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Local taxes › Linn County › Bertram

City

Bertram

Linn County · How cities work

$2,640 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($31.40 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$680 a yearof that goes to the city ($8.10 per $1,000)
$168,033property taxes the city levies, FY27
$552,700city 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.

  • Laura MerchanBertram City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Stephanie VisliselBertram City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • * Scott FlahertyBertram Mayor · elected November 7, 2023
  • Bill MulhollandBertram City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Chris PriceBertram City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • James UnzeitigBertram City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • John Robert KlimekBertram City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Louise HallBertram 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 Bertram

Homes and businesses in most of Bertram pay a combined $29.86 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, $8.10. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$28.54$4.40
FY21$29.01$4.40
FY22$28.90$4.40
FY23$27.95$4.40
FY24$28.31$4.53
FY25$27.84$4.40
FY26$30.23$7.00
FY27$31.40$8.10
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$28.54$4.40
FY21$29.01$4.40
FY22$28.90$4.40
FY23$27.95$4.40
FY24$28.31$4.53
FY25$27.84$4.40
FY26$30.23$7.00
FY27$31.40$8.10

Compared with places this size3

Bertram’s city property tax rate of $8.10 per $1,000 is the 28th lowest of 207 Iowa cities with 180–400 people. The middle of the group is $12.09.

