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Local taxes › Linn County › Central City

City

Central City

Linn County · How cities work

$2,590 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($30.72 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$840 a yearof that goes to the city ($10.01 per $1,000)
$516,476property taxes the city levies, FY27
$1.6Mcity 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.

  • Chad WatkinsonCentral City City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Dustin MoyerCentral City City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Richard Fox IIICentral City City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Adam GriggsCentral City City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Don GrayCentral City Mayor · elected November 7, 2023
  • Marcia Rudd-FiserCentral City 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 Central City

Homes and businesses in most of Central City pay a combined $30.72 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, $10.01. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$35.18$10.19
FY21$35.88$10.29
FY22$35.62$10.15
FY23$35.54$10.42
FY24$34.66$10.11
FY25$33.05$10.10
FY26$31.19$9.93
FY27$30.72$10.01
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$35.18$10.19
FY21$35.88$10.29
FY22$35.62$10.15
FY23$35.54$10.42
FY24$34.66$10.11
FY25$33.05$10.10
FY26$31.19$9.93
FY27$30.72$10.01

Compared with places this size3

Central City’s city property tax rate of $10.01 per $1,000 is the 20th lowest of 147 Iowa cities with 840–1,900 people. The middle of the group is $13.39.

Elkader: $27.11Laurens: $24.16Pocahontas: $20.79Villisca: $19.74Traer: $19.56Corning: $19.36Lake City: $19.32Allison: $19.06Corydon: $18.22Dysart: $17.95Greene: $17.91Lansing: $17.67Strawberry Point: $17.58Rockwell: $17.54Gowrie: $17.17Colo: $17.14Mapleton: $16.90George: $16.89Manson: $16.87Fayette: $16.85Eddyville: $16.82Nashua: $16.81Ackley: $16.63Buffalo Center: $16.58Roland: $16.51Monona: $16.41Aplington: $16.34Durant: $16.24Panora: $16.14Mechanicsville: $16.12Dike: $15.94Armstrong: $15.87Holstein: $15.81State Center: $15.80Pleasantville: $15.80Earlham: $15.55Shell Rock: $15.52Brooklyn: $15.49Newell: $15.49Mount Ayr: $15.32Neola: $15.30Guttenberg: $15.19Sidney: $15.19Logan: $15.05Griswold: $15.01Readlyn: $14.99Tripoli: $14.99Woodbine: $14.80Bedford: $14.66Lenox: $14.65Manning: $14.62Van Meter: $14.60Dunlap: $14.56Maxwell: $14.50Coon Rapids: $14.49Nora Springs: $14.25Kingsley: $14.25Urbana: $14.20Primghar: $14.18Sheffield: $14.16Hartley: $14.11Woodward: $14.05Guthrie Center: $14.04Alton: $13.87Montezuma: $13.79Victor: $13.72Gilbert: $13.71Edgewood: $13.64Donnellson: $13.63Clarksville: $13.53Avoca: $13.51Janesville: $13.43Glidden: $13.43Calmar: $13.39Baxter: $13.32Manly: $13.29Anita: $13.28Conrad: $13.23Springville: $13.22Keota: $13.21Shellsburg: $13.20De Soto: $13.18Treynor: $13.03Odebolt: $13.00Akron: $12.93Leon: $12.93Danville: $12.87Underwood: $12.85New Sharon: $12.80Slater: $12.79Malvern: $12.79Buffalo: $12.68Sanborn: $12.62New London: $12.56West Point: $12.39Hinton: $12.38Preston: $12.38Remsen: $12.32Hubbard: $12.30Reinbeck: $12.10Winfield: $12.04Elkhart: $12.00Afton: $11.96Tabor: $11.88Wellman: $11.88Aurelia: $11.84Blue Grass: $11.79Columbus Junction: $11.71Palo: $11.49Prairie City: $11.38Marcus: $11.31Dunkerton: $11.30Mediapolis: $11.27Melcher-Dallas: $11.21University Heights: $11.12Hamburg: $10.95Clarence: $10.94Farley: $10.91Oakland: $10.85Moville: $10.67Cambridge: $10.53Swisher: $10.39Elk Run Heights: $10.33Walcott: $10.29Fredericksburg: $10.27Lake Park: $10.25Inwood: $10.22Newhall: $9.99Long Grove: $9.59Lake View: $9.39Paullina: $9.21Fairbank: $9.00Walford: $8.72Keosauqua: $8.58Princeton: $8.24Lone Tree: $8.13Riverside: $8.02Hills: $7.94Larchwood: $7.52North English: $7.49Sloan: $7.49Sully: $7.41Fruitland: $7.21Lawton: $7.10Wayland: $7.07Arnolds Park: $4.95Central City: $10.01$4.95 lowest$27.11 highestmiddle
