Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Bethany SarazinAlburnett Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Joe TrummAlburnett City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- TJ WestAlburnett City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Christopher A. MyersAlburnett City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- David Lee BoesenbergAlburnett City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Grant SoukupAlburnett 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 Alburnett
Homes and businesses in most of Alburnett pay a combined $35.90 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Linn County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $12.30. Estimate your bill.
- Alburnett schools$15.7544%
- City of Alburnett$12.3034%
- Linn County$6.0517%
- Kirkwood Community College$1.434%
- Linn County Assessor$0.31<1%
- Linn County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.05<1%
Rates over time
Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Alburnett pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $32.18 | $11.37 |
| FY21 | $36.02 | $12.86 |
| FY22 | $35.90 | $12.81 |
| FY23 | $35.56 | $12.90 |
| FY24 | $34.49 | $11.82 |
| FY25 | $33.96 | $11.04 |
| FY26 | $35.93 | $12.49 |
| FY27 | $35.90 | $12.30 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $32.18 | $11.37 |
| FY21 | $36.02 | $12.86 |
| FY22 | $35.90 | $12.81 |
| FY23 | $35.56 | $12.90 |
| FY24 | $34.49 | $11.82 |
| FY25 | $33.96 | $11.04 |
| FY26 | $35.93 | $12.49 |
| FY27 | $35.90 | $12.30 |
Compared with places this size3
Alburnett’s city property tax rate of $12.30 per $1,000 is the 77th lowest of 186 Iowa cities with 460–1,000 people. The middle of the group is $12.89.
See all 186
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exira | $24.81 | 766 |
| 2 | Rolfe | $22.67 | 505 |
| 3 | Dayton | $22.51 | 766 |
| 4 | Charter Oak | $21.32 | 521 |
| 5 | Correctionville | $19.84 | 759 |
| 6 | Pomeroy | $19.60 | 511 |
| 7 | Allison | $19.06 | 937 |
| 8 | Dumont | $19.04 | 614 |
| 9 | Seymour | $18.78 | 646 |
| 10 | Dexter | $18.69 | 631 |
| 11 | Fonda | $18.52 | 636 |
| 12 | Kanawha | $18.11 | 638 |
| 13 | Swea City | $18.04 | 545 |
| 14 | Greene | $17.91 | 971 |
| 15 | Alden | $17.90 | 738 |
| 16 | Elma | $17.82 | 493 |
| 17 | Dows | $17.70 | 509 |
| 18 | New Hartford | $17.69 | 555 |
| 19 | Lansing | $17.67 | 959 |
| 20 | Walnut | $17.46 | 728 |
| 21 | Murray | $17.44 | 609 |
| 22 | Thompson | $17.25 | 478 |
| 23 | Gowrie | $17.17 | 943 |
| 24 | Colo | $17.14 | 856 |
| 25 | Latimer | $16.96 | 477 |
| 26 | Adair | $16.84 | 792 |
| 27 | Eddyville | $16.82 | 965 |
| 28 | Elk Horn | $16.78 | 631 |
| 29 | Oxford | $16.70 | 715 |
| 30 | Buffalo Center | $16.58 | 839 |
| 31 | Whittemore | $16.54 | 478 |
| 32 | Bancroft | $16.52 | 677 |
| 33 | Titonka | $16.45 | 491 |
| 34 | Eldon | $16.42 | 788 |
| 35 | Early | $16.35 | 571 |
| 36 | Truro | $16.34 | 515 |
| 37 | Mechanicsville | $16.12 | 974 |
| 38 | Scranton | $16.01 | 496 |
| 39 | Armstrong | $15.87 | 847 |
| 40 | Ruthven | $15.84 | 710 |
| 41 | Minden | $15.77 | 581 |
| 42 | Walker | $15.74 | 671 |
