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Local taxes › Mahaska County › University Park

City

University Park

Mahaska County · How cities work

$2,350 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($27.86 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$440 a yearof that goes to the city ($5.27 per $1,000)
$69,006property taxes the city levies, FY27
$254,000city budget, all funds, FY272

Who runs it

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

  • George ToubekisUniversity Park Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Josh NicklausUniversity Park City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Mike AndersenUniversity Park City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Joseph L. AlbrightUniversity Park City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Kevin HladikUniversity Park 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 University Park

Homes and businesses in most of University Park pay a combined $27.86 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, $5.27. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$30.45$6.52
FY21$31.06$6.52
FY22$30.06$6.22
FY23$28.91$5.75
FY24$28.78$5.83
FY25$28.60$5.49
FY26$28.85$5.43
FY27$27.86$5.27
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$30.45$6.52
FY21$31.06$6.52
FY22$30.06$6.22
FY23$28.91$5.75
FY24$28.78$5.83
FY25$28.60$5.49
FY26$28.85$5.43
FY27$27.86$5.27

Compared with places this size3

University Park’s city property tax rate of $5.27 per $1,000 is the 3rd lowest of 182 Iowa cities with 320–710 people. The middle of the group is $13.04.

Stanhope: $29.10Rolfe: $22.67Elliott: $21.61Charter Oak: $21.32Oxford Junction: $20.84Earling: $20.47Pomeroy: $19.60Salem: $19.15Dumont: $19.04Seymour: $18.78Dexter: $18.69Fonda: $18.52Massena: $18.23Kanawha: $18.11Swea City: $18.04Elma: $17.82Callender: $17.78Casey: $17.72Dows: $17.70New Hartford: $17.69Vail: $17.66Ringsted: $17.65Emerson: $17.54Murray: $17.44Thompson: $17.25Ashton: $17.17Pierson: $17.12Burt: $17.10Latimer: $16.96Lohrville: $16.95Elk Horn: $16.78Mccallsburg: $16.58Whittemore: $16.54Bancroft: $16.52Irwin: $16.46Titonka: $16.45Early: $16.35Truro: $16.34Lewis: $16.25Duncombe: $16.10Bayard: $16.05Scranton: $16.01Ruthven: $15.84Minden: $15.77Walker: $15.74Peterson: $15.27Russell: $15.18Stanwood: $15.12Stratford: $15.03Zearing: $14.99Arlington: $14.98Maynard: $14.85Plainfield: $14.84Ryan: $14.84Otho: $14.82Wyoming: $14.81Humeston: $14.80Hopkinton: $14.79Gilmore City: $14.60Sabula: $14.38Garrison: $14.38Lorimor: $14.36Collins: $14.32Clermont: $14.30Moulton: $14.25Ocheyedan: $14.22Olin: $14.19Garwin: $14.08Farragut: $14.07Elgin: $14.05Mystic: $14.01Lime Springs: $13.95Dow City: $13.94Wesley: $13.91Diagonal: $13.91Bussey: $13.83Mondamin: $13.82Livermore: $13.78Albion: $13.58Lamont: $13.57New Albin: $13.55Boyden: $13.39Lawler: $13.39Lacona: $13.38Ute: $13.26New Market: $13.25Plymouth: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Anthon: $13.05Little Rock: $13.03Coggon: $12.99Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Earlville: $12.90Brighton: $12.88Goldfield: $12.73Wellsburg: $12.68Delmar: $12.68Galva: $12.68Badger: $12.67Martensdale: $12.63Stanton: $12.62Hospers: $12.58Norway: $12.53Everly: $12.51Hazleton: $12.48Spillville: $12.40Alburnett: $12.30Brandon: $12.29Moravia: $12.27Bonaparte: $12.17Schaller: $12.14Hawkeye: $12.11Colesburg: $11.97Albert City: $11.88Thornton: $11.86Runnells: $11.79Allerton: $11.72Orient: $11.66Merrill: $11.64Ellsworth: $11.57Morning Sun: $11.50Battle Creek: $11.49Churdan: $11.31Miles: $11.28Sutherland: $11.25Arcadia: $11.23Blairstown: $11.04Milton: $10.98Ireton: $10.93New Vienna: $10.91Letts: $10.91Fontanelle: $10.88Birmingham: $10.87Charlotte: $10.86Richland: $10.82Grand Mound: $10.78Batavia: $10.77Riverdale: $10.67Union: $10.58Calamus: $10.47Lovilia: $10.46Radcliffe: $10.37Stacyville: $10.36Ventura: $10.22Andrew: $10.22Royal: $10.20Rudd: $10.13What Cheer: $10.01Cumming: $9.85Breda: $9.80Doon: $9.78Lynnville: $9.68Farnhamville: $9.18Middletown: $9.16Alleman: $9.12Crescent: $8.72Ainsworth: $8.62Gilman: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Kellogg: $8.10Lakeside: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Agency: $7.94Fremont: $7.86Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Beacon: $7.56Worthington: $7.50Marquette: $7.08Columbus City: $6.94Donahue: $6.83Keystone: $6.80New Virginia: $5.97Holy Cross: $5.91Conesville: $5.86Orleans: $4.13Wahpeton: $3.19University Park: $5.27$3.19 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 182
