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Fairfax

Linn County · How cities work

$2,740 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($32.54 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$680 a yearof that goes to the city ($8.10 per $1,000)
$1.4Mproperty taxes the city levies, FY27
$10.0Mcity 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.

  • Cindy AndersonFairfax City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Debra MallieFairfax City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jo Ann BeerFairfax Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Marianne WainwrightFairfax City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Dan WozniakFairfax City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Mike DalyFairfax 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 Fairfax

Homes and businesses in most of Fairfax pay a combined $32.54 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 Fairfax pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$28.05$8.10
FY21$28.64$8.10
FY22$28.54$8.10
FY23$28.17$8.10
FY24$32.39$8.10
FY25$28.43$8.10
FY26$32.46$8.10
FY27$32.54$8.10
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$28.05$8.10
FY21$28.64$8.10
FY22$28.54$8.10
FY23$28.17$8.10
FY24$32.39$8.10
FY25$28.43$8.10
FY26$32.46$8.10
FY27$32.54$8.10

Compared with places this size3

Fairfax’s city property tax rate of $8.10 per $1,000 is the lowest of 77 Iowa cities with 2,000–4,400 people. The middle of the group is $14.29.

Eldora: $26.87Rockwell City: $20.74Bloomfield: $20.41Belmond: $19.86Sibley: $19.77Albia: $19.70Sac City: $19.69Eagle Grove: $19.32West Liberty: $18.68Chariton: $18.37Toledo: $18.21La Porte City: $18.08Tama: $17.74Clarion: $17.74Britt: $17.72Missouri Valley: $17.68Madrid: $16.93West Union: $16.60Audubon: $16.52Grundy Center: $16.36Belle Plaine: $16.34Colfax: $16.25Lamoni: $16.15Cresco: $16.13Marengo: $16.10Forest City: $15.77Postville: $15.68Tipton: $15.54Granger: $15.22Sigourney: $15.20Jefferson: $14.88Hampton: $14.86Sumner: $14.83Carlisle: $14.82Waukon: $14.76Rock Rapids: $14.57Monticello: $14.49Jesup: $14.31Osage: $14.29Parkersburg: $14.15Ida Grove: $14.10Lake Mills: $13.82Rock Valley: $13.76Emmetsburg: $13.70Wilton: $13.62New Hampton: $13.44Wapello: $13.29Hudson: $13.19Center Point: $13.19Greenfield: $13.13Hawarden: $13.02Garner: $12.86Bellevue: $12.67Milford: $12.57Lisbon: $12.50Dallas Center: $12.42Onawa: $12.32Monroe: $12.28Alta: $12.13Atkins: $11.99Hull: $11.79Cascade: $11.64West Branch: $11.63Mitchellville: $11.54Solon: $11.53Northwood: $11.28Williamsburg: $11.11Ely: $11.08Ogden: $10.99Carter Lake: $10.67Story City: $10.39Kalona: $10.37West Burlington: $10.15Peosta: $9.82Robins: $9.68Epworth: $9.42Fairfax: $8.10$8.10 lowest$26.87 highestmiddle
See all 77
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Eldora$26.872,595
2Rockwell City$20.742,185
3Bloomfield$20.412,773
4Belmond$19.862,405
5Sibley$19.772,787
6Albia$19.703,579
7Sac City$19.691,992
8Eagle Grove$19.323,615
9West Liberty$18.683,724
10Chariton$18.374,278
11Toledo$18.212,372
12La Porte City$18.082,267
13Tama$17.742,997
14Clarion$17.742,751
15Britt$17.722,001
16Missouri Valley$17.682,638
17Madrid$16.932,824
18West Union$16.602,435
19Audubon$16.522,008
20Grundy Center$16.362,821
21Belle Plaine$16.342,335
22Colfax$16.252,305
23Lamoni$16.152,072
24Cresco$16.133,890
25Marengo$16.102,415
26Forest City$15.774,199
27Postville$15.682,418
28Tipton$15.543,059
29Granger$15.222,095
30Sigourney$15.201,974
31Jefferson$14.884,148
32Hampton$14.864,340
33Sumner$14.832,032
34Carlisle$14.824,381
35Waukon$14.763,799
36Rock Rapids$14.572,709
37Monticello$14.494,095
38Jesup$14.312,541
39Osage$14.293,559
40Parkersburg$14.151,986
41Ida Grove$14.101,988
42Lake Mills$13.822,077
43Rock Valley$13.764,024
44Emmetsburg$13.703,632
45Wilton$13.622,914
46New Hampton$13.443,433
47Wapello$13.292,026
48Hudson$13.192,916
49Center Point$13.192,578
50Greenfield$13.131,988
51Hawarden$13.022,630
52Garner$12.863,049
53Bellevue$12.672,321
54Milford$12.573,258
55Lisbon$12.502,238
56Dallas Center$12.421,993
57Onawa$12.322,795
58Monroe$12.282,021
59Alta$12.132,039
60Atkins$11.992,168
61Hull$11.792,459
62Cascade$11.642,396
63West Branch$11.632,876
64Mitchellville$11.542,686
65Solon$11.533,284
66Northwood$11.282,047
67Williamsburg$11.113,380
68Ely$11.082,371
69Ogden$10.991,970
70Carter Lake$10.673,752
71Story City$10.393,439
72Kalona$10.372,762
73West Burlington$10.153,249
74Peosta$9.822,195
75Robins$9.683,362
76Epworth$9.422,042
77Fairfax$8.102,937

