Display
Language
About accessibility
Language
Display
Sign in

Local taxes › Monroe County › Lovilia

City

Lovilia

Monroe County · How cities work

$2,910 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($34.50 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$880 a yearof that goes to the city ($10.46 per $1,000)
$108,032property taxes the city levies, FY27
$154,400city 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.

  • Bernie MyersLovilia City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Brandi ManserLovilia Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Dan KimballLovilia City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Debbie Brown (Write-In)Lovilia City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jacquelyn PostLovilia City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Josh DykstraLovilia City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Justin LangLovilia 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 Lovilia

Homes and businesses in most of Lovilia pay a combined $34.50 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Monroe County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $10.46. Estimate your bill.

  • Albia schools$12.9538%
  • City of Lovilia$10.4630%
  • Monroe County$5.7917%
  • Monroe County Hospital$3.009%
  • Indian Hills Community College$1.244%
  • Monroe County Assessor$0.752%
  • Monroe County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.31<1%

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$37.66$10.43
FY21$35.75$9.89
FY22$35.01$10.30
FY23$33.88$9.27
FY24$32.96$9.23
FY25$33.02$9.85
FY26$34.53$10.21
FY27$34.50$10.46
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$37.66$10.43
FY21$35.75$9.89
FY22$35.01$10.30
FY23$33.88$9.27
FY24$32.96$9.23
FY25$33.02$9.85
FY26$34.53$10.21
FY27$34.50$10.46

Compared with places this size3

Lovilia’s city property tax rate of $10.46 per $1,000 is the 40th lowest of 178 Iowa cities with 300–680 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: $16.01Minden: $15.77Minburn: $15.75Walker: $15.74Peterson: $15.27Russell: $15.18Stanwood: $15.12Zearing: $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: $13.55Lawler: $13.39Lacona: $13.38Ute: $13.26New Market: $13.25Plymouth: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Anthon: $13.05Little Rock: $13.03Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Brighton: $12.88Goldfield: $12.73Delmar: $12.68Galva: $12.68Badger: $12.67Martensdale: $12.63Stanton: $12.62Norway: $12.53Everly: $12.51Mccausland: $12.45Spillville: $12.40Mingo: $12.31Alburnett: $12.30Brandon: $12.29Moravia: $12.27Bonaparte: $12.17Hawkeye: $12.11Colesburg: $11.97Albert City: $11.88Thornton: $11.86Runnells: $11.79Allerton: $11.72Kelley: $11.69Orient: $11.66Ellsworth: $11.57Battle Creek: $11.49Terril: $11.48Churdan: $11.31Miles: $11.28Sutherland: $11.25Arcadia: $11.23Milton: $10.98Ireton: $10.93New Vienna: $10.91Letts: $10.91Fontanelle: $10.88Birmingham: $10.87Charlotte: $10.86Richland: $10.82Grand Mound: $10.78Batavia: $10.77Riverdale: $10.67Bode: $10.64Union: $10.58Calamus: $10.47Danbury: $10.43Radcliffe: $10.37Stacyville: $10.36Andrew: $10.22Royal: $10.20Rudd: $10.13What Cheer: $10.01Cumming: $9.85Breda: $9.80Doon: $9.78Lynnville: $9.68Farnhamville: $9.18Middletown: $9.16Alleman: $9.12Lester: $8.94Crescent: $8.72Ainsworth: $8.62Gilman: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Kellogg: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Nichols: $8.10Agency: $7.94Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Beacon: $7.56Sheldahl: $7.56Worthington: $7.50Marquette: $7.08Columbus City: $6.94Donahue: $6.83Keystone: $6.80New Virginia: $5.97Holy Cross: $5.91Conesville: $5.86University Park: $5.27Orleans: $4.13Wahpeton: $3.19West Okoboji: $2.92Lovilia: $10.46$2.92 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 178
#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
43Minden$15.77581
44Minburn$15.75317
45Walker$15.74671
46Peterson$15.27321
47Russell$15.18475
48Stanwood$15.12612
49Zearing$14.99508
50Arlington$14.98415
51Maynard$14.85466
52Plainfield$14.84392
53Ryan$14.84348
54Otho$14.82417
55Wyoming$14.81526
56Humeston$14.80472
57Hopkinton$14.79622
58Gilmore City$14.60484
59Sabula$14.38498
60Garrison$14.38345
61Lorimor$14.36377
62Collins$14.32503
63Clermont$14.30571
64Moulton$14.25596
65Ocheyedan$14.22424
66Olin$14.19652
67Garwin$14.08469
68Farragut$14.07480
69Elgin$14.05676
70Mystic$14.01318
71Lime Springs$13.95467
72Dow City$13.94477
73Wesley$13.91382
74Diagonal$13.91331
75Bussey$13.83378
76Mondamin$13.82335
77Livermore$13.78382
78Albion$13.58444
79Lamont$13.57429
80New Albin$13.55435
81Lawler$13.39392
82Lacona$13.38336
83Ute$13.26326
84New Market$13.25381
85Plymouth$13.21368
86Bennett$13.16330
87Quasqueton$13.12587
88Farmington$13.10583
89Anthon$13.05534
90Little Rock$13.03447
91Lehigh$12.97395
92Menlo$12.92347
93Templeton$12.91337
94Brighton$12.88592
95Goldfield$12.73617
96Delmar$12.68541
97Galva$12.68416
98Badger$12.67540
99Martensdale$12.63413
100Stanton$12.62664
101Norway$12.53463
102Everly$12.51570
103Mccausland$12.45314
104Spillville$12.40371
105Mingo$12.31314
106Alburnett$12.30672
107Brandon$12.29331
108Moravia$12.27625
109Bonaparte$12.17357
110Hawkeye$12.11429
111Colesburg$11.97379
112Albert City$11.88627
113Thornton$11.86394
114Runnells$11.79467
115Allerton$11.72432
116Kelley$11.69312
117Orient$11.66363
118Ellsworth$11.57495
119Battle Creek$11.49683
120Terril$11.48310
121Churdan$11.31359
122Miles$11.28400
123Sutherland$11.25628
124Arcadia$11.23588
125Milton$10.98395
126Ireton$10.93571
127New Vienna$10.91384
128Letts$10.91358
129Fontanelle$10.88684
130Birmingham$10.87371
131Charlotte$10.86386
132Richland$10.82532
133Grand Mound$10.78608
134Batavia$10.77434
135Riverdale$10.67385
136Bode$10.64304
137Union$10.58378
138Calamus$10.47348
139Lovilia$10.46456
140Danbury$10.43315
141Radcliffe$10.37540
142Stacyville$10.36436
143Andrew$10.22374
144Royal$10.20379
145Rudd$10.13339
146What Cheer$10.01595
147Cumming$9.85527
148Breda$9.80492
149Doon$9.78640
150Lynnville$9.68382
151Farnhamville$9.18364
152Middletown$9.16365
153Alleman$9.12439
154Lester$8.94309
155Crescent$8.72626
156Ainsworth$8.62511
157Gilman$8.10530
158Grandview$8.10431
159Kellogg$8.10597
160Lost Nation$8.10425
161Nichols$8.10317
162Agency$7.94623
163Delhi$7.81438
164Klemme$7.74429
165Beacon$7.56434
166Sheldahl$7.56312
167Worthington$7.50374
168Marquette$7.08434
169Columbus City$6.94385
170Donahue$6.83336
171Keystone$6.80616
172New Virginia$5.97499
173Holy Cross$5.91348
174Conesville$5.86350
175University Park$5.27476
176Orleans$4.13503
177Wahpeton$3.19337
178West Okoboji$2.92311

