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Local taxes › Louisa County › Fredonia

City

Fredonia

Louisa County · How cities work

$2,340 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($27.84 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$640 a yearof that goes to the city ($7.55 per $1,000)
$23,209property taxes the city levies, FY27
$98,180city 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.

  • Daryl RenkenFredonia City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Julie FrankFredonia City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Logan BeanFredonia Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Olivia CookFredonia City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Rebecca BeanFredonia City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Robert BrightFredonia 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 Fredonia

Homes and businesses in most of Fredonia pay a combined $27.84 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Louisa County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $7.55. Estimate your bill.

  • Columbus schools$9.9636%
  • Louisa County$7.8028%
  • City of Fredonia$7.5527%
  • Eastern Iowa Community College$1.044%
  • Columbus Benefited Fire District$0.512%
  • Louisa County Assessor$0.422%
  • Louisa County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.301%
  • Concord-Fredonia Cemetery$0.26<1%

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$29.94$7.38
FY21$28.33$7.55
FY22$28.25$7.55
FY23$27.30$7.55
FY24$27.51$7.55
FY25$27.45$6.77
FY26$28.23$7.55
FY27$27.84$7.55
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$29.94$7.38
FY21$28.33$7.55
FY22$28.25$7.55
FY23$27.30$7.55
FY24$27.51$7.55
FY25$27.45$6.77
FY26$28.23$7.55
FY27$27.84$7.55

Compared with places this size3

Fredonia’s city property tax rate of $7.55 per $1,000 is the 15th lowest of 199 Iowa cities with 150–340 people. The middle of the group is $11.65.

