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Local taxes › Mahaska County › Leighton

City

Leighton

Mahaska County · How cities work

$2,830 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($33.55 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$930 a yearof that goes to the city ($11.07 per $1,000)
$46,310property taxes the city levies, FY27
$144,602city budget, all funds, FY272

Who runs it

The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.

  • Andy SytsmaLeighton Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Francis A. ReadyLeighton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Henry W. Van RoekelLeighton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Kenneth L. Ver MeerLeighton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Kimberly A. SytsmaLeighton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Steven NieuwsmaLeighton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Steven H. NieuwsmaLeighton 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 Leighton

Homes and businesses in most of Leighton pay a combined $33.55 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Mahaska County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $11.07. Estimate your bill.

  • Pella schools$14.5643%
  • City of Leighton$11.0733%
  • Mahaska County$3.9512%
  • Mahaska County Hospital$2.507%
  • Des Moines Area Community College$0.812%
  • Mahaska County Assessor$0.471%
  • Mahaska County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.19<1%

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.35$9.27
FY21$33.85$9.27
FY22$33.41$9.25
FY23$32.75$8.76
FY24$35.86$11.80
FY25$35.00$11.34
FY26$35.83$11.86
FY27$33.55$11.07
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.35$9.27
FY21$33.85$9.27
FY22$33.41$9.25
FY23$32.75$8.76
FY24$35.86$11.80
FY25$35.00$11.34
FY26$35.83$11.86
FY27$33.55$11.07

Compared with places this size3

Leighton’s city property tax rate of $11.07 per $1,000 is the 84th highest of 181 Iowa cities with 100–230 people. The middle of the group is $10.75.

