinton$14.79622
55Essex$14.76721
56Dunlap$14.561,030
57Garnavillo$14.52751
58Maxwell$14.50862
59Sabula$14.38498
60Collins$14.32503
61Clermont$14.30571
62Moulton$14.25596
63Mcgregor$14.20725
64Olin$14.19652
65Primghar$14.18893
66Elgin$14.05676
67Ossian$13.88777
68Redfield$13.73719
69Victor$13.72852
70Edgewood$13.64908
71Sioux Rapids$13.63722
72Donnellson$13.63859
73Gladbrook$13.58775
74Rockford$13.52722
75Janesville$13.431,052
76Calmar$13.391,100
77Boyden$13.39694
78Baxter$13.32983
79Anita$13.28953
80Van Horne$13.27768
81Conrad$13.231,098
82Keota$13.21888
83Shellsburg$13.20987
84De Soto$13.18937
85Quasqueton$13.12587
86Farmington$13.10583
87Anthon$13.05534
88Odebolt$13.00967
89Coggon$12.99691
90Earlville$12.90713
91Brighton$12.88592
92Danville$12.87910
93Underwood$12.85973
94Malvern$12.791,056
95Montrose$12.78734
96Goldfield$12.73617
97Wellsburg$12.68709
98Delmar$12.68541
99Badger$12.67540
100Stanton$12.62664
101Hospers$12.58703
102Everly$12.51570
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
122Ellsworth$11.57495
123Morning Sun$11.50702
124Battle Creek$11.49683
125Wall Lake$11.43739
126West Bend$11.42770
127Dakota City$11.39764
128Marcus$11.311,069
129Dunkerton$11.30840
130Sutherland$11.25628
131Arcadia$11.23588
132Whiting$11.21725
133Shelby$11.17730
134Blairstown$11.04705
135Manilla$11.01756
136Hamburg$10.95863
137Clarence$10.94991
138Ireton$10.93571
139Fontanelle$10.88684
140Richland$10.82532
141Grand Mound$10.78608
142Cambridge$10.53844
143Swisher$10.39909
144Schleswig$10.39820
145Melbourne$10.38771
146Radcliffe$10.37540
147Elk Run Heights$10.331,061
148Fredericksburg$10.27983
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
160Paullina$9.21979
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
170Riverside$8.021,063
171Agency$7.94623
172Hills$7.94911
173Fremont$7.86688
174Larchwood$7.52954
175North English$7.491,030
176Sloan$7.491,078
177Sully$7.41891
178Fruitland$7.21928
179Lawton$7.10949
180Wayland$7.07935
181Raymond$6.85754
182Keystone$6.80616
183Shueyville$6.79725
184New Virginia$5.97499
185Orleans$4.13503
186Okoboji$3.83729

The $8.10 limit

Montrose’s general levy is $7.86 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.24 below the limit.4 647 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

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

Outside the limit: $4.91 more5

  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$4.00 · $92,751
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$0.92 · $21,318

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$182,57262%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$92,75131%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$21,3187%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Montrose’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 30¢ of every dollar30¢Public Works: 23¢ of every dollar23¢Public Safety: 19¢ of every dollar19¢Culture and Recreation: 16¢ of every dollar16¢General Government: 11¢ of every dollar11¢Everything else: 1¢ 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 185 Iowa cities closest in size (490–1,100 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (185)
Business Type / Enterprise30¢40¢
Public Works23¢16¢
Public Safety19¢9¢
Culture and Recreation16¢9¢
General Government11¢10¢
Everything else1¢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.

  • Public Works$194,88729%
  • Public Safety$165,98925%
  • Culture and Recreation$144,88322%
  • General Government$105,18516%
  • Capital Projects$45,0007%
  • Community and Economic Development$5,6001%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($268,515 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$167,431$185,293
Public Safety$160,036$156,961
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$63,050$143,758
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$159,562$249,667
Community and Economic Development$7,000$4,200
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$299,070$238,213

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$1.2M
$935,842

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Montrose owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.7

$910,000
$0
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$64,800$88
2020$80,679$109
2019$135,679$184
2018$149,506$203
2017$282,824$383
2016$394,635$535
2015$466,921$633
2014$607,509$823
2013$687,509$932
2012$762,509$1,033
2011$856,464$1,161
2010$910,000$1,233
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$64,800$88
2020$80,679$109
2019$135,679$184
2018$149,506$203
2017$282,824$383
2016$394,635$535
2015$466,921$633
2014$607,509$823
2013$687,509$932
2012$762,509$1,033
2011$856,464$1,161
2010$910,000$1,233

Down 100% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $2.2M (5% of $44.9M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. Montrose’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Wednesday, December 31, 2025 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Wednesday, December 31, 2025 (PDF), released Thursday, August 20, 2026, by the Auditor of State.

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

2 earlier reports for Montrose

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: $106,200 in FY25, down 8% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 27% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$106,006$93,290$112,530$104,810
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)–$1,946$1,667$1,390

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.

$3,519
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$3,519
    FY20$2,668
    FY21$678
    FY22$0
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$3,519
    FY20$2,668
    FY21$678
    FY22$0
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−28%$116,009 → $104,810, down 10% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 28% 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 15% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 8% less.

    $116,698
    $96,943

    Federal grants, for comparison: $58,164 in FY23.

    Business awards

    Every award statewide

    State economic development awards

    1 business has state awards in MONTROSE: $513K in grants, loans and tax benefits, for 26 jobs.12

    • Pvpallet, Inc.
      High Quality Jobs Program · FY22 · Under contract: Building · 26 jobs required
      $513K

    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)13.

    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 Montrose; 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.

    • Montrose City Council At-Large (2 seats)
      Now held by Jeff Junkins, Darcie Uhlmeyer
    • Montrose Mayor
      Now held by Matthew R. Mullins

    Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here14.

    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 ballot15.

    Related places

    At the Statehouse and in Congress16

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

    U.S. House:District 1

    Lee CountyCentral Lee schools