Stanhope: $29.10Fenton: $22.05Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Elliott: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Earling: $20.47Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Fort Atkinson: $19.19Salem: $19.15Cumberland: $18.42Jamaica: $18.24Massena: $18.23Callender: $17.78Casey: $17.72Vail: $17.66Ringsted: $17.65Pierson: $17.12Pisgah: $17.09Lohrville: $16.95Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Mccallsburg: $16.58Prescott: $16.53Irwin: $16.46Montour: $16.37Lewis: $16.25Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Duncombe: $16.10Granville: $16.00Minburn: $15.75Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Kamrar: $15.47Peterson: $15.27Greeley: $15.23Riverton: $14.94Marathon: $14.89Plainfield: $14.84Ryan: $14.84Ladora: $14.74Magnolia: $14.68Bagley: $14.63Davis City: $14.45Garrison: $14.38Halbur: $14.37Lorimor: $14.36Crystal Lake: $14.36Kimballton: $14.27Steamboat Rock: $14.19Westgate: $14.05Mystic: $14.01Wesley: $13.91Diagonal: $13.91Bussey: $13.83Mondamin: $13.82Livermore: $13.78Fertile: $13.70Stockport: $13.68Kellerton: $13.60Quimby: $13.58Meservey: $13.43Persia: $13.41Lawler: $13.39Lacona: $13.38Leland: $13.31Ute: $13.26New Market: $13.25Plymouth: $13.21Harcourt: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Silver City: $12.87Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Blencoe: $12.57Williams: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Clearfield: $12.50Kensett: $12.47Mccausland: $12.45Spillville: $12.40Modale: $12.34Mingo: $12.31Brandon: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Cushing: $12.18Bonaparte: $12.17Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Macedonia: $12.12Paton: $12.09Kiron: $12.03Rembrandt: $12.03Colesburg: $11.97Liscomb: $11.96New Providence: $11.88Thornton: $11.86Parnell: $11.78Joice: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Cantril: $11.69Kelley: $11.69Orient: $11.66Wadena: $11.65Cincinnati: $11.57Delta: $11.52Terril: $11.48Westside: $11.45Holland: $11.37Churdan: $11.31Mallard: $11.28Miles: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Rake: $11.05Frederika: $10.99Milton: $10.98New Vienna: $10.91Letts: $10.91Goose Lake: $10.89Birmingham: $10.87Charlotte: $10.86Yale: $10.85Hornick: $10.74Woden: $10.68Riverdale: $10.67Bode: $10.64Union: $10.58Cleghorn: $10.49Calamus: $10.47Danbury: $10.43Lytton: $10.38Rhodes: $10.36Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $10.28Andrew: $10.22Royal: $10.20Bronson: $10.14Hancock: $10.13Rudd: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Melvin: $10.05Defiance: $10.05Floyd: $10.02Barnum: $9.96Panama: $9.85Grafton: $9.83Lynnville: $9.68Ionia: $9.65Salix: $9.63Luxemburg: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Farnhamville: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Middletown: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Lester: $8.94Oakville: $8.89Harvey: $8.71Washta: $8.65Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Rowley: $8.31South English: $8.27Fostoria: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Nichols: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Luana: $7.98Lockridge: $7.92Grand River: $7.86Pulaski: $7.58Sheldahl: $7.56Fredonia: $7.55Worthington: $7.50Harpers Ferry: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Columbus City: $6.94Donahue: $6.83Packwood: $6.77Libertyville: $6.60Keswick: $6.49Crawfordsville: $6.44Holy Cross: $5.91Oakland Acres: $5.88Conesville: $5.86Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87Wahpeton: $3.19West Okoboji: $2.92Rickardsville: $2.27Bertram: $8.10$2.27 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 207
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Stanhope$29.10354
2Fenton$22.05250
3Coulter$21.80220
4Chelsea$21.61207
5Elliott$21.61328
6Smithland$21.12184
7Earling$20.47394
8Volga$20.23200
9Alta Vista$19.88219
10Arthur$19.86218
11Fort Atkinson$19.19300
12Salem$19.15380
13Cumberland$18.42248
14Jamaica$18.24196
15Massena$18.23352
16Callender$17.78361
17Casey$17.72387
18Vail$17.66383
19Ringsted$17.65346
20Pierson$17.12335
21Pisgah$17.09248
22Lohrville$16.95366
23Lakota$16.84261
24Marble Rock$16.78258
25Auburn$16.65253
26Mccallsburg$16.58356
27Prescott$16.53186
28Irwin$16.46320
29Montour$16.37199
30Lewis$16.25358
31Corwith$16.22259
32Deep River$16.18243
33Waucoma$16.17235
34Duncombe$16.10374
35Granville$16.00302
36Minburn$15.75317
37Moorhead$15.68186
38Onslow$15.63198
39Linden$15.62206
40Kamrar$15.47178
41Peterson$15.27321
42Greeley$15.23216
43Riverton$14.94243
44Marathon$14.89221
45Plainfield$14.84392
46Ryan$14.84348
47Ladora$14.74223
48Magnolia$14.68194
49Bagley$14.63230
50Davis City$14.45178
51Garrison$14.38345
52Halbur$14.37268
53Lorimor$14.36377
54Crystal Lake$14.36243
55Kimballton$14.27281
56Steamboat Rock$14.19261
57Westgate$14.05190
58Mystic$14.01318
59Wesley$13.91382
60Diagonal$13.91331
61Bussey$13.83378
62Mondamin$13.82335
63Livermore$13.78382
64Fertile$13.70300
65Stockport$13.68272
66Kellerton$13.60241
67Quimby$13.58245
68Meservey$13.43212
69Persia$13.41292
70Lawler$13.39392
71Lacona$13.38336
72Leland$13.31240
73Ute$13.26326
74New Market$13.25381
75Plymouth$13.21368
76Harcourt$13.21257
77Bennett$13.16330
78Ridgeway$13.10261
79Farmersburg$13.09264
80Portsmouth$13.05187
81Clutier$13.03209
82Lehigh$12.97395
83Menlo$12.92347
84Templeton$12.91337
85Silver City$12.87244
86Martelle$12.83250
87Malcom$12.82257
88Blencoe$12.57223
89Williams$12.57299
90Maurice$12.56271
91Clearfield$12.50277
92Kensett$12.47256
93Mccausland$12.45314
94Spillville$12.40371
95Modale$12.34284
96Mingo$12.31314
97Brandon$12.29331
98Blakesburg$12.21273
99Cushing$12.18225
100Bonaparte$12.17357
101Hanlontown$12.17200
102Stout$12.14194
103Macedonia$12.12266
104Paton$12.09217
105Kiron$12.03262
106Rembrandt$12.03199
107Colesburg$11.97379
108Liscomb$11.96292
109New Providence$11.88233
110Thornton$11.86394
111Parnell$11.78190
112Joice$11.72206
113Atalissa$11.71287
114Cantril$11.69224
115Kelley$11.69312
116Orient$11.66363
117Wadena$11.65201
118Cincinnati$11.57280
119Delta$11.52257
120Terril$11.48310
121Westside$11.45283
122Holland$11.37261
123Churdan$11.31359
124Mallard$11.28255
125Miles$11.28400
126Renwick$11.16228
127Dundee$11.14193
128Randolph$11.08183
129Rake$11.05179
130Frederika$10.99206
131Milton$10.98395
132New Vienna$10.91384
133Letts$10.91358
134Goose Lake$10.89250
135Birmingham$10.87371
136Charlotte$10.86386
137Yale$10.85265
138Hornick$10.74255
139Woden$10.68183
140Riverdale$10.67385
141Bode$10.64304
142Union$10.58378
143Cleghorn$10.49235
144Calamus$10.47348
145Danbury$10.43315
146Lytton$10.38274
147Rhodes$10.36269
148Dedham$10.28221
149Deloit$10.28246
150Protivin$10.28264
151Andrew$10.22374
152Royal$10.20379
153Bronson$10.14294
154Hancock$10.13199
155Rudd$10.13339
156La Motte$10.09235
157Melvin$10.05196
158Defiance$10.05248
159Floyd$10.02297
160Barnum$9.96186
161Panama$9.85234
162Grafton$9.83212
163Lynnville$9.68382
164Ionia$9.65220
165Salix$9.63303
166Luxemburg$9.58240
167Rippey$9.42217
168Farnhamville$9.18364
169Elberon$9.16178
170Middletown$9.16365
171Dixon$9.03204
172Lester$8.94309
173Oakville$8.89198
174Harvey$8.71242
175Washta$8.65206
176Ollie$8.44196
177Thor$8.38182
178Rowley$8.31264
179South English$8.27196
180Bertram$8.10267
181Fostoria$8.10229
182Low Moor$8.10242
183Nichols$8.10317
184Laurel$8.10214
185Lineville$8.10194
186Luana$7.98303
187Lockridge$7.92245
188Grand River$7.86192
189Pulaski$7.58259
190Sheldahl$7.56312
191Fredonia$7.55227
192Worthington$7.50374
193Harpers Ferry$7.49273
194Alvord$7.41216
195Columbus City$6.94385
196Donahue$6.83336
197Packwood$6.77186
198Libertyville$6.60278
199Keswick$6.49238
200Crawfordsville$6.44278
201Holy Cross$5.91348
202Oakland Acres$5.88178
203Conesville$5.86350
204Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
205Wahpeton$3.19337
206West Okoboji$2.92311
207Rickardsville$2.27204