See all 147
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Elkader$27.111,192
2Laurens$24.161,253
3Pocahontas$20.791,848
4Villisca$19.741,106
5Traer$19.561,547
6Corning$19.361,509
7Lake City$19.321,656
8Allison$19.06937
9Corydon$18.221,563
10Dysart$17.951,266
11Greene$17.91971
12Lansing$17.67959
13Strawberry Point$17.581,141
14Rockwell$17.541,044
15Gowrie$17.17943
16Colo$17.14856
17Mapleton$16.901,114
18George$16.891,106
19Manson$16.871,646
20Fayette$16.851,193
21Eddyville$16.82965
22Nashua$16.811,515
23Ackley$16.631,538
24Buffalo Center$16.58839
25Roland$16.511,376
26Monona$16.411,462
27Aplington$16.341,088
28Durant$16.241,798
29Panora$16.141,096
30Mechanicsville$16.12974
31Dike$15.941,293
32Armstrong$15.87847
33Holstein$15.811,475
34State Center$15.801,403
35Pleasantville$15.801,696
36Earlham$15.551,411
37Shell Rock$15.521,265
38Brooklyn$15.491,474
39Newell$15.49850
40Mount Ayr$15.321,616
41Neola$15.30917
42Guttenberg$15.191,804
43Sidney$15.191,048
44Logan$15.051,351
45Griswold$15.01975
46Readlyn$14.99857
47Tripoli$14.991,208
48Woodbine$14.801,707
49Bedford$14.661,474
50Lenox$14.651,355
51Manning$14.621,390
52Van Meter$14.601,840
53Dunlap$14.561,030
54Maxwell$14.50862
55Coon Rapids$14.491,258
56Nora Springs$14.251,330
57Kingsley$14.251,394
58Urbana$14.201,635
59Primghar$14.18893
60Sheffield$14.161,123
61Hartley$14.111,584
62Woodward$14.051,383
63Guthrie Center$14.041,579
64Alton$13.871,248
65Montezuma$13.791,421
66Victor$13.72852
67Gilbert$13.711,397
68Edgewood$13.64908
69Donnellson$13.63859
70Clarksville$13.531,238
71Avoca$13.511,685
72Janesville$13.431,052
73Glidden$13.431,140
74Calmar$13.391,100
75Baxter$13.32983
76Manly$13.291,233
77Anita$13.28953
78Conrad$13.231,098
79Springville$13.221,161
80Keota$13.21888
81Shellsburg$13.20987
82De Soto$13.18937
83Treynor$13.031,104
84Odebolt$13.00967
85Akron$12.931,545
86Leon$12.931,779
87Danville$12.87910
88Underwood$12.85973
89New Sharon$12.801,249
90Slater$12.791,626
91Malvern$12.791,056
92Buffalo$12.681,163
93Sanborn$12.621,463
94New London$12.561,853
95West Point$12.39903
96Hinton$12.38959
97Preston$12.38940
98Remsen$12.321,681
99Hubbard$12.30837
100Reinbeck$12.101,673
101Winfield$12.041,006
102Elkhart$12.001,079
103Afton$11.96864
104Tabor$11.88983
105Wellman$11.881,531
106Aurelia$11.84970
107Blue Grass$11.791,707
108Columbus Junction$11.711,794
109Palo$11.491,554
110Prairie City$11.381,722
111Marcus$11.311,069
112Dunkerton$11.30840
113Mediapolis$11.271,679
114Melcher-Dallas$11.211,193
115University Heights$11.121,188
116Hamburg$10.95863
117Clarence$10.94991
118Farley$10.911,723
119Oakland$10.851,519
120Moville$10.671,707
121Cambridge$10.53844
122Swisher$10.39909
123Elk Run Heights$10.331,061
124Walcott$10.291,556
125Fredericksburg$10.27983
126Lake Park$10.251,155
127Inwood$10.22962
128Central City$10.011,254
129Newhall$9.99887
130Long Grove$9.59849
131Lake View$9.391,120
132Paullina$9.21979
133Fairbank$9.001,133
134Walford$8.721,357
135Keosauqua$8.58944
136Princeton$8.24917
137Lone Tree$8.131,341
138Riverside$8.021,063
139Hills$7.94911
140Larchwood$7.52954
141North English$7.491,030
142Sloan$7.491,078
143Sully$7.41891
144Fruitland$7.21928
145Lawton$7.10949
146Wayland$7.07935
147Arnolds Park$4.951,214

The $8.10 limit

Central City’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 $8.00 · FY26 $8.10 · FY27 $7.94 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $2.07 more5

  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.24 · $64,178
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$0.82 · $42,456

Tax increment financing (TIF)

$8.2M of taxable value in Central City is in TIF districts’ increment (14% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.6 It budgeted $234,637 in TIF revenue for FY25.