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Stanhope$29.10354
2Rolfe$22.67505
3Elliott$21.61328
4Charter Oak$21.32521
5Oxford Junction$20.84424
6Earling$20.47394
7Pomeroy$19.60511
8Salem$19.15380
9Dumont$19.04614
10Seymour$18.78646
11Dexter$18.69631
12Fonda$18.52636
13Massena$18.23352
14Kanawha$18.11638
15Swea City$18.04545
16Elma$17.82493
17Callender$17.78361
18Casey$17.72387
19Dows$17.70509
20New Hartford$17.69555
21Vail$17.66383
22Ringsted$17.65346
23Emerson$17.54401
24Murray$17.44609
25Thompson$17.25478
26Ashton$17.17434
27Pierson$17.12335
28Burt$17.10404
29Latimer$16.96477
30Lohrville$16.95366
31Elk Horn$16.78631
32Mccallsburg$16.58356
33Whittemore$16.54478
34Bancroft$16.52677
35Irwin$16.46320
36Titonka$16.45491
37Early$16.35571
38Truro$16.34515
39Lewis$16.25358
40Duncombe$16.10374
41Bayard$16.05402
42Scranton$16.01496
43Ruthven$15.84710
44Minden$15.77581
45Walker$15.74671
46Peterson$15.27321
47Russell$15.18475
48Stanwood$15.12612
49Stratford$15.03688
50Zearing$14.99508
51Arlington$14.98415
52Maynard$14.85466
53Plainfield$14.84392
54Ryan$14.84348
55Otho$14.82417
56Wyoming$14.81526
57Humeston$14.80472
58Hopkinton$14.79622
59Gilmore City$14.60484
60Sabula$14.38498
61Garrison$14.38345
62Lorimor$14.36377
63Collins$14.32503
64Clermont$14.30571
65Moulton$14.25596
66Ocheyedan$14.22424
67Olin$14.19652
68Garwin$14.08469
69Farragut$14.07480
70Elgin$14.05676
71Mystic$14.01318
72Lime Springs$13.95467
73Dow City$13.94477
74Wesley$13.91382
75Diagonal$13.91331
76Bussey$13.83378
77Mondamin$13.82335
78Livermore$13.78382
79Albion$13.58444
80Lamont$13.57429
81New Albin$13.55435
82Boyden$13.39694
83Lawler$13.39392
84Lacona$13.38336
85Ute$13.26326
86New Market$13.25381
87Plymouth$13.21368
88Bennett$13.16330
89Quasqueton$13.12587
90Farmington$13.10583
91Anthon$13.05534
92Little Rock$13.03447
93Coggon$12.99691
94Lehigh$12.97395
95Menlo$12.92347
96Templeton$12.91337
97Earlville$12.90713
98Brighton$12.88592
99Goldfield$12.73617
100Wellsburg$12.68709
101Delmar$12.68541
102Galva$12.68416
103Badger$12.67540
104Martensdale$12.63413
105Stanton$12.62664
106Hospers$12.58703
107Norway$12.53463
108Everly$12.51570
109Hazleton$12.48711
110Spillville$12.40371
111Alburnett$12.30672
112Brandon$12.29331
113Moravia$12.27625
114Bonaparte$12.17357
115Schaller$12.14702
116Hawkeye$12.11429
117Colesburg$11.97379
118Albert City$11.88627
119Thornton$11.86394
120Runnells$11.79467
121Allerton$11.72432
122Orient$11.66363
123Merrill$11.64713
124Ellsworth$11.57495
125Morning Sun$11.50702
126Battle Creek$11.49683
127Churdan$11.31359
128Miles$11.28400
129Sutherland$11.25628
130Arcadia$11.23588
131Blairstown$11.04705
132Milton$10.98395
133Ireton$10.93571
134New Vienna$10.91384
135Letts$10.91358
136Fontanelle$10.88684
137Birmingham$10.87371
138Charlotte$10.86386
139Richland$10.82532
140Grand Mound$10.78608
141Batavia$10.77434
142Riverdale$10.67385
143Union$10.58378
144Calamus$10.47348
145Lovilia$10.46456
146Radcliffe$10.37540
147Stacyville$10.36436
148Ventura$10.22701
149Andrew$10.22374
150Royal$10.20379
151Rudd$10.13339
152What Cheer$10.01595
153Cumming$9.85527
154Breda$9.80492
155Doon$9.78640
156Lynnville$9.68382
157Farnhamville$9.18364
158Middletown$9.16365
159Alleman$9.12439
160Crescent$8.72626
161Ainsworth$8.62511
162Gilman$8.10530
163Grandview$8.10431
164Kellogg$8.10597
165Lakeside$8.10695
166Lost Nation$8.10425
167Agency$7.94623
168Fremont$7.86688
169Delhi$7.81438
170Klemme$7.74429
171Beacon$7.56434
172Worthington$7.50374
173Marquette$7.08434
174Columbus City$6.94385
175Donahue$6.83336
176Keystone$6.80616
177New Virginia$5.97499
178Holy Cross$5.91348
179Conesville$5.86350
180University Park$5.27476
181Orleans$4.13503
182Wahpeton$3.19337