The $8.10 limit

Bertram’s general levy is $8.10 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, at the limit.4 247 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $4.40 · FY24 $4.53 · FY25 $4.40 · FY26 $7.00 · FY27 $8.10 (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$166,884100%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Bertram’s budget goes, FY26

Public Works: 60¢ of every dollar60¢General Government: 21¢ of every dollar21¢Public Safety: 6¢ of every dollarCulture and Recreation: 5¢ of every dollarCommunity and Economic Development: 5¢ of every dollarEverything else: 3¢ 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 205 Iowa cities closest in size (180–400 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (205)
Public Works60¢21¢
General Government21¢18¢
Public Safety6¢9¢
Culture and Recreation5¢8¢
Community and Economic Development5¢2¢
Everything else3¢37¢

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$373,69068%
  • General Government$113,83521%
  • Public Safety$37,5507%
  • Culture and Recreation$21,1254%
  • Community and Economic Development$6,5001%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($15,950 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$139,850$61,152
Public Safety$26,210$12,168
Health and Social Services$300$0
General Government$65,325$70,009
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$71,800$20,717
Community and Economic Development$500$0
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$57,500$32,823

What it spent each year

FY24 left out5

$1.3M
$139,110

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Bertram owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.6

$550,000
$0
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$550,000$2,045
2016$103,508$385
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$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$550,000$2,045
2016$103,508$385
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0

Down 100% since 2016.

The 5% limit7

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $2.1M (5% of $42.7M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. Bertram’s latest audit has them: Annual Examination, period ending Friday, June 30, 2017 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Annual Examination for the period ending Friday, June 30, 2017 (PDF), released Friday, March 30, 2018, by the Auditor of State.

3 earlier reports for Bertram

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: $38,203 in FY25, up 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 20% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$37,808$37,017$37,997$38,203

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.

$129,388
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$129,388
    FY21$4,609
    FY22$0
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$129,388
    FY21$4,609
    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)−20%$37,981 → $38,203, up 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 20% 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 23% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 2% less.

    $52,324
    $45,549

    Federal grants, for comparison: $200,903 in FY24.

    Business awards

    Every award statewide

    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)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 · 1

    2 seats: the top 2 win.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Bertram; 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.

    • Bertram City Council At-Large (5 seats)
      Now held by Louise Hall, James Unzeitig, John Robert Klimek, Bill Mulholland, Chris Price
    • Bertram Mayor
      Now held by * Scott Flaherty

    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

    Charlie McClintock (Sen. 42)Cindy Golding (Rep. 83)

    U.S. House:District 2

    Linn CountyCedar Rapids schoolsMount Vernon schools