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Local taxes › Lyon County › Alvord

City

Alvord

Lyon County · How cities work

$2,140 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($25.36 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$620 a yearof that goes to the city ($7.41 per $1,000)
$101,971property taxes the city levies, FY27
$322,875city 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.

  • Mark NagelAlvord Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Mike BoerAlvord City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Rey CastilloAlvord City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Sam MetzgerAlvord City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Anita VanVeldHuizenAlvord City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Kristin Van MiddendorpAlvord 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 Alvord

Homes and businesses in most of Alvord pay a combined $25.36 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Lyon County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $7.41. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$24.82$8.10
FY21$25.07$8.10
FY22$23.97$8.10
FY23$23.88$8.10
FY24$23.84$8.10
FY25$25.56$7.86
FY26$25.93$7.64
FY27$25.36$7.41
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$24.82$8.10
FY21$25.07$8.10
FY22$23.97$8.10
FY23$23.88$8.10
FY24$23.84$8.10
FY25$25.56$7.86
FY26$25.93$7.64
FY27$25.36$7.41

Compared with places this size3

Alvord’s city property tax rate of $7.41 per $1,000 is the 13th lowest of 197 Iowa cities with 140–320 people. The middle of the group is $11.48.

Harris: $23.13Fenton: $22.05Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $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: $17.68Pisgah: $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: $14.01Fertile: $13.70Stockport: $13.68Kellerton: $13.60Quimby: $13.58Meservey: $13.43Persia: $13.41Leland: $13.31Harcourt: $13.21Calumet: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Silver 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: $12.31Bridgewater: $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: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Melvin: $10.05Defiance: $10.05Floyd: $10.02Barnum: $9.96Panama: $9.85Grafton: $9.83Tingley: $9.81Ionia: $9.65Salix: $9.63Van Wert: $9.62Kirkville: $9.59Luxemburg: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Elberon: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Lester: $8.94Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Luther: $8.83Harvey: $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: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Mcclelland: $7.79Lidderdale: $7.68Pulaski: $7.58Sheldahl: $7.56Fredonia: $7.55Harpers Ferry: $7.49Packwood: $6.77Libertyville: $6.60Keswick: $6.49Crawfordsville: $6.44Gravity: $6.18Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87West Okoboji: $2.92Sherrill: $2.66Rickardsville: $2.27Alvord: $7.41$2.27 lowest$23.13 highestmiddle
See all 197
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Harris$23.13145
2Fenton$22.05250
3Soldier$21.92176
4Coulter$21.80220
5Chelsea$21.61207
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
17Pisgah$17.09248
18Lakota$16.84261
19Marble Rock$16.78258
20Auburn$16.65253
21Prescott$16.53186
22Irwin$16.46320
23Montour$16.37199
24Corwith$16.22259
25Deep River$16.18243
26Waucoma$16.17235
27Granville$16.00302
28Minburn$15.75317
29Little Sioux$15.74170
30Moorhead$15.68186
31Onslow$15.63198
32Linden$15.62206
33Kamrar$15.47178
34Peterson$15.27321
35Greeley$15.23216
36Riverton$14.94243
37Marathon$14.89221
38Ladora$14.74223
39Magnolia$14.68194
40Bagley$14.63230
41Davis City$14.45178
42Lucas$14.40176
43Halbur$14.37268
44Crystal Lake$14.36243
45Kimballton$14.27281
46Steamboat Rock$14.19261
47Westgate$14.05190
48Mystic$14.01318
49Fertile$13.70300
50Stockport$13.68272
51Kellerton$13.60241
52Quimby$13.58245
53Meservey$13.43212
54Persia$13.41292
55Leland$13.31240
56Harcourt$13.21257
57Calumet$13.16144
58Ridgeway$13.10261
59Farmersburg$13.09264
60Portsmouth$13.05187
61Clutier$13.03209
62Silver City$12.87244
63Patterson$12.84176
64Martelle$12.83250
65Malcom$12.82257
66Blencoe$12.57223
67Williams$12.57299
68Maurice$12.56271
69Clearfield$12.50277
70Kensett$12.47256
71Mccausland$12.45314
72Aurora$12.40165
73Modale$12.34284
74Mingo$12.31314
75Bridgewater$12.29145
76Blakesburg$12.21273
77Cushing$12.18225
78Hanlontown$12.17200
79Stout$12.14194
80Macedonia$12.12266
81Paton$12.09217
82Decatur$12.08174
83Kiron$12.03262
84Rembrandt$12.03199
85Shambaugh$11.98161
86Liscomb$11.96292
87New Providence$11.88233
88Parnell$11.78190
89Reasnor$11.76157
90Joice$11.72206
91Atalissa$11.71287
92Cantril$11.69224
93Kelley$11.69312
94Wadena$11.65201
95Exline$11.60157
96Cincinnati$11.57280
97Beaman$11.54155
98Delta$11.52257
99Terril$11.48310
100Westside$11.45283
101College Springs$11.44172
102Holland$11.37261
103Mallard$11.28255
104Renwick$11.16228
105Linn Grove$11.15155
106Dundee$11.14193
107Randolph$11.08183
108Leighton$11.07153
109Rake$11.05179
110Frederika$10.99206
111Alexander$10.90165
112Goose Lake$10.89250
113Yale$10.85265
114Lambs Grove$10.78174
115Wallingford$10.75154
116Hornick$10.74255
117Woden$10.68183
118Bode$10.64304
119Cleghorn$10.49235
120Barnes City$10.44152
121Danbury$10.43315
122Lytton$10.38274
123Stockton$10.37171
124Rhodes$10.36269
125Randall$10.35156
126Dedham$10.28221
127Deloit$10.28246
128Protivin$10.28264
129Meriden$10.28175
130Drakesville$10.24170
131Bronson$10.14294
132Hancock$10.13199
133La Motte$10.09235
134Melvin$10.05196
135Defiance$10.05248
136Floyd$10.02297
137Barnum$9.96186
138Panama$9.85234
139Grafton$9.83212
140Tingley$9.81146
141Ionia$9.65220
142Salix$9.63303
143Van Wert$9.62175
144Kirkville$9.59159
145Luxemburg$9.58240
146Rippey$9.42217
147Elberon$9.16178
148Dixon$9.03204
149Lester$8.94309
150Blairsburg$8.93175
151Prairieburg$8.91156
152Oakville$8.89198
153Luther$8.83147
154Harvey$8.71242
155Washta$8.65206
156Moorland$8.61169
157Pilot Mound$8.54155
158Ollie$8.44196
159Thor$8.38182
160Rowley$8.31264
161South English$8.27196
162Thurman$8.26162
163Boxholm$8.11177
164Bertram$8.10267
165Fostoria$8.10229
166Low Moor$8.10242
167Nichols$8.10317
168Laurel$8.10214
169Lineville$8.10194
170Luana$7.98303
171Lockridge$7.92245
172Mount Auburn$7.86162
173Haverhill$7.86164
174Grand River$7.86192
175Olds$7.86174
176Dickens$7.86146
177Rose Hill$7.86156
178West Chester$7.82147
179Mcclelland$7.79147
180Lidderdale$7.68162
181Pulaski$7.58259
182Sheldahl$7.56312
183Fredonia$7.55227
184Harpers Ferry$7.49273
185Alvord$7.41216
186Packwood$6.77186
187Libertyville$6.60278
188Keswick$6.49238
189Crawfordsville$6.44278
190Gravity$6.18149
191Oakland Acres$5.88178
192Springbrook$5.79145
193Maysville$5.77155
194Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
195West Okoboji$2.92311
196Sherrill$2.66176
197Rickardsville$2.27204

