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Local taxes › Monona County › Moorhead

City

Moorhead

Monona County · How cities work

$2,800 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($33.24 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,320 a yearof that goes to the city ($15.68 per $1,000)
$58,687property taxes the city levies, FY27
$178,600city 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.

  • Mary K. BeauchampMoorhead City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Todd O. HaugMoorhead Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Todd PrattMoorhead City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Tonia CopelandMoorhead City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Brad DelanceMoorhead City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • David N. KavasMoorhead 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 Moorhead

Homes and businesses in most of Moorhead pay a combined $33.24 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Monona County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $15.68. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$32.11$14.13
FY21$31.86$14.70
FY22$31.64$15.05
FY23$31.70$14.96
FY24$32.49$15.28
FY25$33.82$16.08
FY26$35.15$16.91
FY27$33.24$15.68
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$32.11$14.13
FY21$31.86$14.70
FY22$31.64$15.05
FY23$31.70$14.96
FY24$32.49$15.28
FY25$33.82$16.08
FY26$35.15$16.91
FY27$33.24$15.68

Compared with places this size3

Moorhead’s city property tax rate of $15.68 per $1,000 is the 34th highest of 203 Iowa cities with 120–280 people. The middle of the group is $11.37.

Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Fenton: $22.05Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Coin: $19.59Chester: $19.30Bouton: $19.25Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Cumberland: $18.42Jamaica: $18.24Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Pisgah: $17.09Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Prescott: $16.53Monmouth: $16.41Montour: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Little Sioux: $15.74Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Woodburn: $15.59Kamrar: $15.47Greeley: $15.23Goodell: $15.16Riverton: $14.94Marathon: $14.89Ladora: $14.74Magnolia: $14.68Bagley: $14.63Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Halbur: $14.37Crystal Lake: $14.36Steamboat Rock: $14.19Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Stockport: $13.68Kellerton: $13.60Quimby: $13.58Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Meservey: $13.43Leland: $13.31Harcourt: $13.21Calumet: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Silver City: $12.87Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Clemons: $12.69Blencoe: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Clearfield: $12.50Kensett: $12.47Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Bridgewater: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Cushing: $12.18Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Macedonia: $12.12Webb: $12.10Paton: $12.09Decatur: $12.08Kiron: $12.03Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92New Providence: $11.88Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Joice: $11.72Cantril: $11.69Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54Delta: $11.52College Springs: $11.44Holland: $11.37Mallard: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Frederika: $10.99Havelock: $10.95Alexander: $10.90Goose Lake: $10.89Yale: $10.85Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Hornick: $10.74Woden: $10.68Cleghorn: $10.49Barnes City: $10.44Lytton: $10.38Stockton: $10.37Rhodes: $10.36Randall: $10.35Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $10.28Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24Hancock: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Melvin: $10.05Defiance: $10.05Barnum: $9.96Panama: $9.85Grafton: $9.83Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Ionia: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Luxemburg: $9.58Superior: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Hamilton: $9.35Westphalia: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Welton: $8.86Luther: $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: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Lockridge: $7.92Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Mcclelland: $7.79Lidderdale: $7.68Pulaski: $7.58Fredonia: $7.55Braddyville: $7.49Harpers Ferry: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Franklin: $7.31Weldon: $7.18Brunsville: $6.95Packwood: $6.77Houghton: $6.73Williamson: $6.72Libertyville: $6.60Keswick: $6.49Crawfordsville: $6.44Gravity: $6.18Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Panorama Park: $4.62Sherrill: $2.66Rickardsville: $2.27New Liberty: $2.27Moorhead: $15.68$2.27 lowest$25.07 highestmiddle
See all 203
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Brayton$25.07138
2Harris$23.13145
3Fenton$22.05250
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
12Chester$19.30134
13Bouton$19.25125
14Garden Grove$19.20173
15Hastings$18.95157
16Swaledale$18.62136
17Cumberland$18.42248
18Jamaica$18.24196
19Hillsboro$17.68158
20Bristow$17.39139
21Woolstock$17.26141
22Pisgah$17.09248
23Lakota$16.84261
24Marble Rock$16.78258
25Auburn$16.65253
26Prescott$16.53186
27Monmouth$16.41129
28Montour$16.37199
29Geneva$16.25137
30Corwith$16.22259
31Deep River$16.18243
32Waucoma$16.17235
33Little Sioux$15.74170
34Moorhead$15.68186
35Onslow$15.63198
36Linden$15.62206
37Woodburn$15.59133
38Kamrar$15.47178
39Greeley$15.23216
40Goodell$15.16139
41Riverton$14.94243
42Marathon$14.89221
43Ladora$14.74223
44Magnolia$14.68194
45Bagley$14.63230
46Davis City$14.45178
47Lucas$14.40176
48Halbur$14.37268
49Crystal Lake$14.36243
50Steamboat Rock$14.19261
51Westgate$14.05190
52Palmer$13.89137
53Stockport$13.68272
54Kellerton$13.60241
55Quimby$13.58245
56Ayrshire$13.55128
57Searsboro$13.55129
58Meservey$13.43212
59Leland$13.31240
60Harcourt$13.21257
61Calumet$13.16144
62Ridgeway$13.10261
63Farmersburg$13.09264
64Portsmouth$13.05187
65Clutier$13.03209
66Silver City$12.87244
67Delaware$12.86139
68Patterson$12.84176
69Martelle$12.83250
70Malcom$12.82257
71Clemons$12.69135
72Blencoe$12.57223
73Maurice$12.56271
74Clearfield$12.50277
75Kensett$12.47256
76Millersburg$12.40135
77Aurora$12.40165
78Bridgewater$12.29145
79Blakesburg$12.21273
80Cushing$12.18225
81Hanlontown$12.17200
82Stout$12.14194
83Macedonia$12.12266
84Webb$12.10139
85Paton$12.09217
86Decatur$12.08174
87Kiron$12.03262
88Rembrandt$12.03199
89Shambaugh$11.98161
90Lone Rock$11.92143
91New Providence$11.88233
92Henderson$11.85140
93Parnell$11.78190
94Reasnor$11.76157
95Joice$11.72206
96Cantril$11.69224
97Wadena$11.65201
98Exline$11.60157
99Beaman$11.54155
100Delta$11.52257
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
111Havelock$10.95127
112Alexander$10.90165
113Goose Lake$10.89250
114Yale$10.85265
115Lambs Grove$10.78174
116Wallingford$10.75154
117Hornick$10.74255
118Woden$10.68183
119Cleghorn$10.49235
120Barnes City$10.44152
121Lytton$10.38274
122Stockton$10.37171
123Rhodes$10.36269
124Randall$10.35156
125Dedham$10.28221
126Deloit$10.28246
127Protivin$10.28264
128Meriden$10.28175
129Drakesville$10.24170
130Hancock$10.13199
131La Motte$10.09235
132Melvin$10.05196
133Defiance$10.05248
134Barnum$9.96186
135Panama$9.85234
136Grafton$9.83212
137Clare$9.81133
138Tingley$9.81146
139Ionia$9.65220
140Van Wert$9.62175
141Rock Falls$9.61143
142Kirkville$9.59159
143Luxemburg$9.58240
144Superior$9.58127
145Rippey$9.42217
146Hamilton$9.35125
147Westphalia$9.18133
148Elberon$9.16178
149Dixon$9.03204
150Blairsburg$8.93175
151Prairieburg$8.91156
152Oakville$8.89198
153Welton$8.86124
154Luther$8.83147
155Harvey$8.71242
156Washta$8.65206
157Moorland$8.61169
158Pilot Mound$8.54155
159Ollie$8.44196
160Thor$8.38182
161Rowley$8.31264
162South English$8.27196
163Thurman$8.26162
164Boxholm$8.11177
165Bertram$8.10267
166Fostoria$8.10229
167Low Moor$8.10242
168Laurel$8.10214
169Lineville$8.10194
170Vincent$8.09125
171Lockridge$7.92245
172Mount Auburn$7.86162
173Haverhill$7.86164
174Grand River$7.86192
175Olds$7.86174
176Castalia$7.86141
177Dickens$7.86146
178Rose Hill$7.86156
179West Chester$7.82147
180Mcclelland$7.79147
181Lidderdale$7.68162
182Pulaski$7.58259
183Fredonia$7.55227
184Braddyville$7.49142
185Harpers Ferry$7.49273
186Alvord$7.41216
187Franklin$7.31133
188Weldon$7.18134
189Brunsville$6.95128
190Packwood$6.77186
191Houghton$6.73129
192Williamson$6.72126
193Libertyville$6.60278
194Keswick$6.49238
195Crawfordsville$6.44278
196Gravity$6.18149
197Oakland Acres$5.88178
198Springbrook$5.79145
199Maysville$5.77155
200Panorama Park$4.62142
201Sherrill$2.66176
202Rickardsville$2.27204
203New Liberty$2.27141

