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.
- College schools$16.5951%
- City of Fairfax$8.1025%
- Linn County$6.0519%
- 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 Fairfax pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’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
| Year | Combined | City’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.
See all 77
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eldora | $26.87 | 2,595 |
| 2 | Rockwell City | $20.74 | 2,185 |
| 3 | Bloomfield | $20.41 | 2,773 |
| 4 | Belmond | $19.86 | 2,405 |
| 5 | Sibley | $19.77 | 2,787 |
| 6 | Albia | $19.70 | 3,579 |
| 7 | Sac City | $19.69 | 1,992 |
| 8 | Eagle Grove | $19.32 | 3,615 |
| 9 | West Liberty | $18.68 | 3,724 |
| 10 | Chariton | $18.37 | 4,278 |
| 11 | Toledo | $18.21 | 2,372 |
| 12 | La Porte City | $18.08 | 2,267 |
| 13 | Tama | $17.74 | 2,997 |
| 14 | Clarion | $17.74 | 2,751 |
| 15 | Britt | $17.72 | 2,001 |
| 16 | Missouri Valley | $17.68 | 2,638 |
| 17 | Madrid | $16.93 | 2,824 |
| 18 | West Union | $16.60 | 2,435 |
| 19 | Audubon | $16.52 | 2,008 |
| 20 | Grundy Center | $16.36 | 2,821 |
| 21 | Belle Plaine | $16.34 | 2,335 |
| 22 | Colfax | $16.25 | 2,305 |
| 23 | Lamoni | $16.15 | 2,072 |
| 24 | Cresco | $16.13 | 3,890 |
| 25 | Marengo | $16.10 | 2,415 |
| 26 | Forest City | $15.77 | 4,199 |
| 27 | Postville | $15.68 | 2,418 |
| 28 | Tipton | $15.54 | 3,059 |
| 29 | Granger | $15.22 | 2,095 |
| 30 | Sigourney | $15.20 | 1,974 |
| 31 | Jefferson | $14.88 | 4,148 |
| 32 | Hampton | $14.86 | 4,340 |
| 33 | Sumner | $14.83 | 2,032 |
| 34 | Carlisle | $14.82 | 4,381 |
| 35 | Waukon | $14.76 | 3,799 |
| 36 | Rock Rapids | $14.57 | 2,709 |
| 37 | Monticello | $14.49 | 4,095 |
| 38 | Jesup | $14.31 | 2,541 |
| 39 | Osage | $14.29 | 3,559 |
| 40 | Parkersburg | $14.15 | 1,986 |
| 41 | Ida Grove | $14.10 | 1,988 |
| 42 | Lake Mills | $13.82 | 2,077 |
| 43 | Rock Valley | $13.76 | 4,024 |
| 44 | Emmetsburg | $13.70 | 3,632 |
| 45 | Wilton | $13.62 | 2,914 |
| 46 | New Hampton | $13.44 | 3,433 |
| 47 | Wapello | $13.29 | 2,026 |
| 48 | Hudson | $13.19 | 2,916 |
| 49 | Center Point | $13.19 | 2,578 |
| 50 | Greenfield | $13.13 | 1,988 |
| 51 | Hawarden | $13.02 | 2,630 |
| 52 | Garner | $12.86 | 3,049 |
| 53 | Bellevue | $12.67 | 2,321 |
| 54 | Milford | $12.57 | 3,258 |
| 55 | Lisbon | $12.50 | 2,238 |
| 56 | Dallas Center | $12.42 | 1,993 |
| 57 | Onawa | $12.32 | 2,795 |
| 58 | Monroe | $12.28 | 2,021 |
| 59 | Alta | $12.13 | 2,039 |
| 60 | Atkins | $11.99 | 2,168 |
| 61 | Hull | $11.79 | 2,459 |
| 62 | Cascade | $11.64 | 2,396 |
| 63 | West Branch | $11.63 | 2,876 |
| 64 | Mitchellville | $11.54 | 2,686 |
| 65 | Solon | $11.53 | 3,284 |
| 66 | Northwood | $11.28 | 2,047 |
| 67 | Williamsburg | $11.11 | 3,380 |
| 68 | Ely | $11.08 | 2,371 |
| 69 | Ogden | $10.99 | 1,970 |
| 70 | Carter Lake | $10.67 | 3,752 |
| 71 | Story City | $10.39 | 3,439 |
| 72 | Kalona | $10.37 | 2,762 |
| 73 | West Burlington | $10.15 | 3,249 |
| 74 | Peosta | $9.82 | 2,195 |
| 75 | Robins | $9.68 | 3,362 |
| 76 | Epworth | $9.42 | 2,042 |
| 77 | Fairfax | $8.10 | 2,937 |
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.