The $8.10 limit

Alvord’s general levy is $7.41 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.69 below the limit.4 820 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $7.86 · FY26 $7.64 · FY27 $7.41 (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$101,193100%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Alvord’s budget goes, FY26

General Government: 35¢ of every dollar35¢Business Type / Enterprise: 32¢ of every dollar32¢Debt Service: 11¢ of every dollar11¢Culture and Recreation: 8¢ of every dollar8¢Public Works: 8¢ of every dollar8¢Everything else: 5¢ 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 195 Iowa cities closest in size (140–320 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (195)
General Government35¢20¢
Business Type / Enterprise32¢34¢
Debt Service11¢2¢
Culture and Recreation8¢8¢
Public Works8¢22¢
Everything else5¢12¢

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.

  • General Government$129,67540%
  • Culture and Recreation$122,00038%
  • Public Works$51,60016%
  • Public Safety$16,2005%
  • Health and Social Services$2,4001%
  • Community and Economic Development$1,0000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($85,100 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$126,700$44,191
Public Safety$14,100$13,505
Health and Social Services$2,250$2,110
General Government$58,800$69,210
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$14,500$42,929
Community and Economic Development$1,000$1,051
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$88,800$68,872

What it spent each year

FY24 left out5

$1.4M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Alvord owes

$180,765 at June 30, 2026: $878 per resident. 571st most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).6

$215,000
$180,765
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$180,765$878
2025$215,000$1,044
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$0$0
2016$0$0
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$180,765$878
2025$215,000$1,044
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$0$0
2016$0$0
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0

Down 16% since 2025.

The 5% limit7

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $1.0M (5% of $20.7M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

1 obligation at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
LoansFunding for new Recreation Center.2034$180,765

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 balances8. Alvord’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Sunday, March 31, 2024 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Sunday, March 31, 2024 (PDF), released Friday, April 4, 2025, by a CPA firm.

1 earlier report for Alvord

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: $23,549 in FY25, up 14% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 9% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$23,024$22,838$23,422$23,549

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.

$16,622
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$0
    FY21$500
    FY22$3,084
    FY23$16,622
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$0
    FY21$500
    FY22$3,084
    FY23$16,622
    FY24$0
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−9%$20,608 → $23,549, up 14% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 9% 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 60% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 27% more.

    $31,668

    Federal grants, for comparison: $15,027 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

    Ballot measures · 1

    Passed Yes 92.9% (13) · No 7.1% (1)

    Passes with more yes votes than no.

    City · 2

    3 seats: the top 3 win.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Alvord; 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.

    • Alvord City Council At-Large (2 seats)
      Now held by Kristin Van Middendorp, Anita VanVeldHuizen
    • Alvord Mayor
      Now held by Mark Nagel

    Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here12.

    Past ballot measures

    • Public Measure NVNovember 4, 2025

      Passed Yes 92.9% (13) · No 7.1% (1)

      Passes with more yes votes than no.

    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

    Jeff Taylor (Sen. 2)Skyler Wheeler (Rep. 4)

    U.S. House:District 4

    Lyon CountyWest Lyon schools