Fenton: $22.05Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Elliott: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Coin: $19.59Garden Grove: $19.20Fort Atkinson: $19.19Hastings: $18.95Cumberland: $18.42Jamaica: $18.24Hillsboro: $17.68Pierson: $17.12Pisgah: $17.09Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Prescott: $16.53Irwin: $16.46Montour: $16.37Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Granville: $16.00Minburn: $15.75Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Kamrar: $15.47Peterson: $15.27Greeley: $15.23Riverton: $14.94Marathon: $14.89Ladora: $14.74Magnolia: $14.68Bagley: $14.63Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Halbur: $14.37Crystal Lake: $14.36Kimballton: $14.27Steamboat Rock: $14.19Westgate: $14.05Mystic: $14.01Diagonal: $13.91Mondamin: $13.82Fertile: $13.70Stockport: $13.68Kellerton: $13.60Quimby: $13.58Meservey: $13.43Persia: $13.41Lacona: $13.38Leland: $13.31Ute: $13.26Harcourt: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Templeton: $12.91Silver City: $12.87Patterson: $12.84Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Blencoe: $12.57Williams: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Clearfield: $12.50Kensett: $12.47Mccausland: $12.45Aurora: $12.40Modale: $12.34Mingo: $12.31Brandon: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Cushing: $12.18Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Macedonia: $12.12Paton: $12.09Decatur: $12.08Kiron: $12.03Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Liscomb: $11.96New Providence: $11.88Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Joice: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Cantril: $11.69Kelley: $11.69Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Cincinnati: $11.57Beaman: $11.54Delta: $11.52Terril: $11.48Westside: $11.45College Springs: $11.44Holland: $11.37Mallard: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Frederika: $10.99Alexander: $10.90Goose Lake: $10.89Yale: $10.85Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Hornick: $10.74Woden: $10.68Bode: $10.64Cleghorn: $10.49Barnes City: $10.44Danbury: $10.43Lytton: $10.38Stockton: $10.37Rhodes: $10.36Randall: $10.35Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $10.28Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24Bronson: $10.14Hancock: $10.13Rudd: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Melvin: $10.05Defiance: $10.05Floyd: $10.02Barnum: $9.96Panama: $9.85Grafton: $9.83Ionia: $9.65Salix: $9.63Van Wert: $9.62Kirkville: $9.59Luxemburg: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Elberon: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Lester: $8.94Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Harvey: $8.71Washta: $8.65Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Rowley: $8.31South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Bertram: $8.10Fostoria: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Nichols: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Luana: $7.98Lockridge: $7.92Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86Lidderdale: $7.68Pulaski: $7.58Sheldahl: $7.56Harpers Ferry: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Donahue: $6.83Packwood: $6.77Libertyville: $6.60Keswick: $6.49Crawfordsville: $6.44Oakland Acres: $5.88Maysville: $5.77Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87Wahpeton: $3.19West Okoboji: $2.92Sherrill: $2.66Rickardsville: $2.27Fredonia: $7.55$2.27 lowest$22.05 highestmiddle
See all 199
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Fenton$22.05250
2Soldier$21.92176
3Coulter$21.80220
4Chelsea$21.61207
5Elliott$21.61328
6Smithland$21.12184
7Volga$20.23200
8Alta Vista$19.88219
9Arthur$19.86218
10Coin$19.59171
11Garden Grove$19.20173
12Fort Atkinson$19.19300
13Hastings$18.95157
14Cumberland$18.42248
15Jamaica$18.24196
16Hillsboro$17.68158
17Pierson$17.12335
18Pisgah$17.09248
19Lakota$16.84261
20Marble Rock$16.78258
21Auburn$16.65253
22Prescott$16.53186
23Irwin$16.46320
24Montour$16.37199
25Corwith$16.22259
26Deep River$16.18243
27Waucoma$16.17235
28Granville$16.00302
29Minburn$15.75317
30Little Sioux$15.74170
31Moorhead$15.68186
32Onslow$15.63198
33Linden$15.62206
34Kamrar$15.47178
35Peterson$15.27321
36Greeley$15.23216
37Riverton$14.94243
38Marathon$14.89221
39Ladora$14.74223
40Magnolia$14.68194
41Bagley$14.63230
42Davis City$14.45178
43Lucas$14.40176
44Halbur$14.37268
45Crystal Lake$14.36243
46Kimballton$14.27281
47Steamboat Rock$14.19261
48Westgate$14.05190
49Mystic$14.01318
50Diagonal$13.91331
51Mondamin$13.82335
52Fertile$13.70300
53Stockport$13.68272
54Kellerton$13.60241
55Quimby$13.58245
56Meservey$13.43212
57Persia$13.41292
58Lacona$13.38336
59Leland$13.31240
60Ute$13.26326
61Harcourt$13.21257
62Bennett$13.16330
63Ridgeway$13.10261
64Farmersburg$13.09264
65Portsmouth$13.05187
66Clutier$13.03209
67Templeton$12.91337
68Silver City$12.87244
69Patterson$12.84176
70Martelle$12.83250
71Malcom$12.82257
72Blencoe$12.57223
73Williams$12.57299
74Maurice$12.56271
75Clearfield$12.50277
76Kensett$12.47256
77Mccausland$12.45314
78Aurora$12.40165
79Modale$12.34284
80Mingo$12.31314
81Brandon$12.29331
82Blakesburg$12.21273
83Cushing$12.18225
84Hanlontown$12.17200
85Stout$12.14194
86Macedonia$12.12266
87Paton$12.09217
88Decatur$12.08174
89Kiron$12.03262
90Rembrandt$12.03199
91Shambaugh$11.98161
92Liscomb$11.96292
93New Providence$11.88233
94Parnell$11.78190
95Reasnor$11.76157
96Joice$11.72206
97Atalissa$11.71287
98Cantril$11.69224
99Kelley$11.69312
100Wadena$11.65201
101Exline$11.60157
102Cincinnati$11.57280
103Beaman$11.54155
104Delta$11.52257
105Terril$11.48310
106Westside$11.45283
107College Springs$11.44172
108Holland$11.37261
109Mallard$11.28255
110Renwick$11.16228
111Linn Grove$11.15155
112Dundee$11.14193
113Randolph$11.08183
114Leighton$11.07153
115Rake$11.05179
116Frederika$10.99206
117Alexander$10.90165
118Goose Lake$10.89250
119Yale$10.85265
120Lambs Grove$10.78174
121Wallingford$10.75154
122Hornick$10.74255
123Woden$10.68183
124Bode$10.64304
125Cleghorn$10.49235
126Barnes City$10.44152
127Danbury$10.43315
128Lytton$10.38274
129Stockton$10.37171
130Rhodes$10.36269
131Randall$10.35156
132Dedham$10.28221
133Deloit$10.28246
134Protivin$10.28264
135Meriden$10.28175
136Drakesville$10.24170
137Bronson$10.14294
138Hancock$10.13199
139Rudd$10.13339
140La Motte$10.09235
141Melvin$10.05196
142Defiance$10.05248
143Floyd$10.02297
144Barnum$9.96186
145Panama$9.85234
146Grafton$9.83212
147Ionia$9.65220
148Salix$9.63303
149Van Wert$9.62175
150Kirkville$9.59159
151Luxemburg$9.58240
152Rippey$9.42217
153Elberon$9.16178
154Dixon$9.03204
155Lester$8.94309
156Blairsburg$8.93175
157Prairieburg$8.91156
158Oakville$8.89198
159Harvey$8.71242
160Washta$8.65206
161Moorland$8.61169
162Pilot Mound$8.54155
163Ollie$8.44196
164Thor$8.38182
165Rowley$8.31264
166South English$8.27196
167Thurman$8.26162
168Boxholm$8.11177
169Bertram$8.10267
170Fostoria$8.10229
171Low Moor$8.10242
172Nichols$8.10317
173Laurel$8.10214
174Lineville$8.10194
175Luana$7.98303
176Lockridge$7.92245
177Mount Auburn$7.86162
178Haverhill$7.86164
179Grand River$7.86192
180Olds$7.86174
181Rose Hill$7.86156
182Lidderdale$7.68162
183Pulaski$7.58259
184Sheldahl$7.56312
185Fredonia$7.55227
186Harpers Ferry$7.49273
187Alvord$7.41216
188Donahue$6.83336
189Packwood$6.77186
190Libertyville$6.60278
191Keswick$6.49238
192Crawfordsville$6.44278
193Oakland Acres$5.88178
194Maysville$5.77155
195Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
196Wahpeton$3.19337
197West Okoboji$2.92311
198Sherrill$2.66176
199Rickardsville$2.27204