| 43 | Newell | $15.49 | 850 |
| 44 | Riceville | $15.31 | 807 |
| 45 | Neola | $15.30 | 917 |
| 46 | Russell | $15.18 | 475 |
| 47 | Gilbertville | $15.15 | 792 |
| 48 | Stanwood | $15.12 | 612 |
| 49 | Stratford | $15.03 | 688 |
| 50 | Griswold | $15.01 | 975 |
| 51 | Zearing | $14.99 | 508 |
| 52 | Readlyn | $14.99 | 857 |
| 53 | Maynard | $14.85 | 466 |
| 54 | Wyoming | $14.81 | 526 |
| 55 | Humeston | $14.80 | 472 |
| 56 | Hopkinton | $14.79 | 622 |
| 57 | Essex | $14.76 | 721 |
| 58 | Gilmore City | $14.60 | 484 |
| 59 | Garnavillo | $14.52 | 751 |
| 60 | Maxwell | $14.50 | 862 |
| 61 | Sabula | $14.38 | 498 |
| 62 | Collins | $14.32 | 503 |
| 63 | Clermont | $14.30 | 571 |
| 64 | Moulton | $14.25 | 596 |
| 65 | Mcgregor | $14.20 | 725 |
| 66 | Olin | $14.19 | 652 |
| 67 | Primghar | $14.18 | 893 |
| 68 | Garwin | $14.08 | 469 |
| 69 | Farragut | $14.07 | 480 |
| 70 | Elgin | $14.05 | 676 |
| 71 | Lime Springs | $13.95 | 467 |
| 72 | Dow City | $13.94 | 477 |
| 73 | Ossian | $13.88 | 777 |
| 74 | Redfield | $13.73 | 719 |
| 75 | Victor | $13.72 | 852 |
| 76 | Edgewood | $13.64 | 908 |
| 77 | Sioux Rapids | $13.63 | 722 |
| 78 | Donnellson | $13.63 | 859 |
| 79 | Gladbrook | $13.58 | 775 |
| 80 | Rockford | $13.52 | 722 |
| 81 | Boyden | $13.39 | 694 |
| 82 | Baxter | $13.32 | 983 |
| 83 | Anita | $13.28 | 953 |
| 84 | Van Horne | $13.27 | 768 |
| 85 | Keota | $13.21 | 888 |
| 86 | Shellsburg | $13.20 | 987 |
| 87 | De Soto | $13.18 | 937 |
| 88 | Quasqueton | $13.12 | 587 |
| 89 | Farmington | $13.10 | 583 |
| 90 | Anthon | $13.05 | 534 |
| 91 | Odebolt | $13.00 | 967 |
| 92 | Coggon | $12.99 | 691 |
| 93 | Earlville | $12.90 | 713 |
| 94 | Brighton | $12.88 | 592 |
| 95 | Danville | $12.87 | 910 |
| 96 | Underwood | $12.85 | 973 |
| 97 | Montrose | $12.78 | 734 |
| 98 | Goldfield | $12.73 | 617 |
| 99 | Wellsburg | $12.68 | 709 |
| 100 | Delmar | $12.68 | 541 |
| 101 | Badger | $12.67 | 540 |
| 102 | Stanton | $12.62 | 664 |
| 103 | Hospers | $12.58 | 703 |
| 104 | Norway | $12.53 | 463 |
| 105 | Everly | $12.51 | 570 |
| 106 | Hazleton | $12.48 | 711 |
| 107 | West Point | $12.39 | 903 |
| 108 | Hinton | $12.38 | 959 |
| 109 | Preston | $12.38 | 940 |
| 110 | Alburnett | $12.30 | 672 |
| 111 | Hubbard | $12.30 | 837 |
| 112 | Moravia | $12.27 | 625 |
| 113 | Hedrick | $12.22 | 717 |
| 114 | Carson | $12.22 | 772 |
| 115 | Wheatland | $12.18 | 765 |
| 116 | Schaller | $12.14 | 702 |
| 117 | Winfield | $12.04 | 1,006 |
| 118 | Afton | $11.96 | 864 |
| 119 | Lowden | $11.93 | 767 |
| 120 | Tabor | $11.88 | 983 |
| 121 | Albert City | $11.88 | 627 |
| 122 | Aurelia | $11.84 | 970 |
| 123 | Runnells | $11.79 | 467 |
| 124 | Merrill | $11.64 | 713 |
| 125 | Ellsworth | $11.57 | 495 |
| 126 | Morning Sun | $11.50 | 702 |
| 127 | Battle Creek | $11.49 | 683 |
| 128 | Wall Lake | $11.43 | 739 |
| 129 | West Bend | $11.42 | 770 |
| 130 | Dakota City | $11.39 | 764 |
| 131 | Dunkerton | $11.30 | 840 |
| 132 | Sutherland | $11.25 | 628 |
| 133 | Arcadia | $11.23 | 588 |
| 134 | Whiting | $11.21 | 725 |
| 135 | Shelby | $11.17 | 730 |
| 136 | Blairstown | $11.04 | 705 |