The $8.10 limit

University Park’s general levy is $5.27 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $2.83 below the limit.4 903 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $5.75 · FY24 $5.83 · FY25 $5.49 · FY26 $5.43 · FY27 $5.27 (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$68,256100%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of University Park’s budget goes, FY26

Public Safety: 36¢ of every dollar36¢Public Works: 28¢ of every dollar28¢General Government: 24¢ of every dollar24¢Culture and Recreation: 8¢ of every dollar8¢Community and Economic Development: 3¢ 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 (320–710 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (181)
Public Safety36¢9¢
Public Works28¢18¢
General Government24¢13¢
Culture and Recreation8¢9¢
Community and Economic Development3¢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$79,50031%
  • Public Safety$67,70027%
  • Culture and Recreation$60,00024%
  • General Government$36,80014%
  • Community and Economic Development$10,0004%
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$197,200$28,447
Public Safety$60,500$47,013
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$30,300$35,305
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$49,000$106,032
Community and Economic Development$4,000$6,545
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$0$0

What it spent each year

FY24 left out5

$904,625
$275,419

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What University Park owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.6

$0
$0
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
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$0$0
2025$0$0
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

The 5% limit7

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $1.2M (5% of $24.0M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. University Park’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Thursday, March 31, 2022 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Thursday, March 31, 2022 (PDF), released Monday, December 12, 2022, by a CPA firm.

1 earlier report for University Park

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: $55,734 in FY25, up 12% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 11% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$53,258$53,928$55,433$55,734

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.

$962,918
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$962,918
    FY20$49,998
    FY21$0
    FY22$0
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$962,918
    FY20$49,998
    FY21$0
    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)−11%$49,772 → $55,734, up 12% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 11% 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 66% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 32% more.

    $68,156
    $65,948

    Federal grants, for comparison: $35,063 in FY23.

    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

    2 seats: the top 2 win.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for University Park; 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.

    • University Park City Council At-Large (2 seats)
      Now held by Joseph L. Albright, Kevin Hladik
    • University Park Mayor
      Now held by George Toubekis

    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

    Adrian Dickey (Sen. 44)Helena Hayes (Rep. 88)

    U.S. House:District 1

    Mahaska CountyOskaloosa schools