The $8.10 limit

Lovilia’s general levy is $8.10 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, at the limit.4 247 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $7.94 · FY26 $8.10 · FY27 $8.10 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $2.36 more5

  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.41 · $14,566
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$0.95 · $9,798

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$83,57777%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$14,56613%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$9,7989%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Lovilia’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 82¢ of every dollar82¢Public Works: 7¢ of every dollarGeneral Government: 5¢ of every dollarPublic Safety: 3¢ 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 177 Iowa cities closest in size (300–680 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (177)
Business Type / Enterprise82¢40¢
Public Works7¢18¢
General Government5¢14¢
Public Safety3¢9¢
Culture and Recreation3¢9¢
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.

  • General Government$68,49044%
  • Culture and Recreation$48,30031%
  • Public Safety$37,61024%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($1.3M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$95,024$26,818
Public Safety$37,450$42,049
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$62,615$41,008
Debt Service$7,140$7,051
Culture and Recreation$34,575$28,353
Community and Economic Development$12,250$2,455
Capital Projects$0$2,010
Business Type / Enterprise$767,096$353,369

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$522,787
$505,776

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Lovilia owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.7

$606,566
$0
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$36,000$76
2021$71,000$150
2020$105,000$222
2019$138,000$292
2018$183,623$389
2017$251,348$533
2016$316,396$670
2015$394,254$835
2014$440,739$934
2013$497,708$1,054
2012$553,641$1,173
2011$606,566$1,285
2010$576,124$1,221
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$36,000$76
2021$71,000$150
2020$105,000$222
2019$138,000$292
2018$183,623$389
2017$251,348$533
2016$316,396$670
2015$394,254$835
2014$440,739$934
2013$497,708$1,054
2012$553,641$1,173
2011$606,566$1,285
2010$576,124$1,221

Down 100% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $1.1M (5% of $21.4M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. Lovilia’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Monday, March 31, 2025 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Monday, March 31, 2025 (PDF), released Monday, March 16, 2026, by a CPA firm.

1 earlier report for Lovilia

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: $60,866 in FY25, down 12% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 30% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$66,892$59,419$60,536$60,866

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−30%$69,502 → $60,866, down 12% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 30% 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 75% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 40% more.

$119,184
$63,928

Federal grants, for comparison: $37,927 in FY22.

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)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 · 3

2 seats: the top 2 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Lovilia; 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.

  • Lovilia City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Josh Dykstra, Justin Lang, Jacquelyn Post
  • Lovilia Mayor
    Now held by Brandi Manser

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

Cherielynn Westrich (Sen. 13)Austin Harris (Rep. 26)

U.S. House:District 3

Monroe CountyAlbia schools