| 137 | Manilla | $11.01 | 756 |
| 138 | Hamburg | $10.95 | 863 |
| 139 | Clarence | $10.94 | 991 |
| 140 | Ireton | $10.93 | 571 |
| 141 | Fontanelle | $10.88 | 684 |
| 142 | Richland | $10.82 | 532 |
| 143 | Grand Mound | $10.78 | 608 |
| 144 | Cambridge | $10.53 | 844 |
| 145 | Lovilia | $10.46 | 456 |
| 146 | Swisher | $10.39 | 909 |
| 147 | Schleswig | $10.39 | 820 |
| 148 | Melbourne | $10.38 | 771 |
| 149 | Radcliffe | $10.37 | 540 |
| 150 | Fredericksburg | $10.27 | 983 |
| 151 | Ventura | $10.22 | 701 |
| 152 | Inwood | $10.22 | 962 |
| 153 | Milo | $10.20 | 762 |
| 154 | Hartford | $10.16 | 729 |
| 155 | What Cheer | $10.01 | 595 |
| 156 | Newhall | $9.99 | 887 |
| 157 | Cumming | $9.85 | 527 |
| 158 | Graettinger | $9.81 | 810 |
| 159 | Breda | $9.80 | 492 |
| 160 | Doon | $9.78 | 640 |
| 161 | Long Grove | $9.59 | 849 |
| 162 | Paullina | $9.21 | 979 |
| 163 | Winthrop | $8.94 | 814 |
| 164 | Crescent | $8.72 | 626 |
| 165 | Ainsworth | $8.62 | 511 |
| 166 | Keosauqua | $8.58 | 944 |
| 167 | Grand Junction | $8.57 | 715 |
| 168 | Princeton | $8.24 | 917 |
| 169 | Gilman | $8.10 | 530 |
| 170 | Kellogg | $8.10 | 597 |
| 171 | Lakeside | $8.10 | 695 |
| 172 | Agency | $7.94 | 623 |
| 173 | Hills | $7.94 | 911 |
| 174 | Fremont | $7.86 | 688 |
| 175 | Larchwood | $7.52 | 954 |
| 176 | Sully | $7.41 | 891 |
| 177 | Fruitland | $7.21 | 928 |
| 178 | Lawton | $7.10 | 949 |
| 179 | Wayland | $7.07 | 935 |
| 180 | Raymond | $6.85 | 754 |
| 181 | Keystone | $6.80 | 616 |
| 182 | Shueyville | $6.79 | 725 |
| 183 | New Virginia | $5.97 | 499 |
| 184 | University Park | $5.27 | 476 |
| 185 | Orleans | $4.13 | 503 |
| 186 | Okoboji | $3.83 | 729 |
The $8.10 limit
Alburnett’s general levy is $7.97 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.13 below the limit.4 455 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.
FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.21 · FY26 $8.21 · FY27 $7.97 (before FY25, the general levy alone)
Outside the limit: $4.33 more5
- Debt Service Levy$2.71 · $89,987
- Liability, property & self insurance costs$0.90 · $29,751
- Total Employee Benefit Levies$0.73 · $24,252
Tax increment financing (TIF)
Alburnett’s TIF revenue, from its reports to the state.
| Year | TIF revenue |
|---|---|
| FY16 | $35,775 |
| FY17 | $33,744 |
| FY18 | $33,637 |
| FY19 | $34,719 |
| FY20 | $38,100 |
| FY21 | $7 |
| FY22 | $183,115 |
| FY23 | $75,484 |
Show the numbers
| Year | TIF revenue |
|---|---|
| FY16 | $35,775 |
| FY17 | $33,744 |
| FY18 | $33,637 |
| FY19 | $34,719 |
| FY20 | $38,100 |
| FY21 | $7 |
| FY22 | $183,115 |
| FY23 | $75,484 |
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 Alburnett’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 185 Iowa cities closest in size (460–1,000 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (185) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Type / Enterprise | 28¢ | 41¢ |
| Public Works | 18¢ | 17¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 17¢ | 9¢ |
| General Government | 13¢ | 11¢ |
| Debt Service | 10¢ | 6¢ |
| Everything else | 14¢ | 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.