The $8.10 limit

Fredonia’s general levy is $7.55 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.55 below the limit.4 793 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $7.55 · FY24 $7.55 · FY25 $6.77 · FY26 $7.55 · FY27 $7.55 (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$23,209100%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Fredonia’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 37¢ of every dollar37¢Public Works: 35¢ of every dollar35¢General Government: 18¢ of every dollar18¢Public Safety: 6¢ of every dollarCulture and Recreation: 3¢ of every dollarEverything else: 1¢ 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 197 Iowa cities closest in size (150–340 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (197)
Business Type / Enterprise37¢35¢
Public Works35¢21¢
General Government18¢20¢
Public Safety6¢10¢
Culture and Recreation3¢8¢
Everything else1¢2¢

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$54,50056%
  • General Government$27,48028%
  • Public Safety$10,00010%
  • Culture and Recreation$4,2004%
  • Community and Economic Development$2,0002%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($57,800 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$55,650$37,012
Public Safety$8,500$7,712
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$29,600$30,409
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$4,200$840
Community and Economic Development$1,200$700
Capital Projects$0$9,145
Business Type / Enterprise$50,000$37,946

What it spent each year

FY24 left out5

$284,838
$180,319

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Fredonia owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.6

$139,147
$0
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$14,000$63
2019$27,000$122
2018$40,000$180
2017$52,000$234
2016$64,000$288
2015$77,000$347
2014$87,000$392
2013$97,000$437
2012$107,000$482
2011$119,000$536
2010$139,147$627
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$14,000$63
2019$27,000$122
2018$40,000$180
2017$52,000$234
2016$64,000$288
2015$77,000$347
2014$87,000$392
2013$97,000$437
2012$107,000$482
2011$119,000$536
2010$139,147$627

Down 100% since 2010.

The 5% limit7

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $380,142 (5% of $7.6M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. Fredonia’s latest audit has them: Annual Examination, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Annual Examination for the period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021 (PDF), released Tuesday, January 25, 2022, by the Auditor of State.

2 earlier reports for Fredonia

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: $26,964 in FY25, down 3% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 23% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$26,917$26,156$26,819$26,964

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.

$135,550
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$2,464
    FY20$214
    FY21$135,550
    FY22$0
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$2,464
    FY20$214
    FY21$135,550
    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)−23%$27,907 → $26,964, down 3% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 23% 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 43% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 14% more.

    $21,803
    $18,170

    Federal grants, for comparison: $17,570 in FY23.

    Business awards

    Every award 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)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 · 2

    3 seats: the top 3 win.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Fredonia; 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.

    • Fredonia City Council At-Large (2 seats)
      Now held by Robert Bright, Rebecca Bean

    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

    Mark S. Lofgren (Sen. 48)Taylor R. Collins (Rep. 95)

    U.S. House:District 1

    Louisa CountyColumbus schools