The $8.10 limit

Fairfax’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 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $7.86 · FY26 $7.64 · FY27 $8.10 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Tax increment financing (TIF)

$59.3M of taxable value in Fairfax is in TIF districts’ increment (25% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.5 It budgeted $1.4M in TIF revenue for FY25.

$1.2M
$999,443

What that value would raise at each government’s rate, FY276

Taxes on TIF value go to the city’s TIF fund instead of the governments that levy them, including about $480,301 of the city’s own.

  • College schools$624,625
  • Linn County$334,550
YearTIF revenue
FY16$981,277
FY17$1.0M
FY18$946,788
FY19$973,767
FY20$1.0M
FY21$1.2M
FY22$1.0M
FY23$999,443
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$981,277
FY17$1.0M
FY18$946,788
FY19$973,767
FY20$1.0M
FY21$1.2M
FY22$1.0M
FY23$999,443

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$1.4M100%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Fairfax’s budget goes, FY26

Capital Projects: 50¢ of every dollar50¢Business Type / Enterprise: 14¢ of every dollar14¢Debt Service: 12¢ of every dollar12¢Culture and Recreation: 10¢ of every dollar10¢Public Safety: 8¢ of every dollar8¢Everything else: 7¢ of every dollar7¢

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 76 Iowa cities closest in size (2,000–4,400 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (76)
Capital Projects50¢14¢
Business Type / Enterprise14¢40¢
Debt Service12¢7¢
Culture and Recreation10¢8¢
Public Safety8¢13¢
Everything else7¢19¢

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.

  • Capital Projects$4.7M48%
  • Debt Service$2.0M20%
  • Culture and Recreation$1.2M12%
  • Public Safety$688,8597%
  • General Government$615,7106%
  • Public Works$571,9506%
  • Community and Economic Development$81,5001%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($2.1M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$1.7M$1.7M
Public Safety$522,665$451,644
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$441,985$483,339
Debt Service$1.5M$1.5M
Culture and Recreation$1.5M$1.3M
Community and Economic Development$78,000$18,003
Capital Projects$840,000$97,006
Business Type / Enterprise$2.5M$1.7M

What it spent each year

FY24 left out7

$11.5M
$11.1M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Fairfax owes

$16.8M at June 30, 2026: $5,945 per resident. 86th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).8

$18.4M
$16.8M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$16.8M$5,945
2025$15.2M$5,374
2024$16.4M$5,784
2023$18.4M$6,494
2022$16.2M$5,741
2021$17.6M$6,213
2020$9.6M$3,386
2019$9.5M$3,342
2018$10.0M$3,526
2017$9.7M$3,424
2016$9.7M$3,444
2015$10.6M$3,753
2014$9.4M$3,314
2013$6.9M$2,451
2012$8.2M$2,900
2011$5.9M$2,094
2010$5.7M$2,012
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$16.8M$5,945
2025$15.2M$5,374
2024$16.4M$5,784
2023$18.4M$6,494
2022$16.2M$5,741
2021$17.6M$6,213
2020$9.6M$3,386
2019$9.5M$3,342
2018$10.0M$3,526
2017$9.7M$3,424
2016$9.7M$3,444
2015$10.6M$3,753
2014$9.4M$3,314
2013$6.9M$2,451
2012$8.2M$2,900
2011$5.9M$2,094
2010$5.7M$2,012

Up 195% since 2010.