Castana: $34.13Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Coin: $19.59Rowan: $19.53Chester: $19.30Bouton: $19.25Ricketts: $19.22Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Jamaica: $18.24Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Prescott: $16.53Monmouth: $16.41Blockton: $16.37Montour: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Waterville: $16.25Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Woodburn: $15.59Kamrar: $15.47Greeley: $15.23Goodell: $15.16Marne: $15.03Marathon: $14.89Ladora: $14.74Magnolia: $14.68Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Lanesboro: $13.53Meservey: $13.43Calumet: $13.16Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Clemons: $12.69Blencoe: $12.57Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Bridgewater: $12.29Cushing: $12.18Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Webb: $12.10Paton: $12.09Decatur: $12.08Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92East Peru: $11.89Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Ledyard: $11.74Joice: $11.72Cantril: $11.69Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54College Springs: $11.44Melrose: $11.27Renwick: $11.16Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Rake: $11.05Somers: $10.99Frederika: $10.99Havelock: $10.95Alexander: $10.90Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Woden: $10.68Barnes City: $10.44Stockton: $10.37Randall: $10.35Dedham: $10.28Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24North Washington: $10.23Dawson: $10.19Hancock: $10.13Melvin: $10.05Barnum: $9.96Grafton: $9.83Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Ionia: $9.65Rutland: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Superior: $9.58Martinsburg: $9.49Rippey: $9.42Larrabee: $9.41Hamilton: $9.35Floris: $9.29Mitchell: $9.22Westphalia: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Welton: $8.86Archer: $8.84Luther: $8.83Fraser: $8.81Macksburg: $8.81Washta: $8.65Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Andover: $8.28South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Fostoria: $8.10Rome: $8.10Westfield: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Cromwell: $7.81Mcclelland: $7.79Luzerne: $7.69Lidderdale: $7.68Bernard: $7.56Fredonia: $7.55Braddyville: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Franklin: $7.31Weldon: $7.18Brunsville: $6.95Packwood: $6.77Houghton: $6.73Williamson: $6.72Lincoln: $6.32Gravity: $6.18Ackworth: $5.90Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Harper: $5.29Panorama Park: $4.62Keomah Village: $3.15Mcintire: $2.78Sherrill: $2.66Centralia: $2.41Rickardsville: $2.27New Liberty: $2.27North Buena Vista: $1.78Leighton: $11.07$1.78 lowest$34.13 highestmiddle
See all 181
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Castana$34.13103
2Brayton$25.07138
3Harris$23.13145
4Soldier$21.92176
5Coulter$21.80220
6Chelsea$21.61207
7Smithland$21.12184
8Volga$20.23200
9Alta Vista$19.88219
10Arthur$19.86218
11Coin$19.59171
12Rowan$19.53118
13Chester$19.30134
14Bouton$19.25125
15Ricketts$19.22105
16Garden Grove$19.20173
17Hastings$18.95157
18Swaledale$18.62136
19Jamaica$18.24196
20Hillsboro$17.68158
21Bristow$17.39139
22Woolstock$17.26141
23Prescott$16.53186
24Monmouth$16.41129
25Blockton$16.37123
26Montour$16.37199
27Geneva$16.25137
28Waterville$16.25112
29Little Sioux$15.74170
30Moorhead$15.68186
31Onslow$15.63198
32Linden$15.62206
33Woodburn$15.59133
34Kamrar$15.47178
35Greeley$15.23216
36Goodell$15.16139
37Marne$15.03109
38Marathon$14.89221
39Ladora$14.74223
40Magnolia$14.68194
41Davis City$14.45178
42Lucas$14.40176
43Westgate$14.05190
44Palmer$13.89137
45Ayrshire$13.55128
46Searsboro$13.55129
47Lanesboro$13.53112
48Meservey$13.43212
49Calumet$13.16144
50Portsmouth$13.05187
51Clutier$13.03209
52Delaware$12.86139
53Patterson$12.84176
54Clemons$12.69135
55Blencoe$12.57223
56Millersburg$12.40135
57Aurora$12.40165
58Bridgewater$12.29145
59Cushing$12.18225
60Hanlontown$12.17200
61Stout$12.14194
62Webb$12.10139
63Paton$12.09217
64Decatur$12.08174
65Rembrandt$12.03199
66Shambaugh$11.98161
67Lone Rock$11.92143
68East Peru$11.89119
69Henderson$11.85140
70Parnell$11.78190
71Reasnor$11.76157
72Ledyard$11.74118
73Joice$11.72206
74Cantril$11.69224
75Wadena$11.65201
76Exline$11.60157
77Beaman$11.54155
78College Springs$11.44172
79Melrose$11.27110
80Renwick$11.16228
81Linn Grove$11.15155
82Dundee$11.14193
83Randolph$11.08183
84Leighton$11.07153
85Rake$11.05179
86Somers$10.99121
87Frederika$10.99206
88Havelock$10.95127
89Alexander$10.90165
90Lambs Grove$10.78174
91Wallingford$10.75154
92Woden$10.68183
93Barnes City$10.44152
94Stockton$10.37171
95Randall$10.35156
96Dedham$10.28221
97Meriden$10.28175
98Drakesville$10.24170
99North Washington$10.23107
100Dawson$10.19110
101Hancock$10.13199
102Melvin$10.05196
103Barnum$9.96186
104Grafton$9.83212
105Clare$9.81133
106Tingley$9.81146
107Ionia$9.65220
108Rutland$9.65116
109Van Wert$9.62175
110Rock Falls$9.61143
111Kirkville$9.59159
112Superior$9.58127
113Martinsburg$9.49109
114Rippey$9.42217
115Larrabee$9.41116
116Hamilton$9.35125
117Floris$9.29119
118Mitchell$9.22118
119Westphalia$9.18133
120Elberon$9.16178
121Dixon$9.03204
122Blairsburg$8.93175
123Prairieburg$8.91156
124Oakville$8.89198
125Welton$8.86124
126Archer$8.84116
127Luther$8.83147
128Fraser$8.81107
129Macksburg$8.81103
130Washta$8.65206
131Moorland$8.61169
132Pilot Mound$8.54155
133Ollie$8.44196
134Thor$8.38182
135Andover$8.28106
136South English$8.27196
137Thurman$8.26162
138Boxholm$8.11177
139Fostoria$8.10229
140Rome$8.10112
141Westfield$8.10121
142Laurel$8.10214
143Lineville$8.10194
144Vincent$8.09125
145Mount Auburn$7.86162
146Haverhill$7.86164
147Grand River$7.86192
148Olds$7.86174
149Castalia$7.86141
150Dickens$7.86146
151Rose Hill$7.86156
152West Chester$7.82147
153Cromwell$7.81104
154Mcclelland$7.79147
155Luzerne$7.69111
156Lidderdale$7.68162
157Bernard$7.56117
158Fredonia$7.55227
159Braddyville$7.49142
160Alvord$7.41216
161Franklin$7.31133
162Weldon$7.18134
163Brunsville$6.95128
164Packwood$6.77186
165Houghton$6.73129
166Williamson$6.72126
167Lincoln$6.32119
168Gravity$6.18149
169Ackworth$5.90117
170Oakland Acres$5.88178
171Springbrook$5.79145
172Maysville$5.77155
173Harper$5.29117
174Panorama Park$4.62142
175Keomah Village$3.15107
176Mcintire$2.78115
177Sherrill$2.66176
178Centralia$2.41117
179Rickardsville$2.27204
180New Liberty$2.27141
181North Buena Vista$1.78107