The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($458,356 in FY26), so this total is low.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $233,151 | $306,559 |
| Public Safety | $70,924 | $150,536 |
| Health and Social Services | $0 | $0 |
| General Government | $174,326 | $354,948 |
| Debt Service | $168,783 | $226,102 |
| Culture and Recreation | $8,000 | $7,216 |
| Community and Economic Development | $49,750 | $60,667 |
| Capital Projects | $0 | $8,466 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $315,146 | $220,554 |
What it spent each year
FY24 left out6
Debt, reserves and audits
How local debt works · What an audit tells you
What Alburnett owes
$1.1M at June 30, 2026: $1,684 per resident. 426th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $1.1M | $1,684 |
| 2025 | $1.3M | $1,970 |
| 2024 | $1.5M | $2,255 |
| 2023 | $1.8M | $2,610 |
| 2022 | $1.9M | $2,883 |
| 2021 | $2.1M | $3,071 |
| 2020 | $2.3M | $3,376 |
| 2019 | $1.5M | $2,286 |
| 2018 | $1.7M | $2,513 |
| 2017 | $1.8M | $2,736 |
| 2016 | $1.2M | $1,847 |
| 2015 | $1.3M | $1,994 |
| 2014 | $1.4M | $2,139 |
| 2013 | $1.5M | $2,267 |
| 2012 | $1.5M | $2,168 |
| 2011 | $1.5M | $2,235 |
| 2010 | $420,000 | $622 |
Show the numbers
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $1.1M | $1,684 |
| 2025 | $1.3M | $1,970 |
| 2024 | $1.5M | $2,255 |
| 2023 | $1.8M | $2,610 |
| 2022 | $1.9M | $2,883 |
| 2021 | $2.1M | $3,071 |
| 2020 | $2.3M | $3,376 |
| 2019 | $1.5M | $2,286 |
| 2018 | $1.7M | $2,513 |
| 2017 | $1.8M | $2,736 |
| 2016 | $1.2M | $1,847 |
| 2015 | $1.3M | $1,994 |
| 2014 | $1.4M | $2,139 |
| 2013 | $1.5M | $2,267 |
| 2012 | $1.5M | $2,168 |
| 2011 | $1.5M | $2,235 |
| 2010 | $420,000 | $622 |
Up 171% since 2010.
The 5% limit8
General obligation debt is $905,000, 29% of the limit of about $3.2M (5% of $63.2M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).
4 obligations at June 30, 2026
| Kind | For | Paid off by | Owed |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Obligation | General Obligation Corporate Purpose Bonds, Series 2020 to finance a portion of a new fire station and to pay the costs of issuing the Bonds | 2035 | $585,000 |
| Revenue Bonds | NEW WELL AND CHLORINATION SYSTEM | 2030 | $232,000 |
| General Obligation | Street Construction, water system, storm water, sidewalk | 2029 | $200,000 |
| General Obligation | Refunding/Refinance of $810,000 2011 GO Bond | 2030 | $120,000 |
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. Alburnett’s latest audit has them: Annual Examination, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).
Audits10
The latest: Annual Examination for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Thursday, April 2, 2026, by a CPA firm.
3 earlier reports for Alburnett
- Annual Examination, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2024Wednesday, April 2, 2025
- Periodic Examination, period ending Monday, December 31, 2018Tuesday, October 29, 2019
- Special Investigation/Fraud, period ending Thursday, December 31, 2009Friday, October 8, 2010
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: $97,975 in FY25, down 2% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 22% less. Grants are below.
Show the numbers
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $93,258 | $92,888 | $95,345 | $95,863 |
| Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”) | $10,826 | $1,629 | $13,384 | $2,112 |
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.
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $0 |
| FY20 | $0 |
| FY21 | $12,759 |
| FY22 | $1,994 |
| FY23 | $0 |
| FY24 | $0 |
| FY25 | $13,154 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $0 |
| FY20 | $0 |
| FY21 | $12,759 |
| FY22 | $1,994 |
| FY23 | $0 |
| FY24 | $0 |
| FY25 | $13,154 |
Has it kept up with prices?
Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.
- Road Use Tax (streets)−12%$86,942 → $95,863, up 10% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 12% less
- Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)−87%$12,867 → $2,112, down 84% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 87% 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 34% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 7% more.
Federal grants, for comparison: $176,883 in FY23.
Business awards
Elections
Running for mayor and city council
Filing opens Monday, August 23, 2027: in 285 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.
- TJ West Winner15547.8%
- Joe Trumm Winner12137.4%
- Melissa Stoll 4814.8%
- Bethany Sarazin Winner12464.3%
- Bill Valka 6935.8%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Alburnett; 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.
- Alburnett City Council At-Large (3 seats)Now held by Christopher A. Myers, David Lee Boesenberg, Grant Soukup
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
Charlie McClintock (Sen. 42)Cindy Golding (Rep. 83)
U.S. House:District 2