The 5% limit9

General obligation debt is $13.2M, 63% of the limit of about $21.0M (5% of $421.0M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

17 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
General ObligationGO ANNUAL APPROPRIATION URBAN RENEWAL BOND - utility ext, street work, parking lot, disaster2035$3.5M
General ObligationWater, Sewer, Firetruck, Roads, Parks2040$3.0M
Revenue BondsSFR Water Storage2040$2.8M
General ObligationStreet Improvements, Water Main Extension, Trail Design2034$1.7M
General ObligationWater Tower Maintenance and Bridge Project2035$1.1M
General ObligationSplash Pad, HH Participation, Bridge Project, Refunding two bond anticipation notes2031$990,000
General ObligationGO MUNICIPAL BLDG BOND - purchase city hall2036$965,000
General ObligationFire truck, water storage, Heartland Heights park and participation2035$685,000
General ObligationW Cemetery Rd Intersection, water and sewer improvements.2037$620,000
Revenue BondsWater Revenue Bond, Design and Construction of Improvements to Water Utility2045$491,239
General ObligationVanderbilt Street, water mains, fire truck, growth planning, and UV project2028$280,000
General ObligationRefunding of 2009 Issue, Street Engineering, and Water Projects2029$185,000
Revenue BondsSanitary sewer system improvements.2027$184,000
General ObligationTrail, street, and drainage improvements.2027$130,000
Revenue BondsSRF P&D loan for water treatment2028$62,898
Capital Leases/Lease to PurchaseCAT SKID LOADER LEASE2027$59,653
Capital Leases/Lease to Purchase2024 MINI EXCAVATOR CAT2027$43,046

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 balances10. Fairfax’s latest audit has them: Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2026 (PDF).

Audits11

The latest: Financial Statement for the period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2026 (PDF), released Friday, October 16, 2026, by the Auditor of State.