The $8.10 limit

Leighton’s general levy is $8.02 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.08 below the limit.4 425 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $7.58 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.26 · FY26 $8.26 · FY27 $8.02 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $3.05 more5

  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$1.41 · $5,875
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.00 · $4,177
  • Debt Service Levy$0.52 · $2,184
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$0.11 · $462

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$33,36072%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$5,87513%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$4,1779%
  • Debt Service Levy$2,1845%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$4621%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Leighton’s budget goes, FY26

Public Works: 74¢ of every dollar74¢Public Safety: 13¢ of every dollar13¢General Government: 6¢ of every dollarCulture and Recreation: 4¢ of every dollarCommunity and Economic Development: 1¢ 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 181 Iowa cities closest in size (100–230 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (181)
Public Works74¢24¢
Public Safety13¢9¢
General Government6¢23¢
Culture and Recreation4¢8¢
Community and Economic Development1¢1¢
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$97,17067%
  • Public Safety$18,50013%
  • General Government$13,4009%
  • Culture and Recreation$9,8007%
  • Community and Economic Development$3,5002%
  • Debt Service$2,2322%
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$43,300$12,525
Public Safety$7,000$14,032
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$13,000$9,101
Debt Service$2,232$2,232
Culture and Recreation$5,419$22,761
Community and Economic Development$19,000$4,228
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$0$0

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$140,644
$52,214

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Leighton owes

$3,878 at June 30, 2026: $25 per resident. 716th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$26,730
$3,878
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$3,878$25
2025$5,868$37
2024$7,779$49
2023$9,615$61
2022$11,377$72
2021$13,070$83
2020$14,696$93
2019$16,257$103
2018$17,757$112
2017$19,271$122
2016$20,580$130
2015$21,908$139
2014$23,184$147
2013$24,409$154
2012$25,544$162
2011$25,559$162
2010$26,730$169
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$3,878$25
2025$5,868$37
2024$7,779$49
2023$9,615$61
2022$11,377$72
2021$13,070$83
2020$14,696$93
2019$16,257$103
2018$17,757$112
2017$19,271$122
2016$20,580$130
2015$21,908$139
2014$23,184$147
2013$24,409$154
2012$25,544$162
2011$25,559$162
2010$26,730$169

Down 85% since 2010.

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. Leighton’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Sunday, December 31, 2023 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Sunday, December 31, 2023 (PDF), released Friday, October 25, 2024, by the Auditor of State.

1 earlier report for Leighton

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: $14,501 in FY25, up 10% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 12% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$13,849$14,026$14,423$14,501

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.

$11,812
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$0
    FY21$0
    FY22$11,773
    FY23$11,812
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$0
    FY21$0
    FY22$11,773
    FY23$11,812
    FY24$0
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−12%$13,210 → $14,501, up 10% 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 62% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 29% more.

    $20,639

    Federal grants, for comparison: $10,000 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)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

    5 seats: the top 5 win.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Leighton; 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.

    • Leighton City Council At-Large (5 seats)
      Now held by Kenneth L. Ver Meer, Henry W. Van Roekel, Steven H. Nieuwsma, Kimberly A. Sytsma, Francis A. Ready
    • Leighton Mayor
      Now held by Andy Sytsma

    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

    Ken Rozenboom (Sen. 19)Barb Kniff McCulla (Rep. 37)

    U.S. House:District 1

    Mahaska CountyPella schools