$231,343

What that value would raise at each government’s rate, FY277

Taxes on TIF value go to the city’s TIF fund instead of the governments that levy them, including about $82,215 of the city’s own.

  • Central City schools$83,026
  • Linn County$46,349
YearTIF revenue
FY16$147,700
FY17$138,943
FY18$196,916
FY19$207,580
FY20$201,220
FY21$206,844
FY22$34,372
FY23$231,343
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$147,700
FY17$138,943
FY18$196,916
FY19$207,580
FY20$201,220
FY21$206,844
FY22$34,372
FY23$231,343

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$409,73479%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$64,17812%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$42,4568%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Central City’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 28¢ of every dollar28¢Public Works: 18¢ of every dollar18¢Debt Service: 17¢ of every dollar17¢General Government: 10¢ of every dollar10¢Health and Social Services: 8¢ of every dollar8¢Everything else: 18¢ of every dollar18¢

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 146 Iowa cities closest in size (840–1,900 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (146)
Business Type / Enterprise28¢41¢
Public Works18¢13¢
Debt Service17¢6¢
General Government10¢8¢
Health and Social Services8¢<1¢
Everything else18¢21¢

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$374,20024%
  • Debt Service$363,14023%
  • General Government$226,29314%
  • Culture and Recreation$196,64613%
  • Health and Social Services$177,65011%
  • Capital Projects$100,0006%
  • Public Safety$72,7995%
  • Community and Economic Development$52,3263%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($586,632 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$322,544$322,265
Public Safety$87,988$62,086
Health and Social Services$174,443$168,883
General Government$211,443$194,261
Debt Service$358,003$358,002
Culture and Recreation$186,351$177,382
Community and Economic Development$115,500$64,706
Capital Projects$990,064$1.1M
Business Type / Enterprise$569,067$569,038

What it spent each year

FY24 left out8

$3.9M
$3.0M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Central City owes

$4.3M at June 30, 2026: $3,379 per resident. 240th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).9

$6.5M
$4.3M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$4.3M$3,379
2025$4.8M$3,768
2024$5.2M$4,148
2023$5.7M$4,522
2022$6.2M$4,892
2021$6.5M$5,113
2020$4.0M$3,135
2019$2.5M$1,991
2018$1.0M$811
2017$1.3M$1,040
2016$1.6M$1,258
2015$1.9M$1,472
2014$1.5M$1,210
2013$1.6M$1,274
2012$1.9M$1,468
2011$2.2M$1,713
2010$1.4M$1,112
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$4.3M$3,379
2025$4.8M$3,768
2024$5.2M$4,148
2023$5.7M$4,522
2022$6.2M$4,892
2021$6.5M$5,113
2020$4.0M$3,135
2019$2.5M$1,991
2018$1.0M$811
2017$1.3M$1,040
2016$1.6M$1,258
2015$1.9M$1,472
2014$1.5M$1,210
2013$1.6M$1,274
2012$1.9M$1,468
2011$2.2M$1,713
2010$1.4M$1,112

Up 204% since 2010.

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances10. Central City’s latest audit has them: Annual Examination, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).

Audits11

The latest: Annual Examination for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Tuesday, January 20, 2026, by a CPA firm.

13 earlier reports for Central City

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? 12

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: $179,512 in FY25, up 3% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 18% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$174,553$176,574$178,543$179,512
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$11,361$9,089$16,696–

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.

$49,210
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$43,000
    FY21$49,210
    FY22$5,200
    FY23$25,925
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$43,000
    FY21$49,210
    FY22$5,200
    FY23$25,925
    FY24$0
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−12%$162,386 → $179,512, up 11% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 12% 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 35% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 8% more.

    $247,970
    $221,368

    Federal grants, for comparison: $100,823 in FY25.

    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)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 · 1

    3 seats: the top 3 win.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Central City; 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.

    • Central City City Council At-Large (2 seats)
      Now held by Marcia Rudd-Fiser, Adam Griggs
    • Central City Mayor
      Now held by Don Gray

    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

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

    U.S. House:District 2

    Linn CountyCentral City schools