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.
| Year | TIF 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
| Year | TIF 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.
Budget and spending
Where each dollar of Fairfax’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 76 Iowa cities closest in size (2,000–4,400 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (76) |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Projects | 50¢ | 14¢ |
| Business Type / Enterprise | 14¢ | 40¢ |
| Debt Service | 12¢ | 7¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 10¢ | 8¢ |
| Public Safety | 8¢ | 13¢ |
| Everything else | 7¢ | 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.
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
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
| June 30 | Owed | Per 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 30 | Owed | Per 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
| Kind | For | Paid off by | Owed |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Obligation | GO ANNUAL APPROPRIATION URBAN RENEWAL BOND - utility ext, street work, parking lot, disaster | 2035 | $3.5M |
| General Obligation | Water, Sewer, Firetruck, Roads, Parks | 2040 | $3.0M |
| Revenue Bonds | SFR Water Storage | 2040 | $2.8M |
| General Obligation | Street Improvements, Water Main Extension, Trail Design | 2034 | $1.7M |
| General Obligation | Water Tower Maintenance and Bridge Project | 2035 | $1.1M |
| General Obligation | Splash Pad, HH Participation, Bridge Project, Refunding two bond anticipation notes | 2031 | $990,000 |
| General Obligation | GO MUNICIPAL BLDG BOND - purchase city hall | 2036 | $965,000 |
| General Obligation | Fire truck, water storage, Heartland Heights park and participation | 2035 | $685,000 |
| General Obligation | W Cemetery Rd Intersection, water and sewer improvements. | 2037 | $620,000 |
| Revenue Bonds | Water Revenue Bond, Design and Construction of Improvements to Water Utility | 2045 | $491,239 |
| General Obligation | Vanderbilt Street, water mains, fire truck, growth planning, and UV project | 2028 | $280,000 |
| General Obligation | Refunding of 2009 Issue, Street Engineering, and Water Projects | 2029 | $185,000 |
| Revenue Bonds | Sanitary sewer system improvements. | 2027 | $184,000 |
| General Obligation | Trail, street, and drainage improvements. | 2027 | $130,000 |
| Revenue Bonds | SRF P&D loan for water treatment | 2028 | $62,898 |
| Capital Leases/Lease to Purchase | CAT SKID LOADER LEASE | 2027 | $59,653 |
| Capital Leases/Lease to Purchase | 2024 MINI EXCAVATOR CAT | 2027 | $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
16 earlier reports for Fairfax
- Financial Statement, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025Thursday, March 19, 2026
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2024Friday, March 28, 2025
- Financial Statement, period ending Friday, June 30, 2023Friday, March 29, 2024
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2022Thursday, March 30, 2023
- Financial Statement, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021Wednesday, March 30, 2022
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2020Tuesday, March 30, 2021
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2019Tuesday, March 31, 2020
- Financial Statement, period ending Saturday, June 30, 2018Friday, June 28, 2019
- Financial Statement, period ending Friday, June 30, 2017Wednesday, March 28, 2018
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2016Wednesday, May 17, 2017
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2015Friday, March 25, 2016
- Financial Statement, period ending Monday, June 30, 2014Wednesday, February 4, 2015
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2013Thursday, January 23, 2014
- Financial Statement, period ending Saturday, June 30, 2012Tuesday, May 7, 2013
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2011Tuesday, May 15, 2012
- Financial Statement, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2010Monday, February 21, 2011
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
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Year | Grants 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
| Year | Grants 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.
Federal grants, for comparison: $40,071 in FY24.
Business awards
State economic development awards
1 business has state awards in FAIRFAX: $587K in grants, loans and tax benefits, for 23 jobs.14
- Convergen EnergyHigh 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.
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.
- Cindy Anderson Winner48824.8%
- Debra Mallie Winner47023.9%
- Marianne Wainwright Winner40020.3%
- Tom Nurre 31415.9%
- Nicholas Volk 29715.1%
- Jo Ann Beer Winner48864.0%
- Steve Huber 27436.0%
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 MayorNow 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.
Related places
At the Statehouse and in Congress18
Charlie McClintock (Sen. 42)Thomas Gerhold (Rep. 84)
U.S. House:District 2