The $8.10 limit

Moorhead’s general levy is $7.93 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.17 below the limit.4 507 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.37 · FY26 $8.37 · FY27 $7.93 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $7.75 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$7.75 · $28,459

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$29,09551%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$28,45949%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Moorhead’s budget goes, FY26

Public Works: 30¢ of every dollar30¢General Government: 29¢ of every dollar29¢Business Type / Enterprise: 27¢ of every dollar27¢Culture and Recreation: 7¢ of every dollarPublic Safety: 5¢ of every dollarEverything else: 2¢ 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 201 Iowa cities closest in size (120–280 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (201)
Public Works30¢24¢
General Government29¢21¢
Business Type / Enterprise27¢32¢
Culture and Recreation7¢8¢
Public Safety5¢9¢
Everything else2¢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.

  • General Government$75,05042%
  • Public Works$72,00040%
  • Culture and Recreation$14,0008%
  • Public Safety$13,5008%
  • Community and Economic Development$2,3501%
  • Health and Social Services$1,7001%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($70,000 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$56,900$120,880
Public Safety$12,000$25,898
Health and Social Services$1,700$1,615
General Government$51,784$53,681
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$11,250$8,726
Community and Economic Development$900$506
Capital Projects$0$22,477
Business Type / Enterprise$52,500$40,925

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$274,708
$211,908

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Moorhead owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.7

$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% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $405,394 (5% of $8.1M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. Moorhead’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2019 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Sunday, June 30, 2019 (PDF), released Thursday, December 19, 2019, by a CPA firm.

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? 11

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: $26,016 in FY25, down 3% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 22% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$25,759$25,264$25,882$26,016

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.

$1,131
  • State grants$1,131100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$0
FY20$0
FY21$0
FY22$1,027
FY23$0
FY24$0
FY25$1,131
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$0
FY20$0
FY21$0
FY22$1,027
FY23$0
FY24$0
FY25$1,131

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−22%$26,686 → $26,016, down 3% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 22% 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 35% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 8% more.

$26,001
$24,729

Federal grants, for comparison: $15,251 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)12.

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 Moorhead; 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.

  • Moorhead City Council At-Large (2 seats)
    Now held by David N. Kavas, Brad Delance
  • Moorhead Mayor
    Now held by Todd O. Haug

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here13.

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 ballot14.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress15

Kevin Alons (Sen. 7)Travis M. Sitzmann (Rep. 13)

U.S. House:District 4

Monona CountyWest Harrison schools