AI summary12

  • The city has weaknesses in how it handles money because too few employees are assigned to different tasks, meaning one person may have control over many parts of a transaction, such as handling cash, recording it, and reconciling accounts.
  • The city plans to separate these duties among several employees in phases throughout the new fiscal year while transitioning to new accounting software.
The findings, as the report states them
Schedule of Findings ### Page 49 Finding Related to the Financial Statements: INTERNAL CONTROL DEFICIENCY: 2026-001 Segregation of Duties Criteria – Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining internal control.A good system of internal control provides for adequate segregation of duties so no one individual handles a transaction from its inception to completion. In order to maintain proper internal control, duties should be segregated so the authorization, custody and recording of transactions are not under the control of the same employee. This segregation of duties helps prevent losses from employee error or dishonesty and maximizes the accuracy of the City’s financial statements. Condition – Generally, one or two individuals in the City may have control over thefollowing areas for which no compensating controls exist: - 1. Accounting system – performing all accounting functions, including making journal entries and having custody of assets. - 2. Cash – initiating cash receipt and disbursement functions, handling and recording cash and reconciling. - 3. Receipts – opening mail, collecting, depositing, journalizing, reconciling and posting. - 4. Disbursements – purchasing, invoice processing, check writing, mailing, reconciling and recording. - 5. Payroll – recordkeeping, preparing and distributing. - 6. Utilities – billing, collecting, depositing and posting. - 7. Debt – recordkeeping, compliance and debt payment processing. - 8. Investments – custodian and record keeping. Cause – The City has a limited number of employees and procedures have not beendesigned to adequately segregate duties or provide compensating controls through additional oversight of transactions and processes. Effect – Inadequate segregation of duties could adversely affect the City’s ability to preventor detect and correct misstatements, errors or misappropriation on a timely basis by employees in the normal course of performing their assigned functions. Recommendation – The City should review its control activities to obtain the maximuminternal control possible under the circumstances utilizing currently available staff, including elected officials, to provide additional controls through review of financial transactions, reconciliations and financial report. The reviews should be documented by the signature or initials of the reviewer and the date of the review. ### Page 50 Response – We have reviewed procedures and plan to make the necessary changes toimprove internal control. Specific duties will be separated and spread among several employees. We plan to implement these changes in phases throughout the new fiscal year while we transition to a new accounting software. Conclusion – Response accepted. INSTANCES OF NONCOMPLIANCE: No matters were noted. ### Page 51 Other Findings Related to Required Statutory Reporting: 2026-A Certified Budget – Disbursements during the year ended June 30, 2026 did not exceed theamounts budgeted. 2026-B Questionable Disbursements – No disbursements we believe may not meet the requirementsof public purpose as defined in an Attorney General's opinion dated April 25, 1979 were noted. 2026-C Travel Expense – No disbursements of City money for travel expenses of spouses of Cityofficials or employees were noted. 2026-D Business Transactions – Business transactions between the City and City officials oremployees are detailed as follows: | Name, Title and Business Connection | Transaction Description | Amount | | - | - | - | | Michael Sankot, Fire Chief, Co-Owner of Sankot's Garage | Maintenance on various vehicles | $14,985 | | Michael Daly, Council Member, works at Waln Repair | Vehicle repair | 50 | In accordance with Chapter 362.5(3)(h) of the Code of Iowa, the transactions with Sankot’s Garage do not appear to represent a conflict of interest. In accordance with Chapter 362.5(3)(j) of the Code of Iowa, the transactions with Waln Repair do not appear to represent a conflict of interest since the total transactions were less than $6,000 during the year. 2026-E Restricted Donor Activity – No transactions were noted between the City, City officials, Cityemployees and restricted donors in compliance with Chapter 68B of the Code of Iowa. 2026-F Bond Coverage – Surety bond coverage of City officials and employees is in accordance withstatutory provisions. The amount of coverage should be reviewed annually to ensure the coverage is adequate for current operations. 2026-G City County Minutes – No transactions were found which we believe should have beenapproved in the City Council minutes but were not. 2026-H Deposits and Investments – No instances of noncompliance with the deposit and investmentprovisions of Chapters 12B and 12C of the Code of Iowa and the City’s investment policy were noted. 2026-I Revenue Notes – No instances of noncompliance with the revenue note resolutions werenoted. ### Page 52 2026-J Tax Increment Financing (TIF) – The Special Revenue, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Fundproperly disbursed payments for TIF loans. Also, the City properly completed the Tax Increment Debt Certificate Forms to request TIF property taxes. 2026-K Annual Urban Renewal Report – The Annual Urban Renewal Report was properly approvedand certified to the Iowa Department of Management on or before December 1 as required by Chapter 384.22(2)(a) of the Code of Iowa. ### Page 53 City of Fairfax
16 earlier reports for Fairfax

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? 13

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: $435,803 in FY25, up 51% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 21% more. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$373,347$389,165$399,462$401,631
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$15,195$12,156$35,264$34,172

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.

$89,229
$15,161
  • State grants$12,23781%
  • Fuel Tax Refund$2,92419%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$2,107
FY20$1,118
FY21$425
FY22$4,844
FY23$11,858
FY24$89,229
FY25$15,161
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$2,107
FY20$1,118
FY21$425
FY22$4,844
FY23$11,858
FY24$89,229
FY25$15,161

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)+17%$274,261 → $401,631, up 46% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 17% more
  • Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)+95%$13,950 → $34,172, up 145% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 95% more

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 76% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 40% more.

$488,900
$465,301

Federal grants, for comparison: $40,071 in FY24.

Business awards

Every award statewide

State economic development awards

1 business has state awards in FAIRFAX: $587K in grants, loans and tax benefits, for 23 jobs.14

  • Convergen Energy
    High Quality Jobs Program · FY23 · Under contract: Building · 23 jobs required
    $587K

Community college new jobs training: 2 contracts since 2012 worth $245K, for 25 pledged jobs.

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)15.

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 Fairfax; 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.

  • Fairfax City Council At-Large (2 seats)
    Now held by Dan Wozniak, Mike Daly
  • Fairfax Mayor
    Now held by Jo Ann Beer

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here16.

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 ballot17.

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