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Local taxes › Muscatine County › Nichols

City

Nichols

Muscatine County · How cities work

$2,530 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($30.00 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$680 a yearof that goes to the city ($8.10 per $1,000)
$69,718property taxes the city levies, FY27
$241,310city 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.

  • Cynthia MasseyNichols Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jay HoraNichols City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Kelsie LampeNichols City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Matthew Thomas Reimers JrNichols City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Russell E. GrimNichols City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Todd MahanNichols City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Cynthia MasseyNichols City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • John J. HudsonNichols 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 Nichols

Homes and businesses in most of Nichols pay a combined $30.00 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Muscatine County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $8.10. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$32.94$8.10
FY21$31.34$8.10
FY22$27.63$8.10
FY23$26.50$8.10
FY24$28.95$8.10
FY25$26.53$8.10
FY26$29.31$7.86
FY27$30.00$8.10
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$32.94$8.10
FY21$31.34$8.10
FY22$27.63$8.10
FY23$26.50$8.10
FY24$28.95$8.10
FY25$26.53$8.10
FY26$29.31$7.86
FY27$30.00$8.10

Compared with places this size3

Nichols’s city property tax rate of $8.10 per $1,000 is the 24th lowest of 199 Iowa cities with 210–480 people. The middle of the group is $12.34.

Stanhope: $29.10Fenton: $22.05Coulter: $21.80Elliott: $21.61Oxford Junction: $20.84Earling: $20.47Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Fort Atkinson: $19.19Salem: $19.15Cumberland: $18.42Massena: $18.23Callender: $17.78Casey: $17.72Vail: $17.66Ringsted: $17.65Emerson: $17.54Ashton: $17.17Pierson: $17.12Burt: $17.10Pisgah: $17.09Lohrville: $16.95Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Mccallsburg: $16.58Irwin: $16.46Lewis: $16.25Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Duncombe: $16.10Bayard: $16.05Granville: $16.00Minburn: $15.75Peterson: $15.27Greeley: $15.23Russell: $15.18Arlington: $14.98Riverton: $14.94Marathon: $14.89Maynard: $14.85Plainfield: $14.84Ryan: $14.84Otho: $14.82Humeston: $14.80Ladora: $14.74Bagley: $14.63Garrison: $14.38Halbur: $14.37Lorimor: $14.36Crystal Lake: $14.36Kimballton: $14.27Ocheyedan: $14.22Steamboat Rock: $14.19Garwin: $14.08Mystic: $14.01Lime Springs: $13.95Wesley: $13.91Diagonal: $13.91Bussey: $13.83Mondamin: $13.82Livermore: $13.78Fertile: $13.70Stockport: $13.68Kellerton: $13.60Albion: $13.58Quimby: $13.58Lamont: $13.57New Albin: $13.55Meservey: $13.43Persia: $13.41Lawler: $13.39Lacona: $13.38Leland: $13.31Ute: $13.26New Market: $13.25Plymouth: $13.21Harcourt: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Little Rock: $13.03Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Silver City: $12.87Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Galva: $12.68Martensdale: $12.63Blencoe: $12.57Williams: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Norway: $12.53Clearfield: $12.50Kensett: $12.47Mccausland: $12.45Spillville: $12.40Modale: $12.34Mingo: $12.31Brandon: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Cushing: $12.18Bonaparte: $12.17Macedonia: $12.12Hawkeye: $12.11Paton: $12.09Kiron: $12.03Colesburg: $11.97Liscomb: $11.96New Providence: $11.88Thornton: $11.86Runnells: $11.79Allerton: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Cantril: $11.69Kelley: $11.69Orient: $11.66Cincinnati: $11.57Delta: $11.52Terril: $11.48Westside: $11.45Holland: $11.37Churdan: $11.31Mallard: $11.28Miles: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Milton: $10.98New Vienna: $10.91Letts: $10.91Goose Lake: $10.89Birmingham: $10.87Charlotte: $10.86Yale: $10.85Batavia: $10.77Hornick: $10.74Riverdale: $10.67Bode: $10.64Union: $10.58Cleghorn: $10.49Calamus: $10.47Lovilia: $10.46Danbury: $10.43Lytton: $10.38Stacyville: $10.36Rhodes: $10.36Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $10.28Andrew: $10.22Royal: $10.20Bronson: $10.14Rudd: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Defiance: $10.05Floyd: $10.02Panama: $9.85Grafton: $9.83Lynnville: $9.68Ionia: $9.65Salix: $9.63Luxemburg: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Farnhamville: $9.18Middletown: $9.16Alleman: $9.12Lester: $8.94Harvey: $8.71Rowley: $8.31Bertram: $8.10Fostoria: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Luana: $7.98Lockridge: $7.92Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Pulaski: $7.58Beacon: $7.56Sheldahl: $7.56Fredonia: $7.55Worthington: $7.50Harpers Ferry: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Marquette: $7.08Columbus City: $6.94Donahue: $6.83Libertyville: $6.60Keswick: $6.49Crawfordsville: $6.44Holy Cross: $5.91Conesville: $5.86Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87Wahpeton: $3.19West Okoboji: $2.92Nichols: $8.10$2.92 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 199
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Stanhope$29.10354
2Fenton$22.05250
3Coulter$21.80220
4Elliott$21.61328
5Oxford Junction$20.84424
6Earling$20.47394
7Alta Vista$19.88219
8Arthur$19.86218
9Fort Atkinson$19.19300
10Salem$19.15380
11Cumberland$18.42248
12Massena$18.23352
13Callender$17.78361
14Casey$17.72387
15Vail$17.66383
16Ringsted$17.65346
17Emerson$17.54401
18Ashton$17.17434
19Pierson$17.12335
20Burt$17.10404
21Pisgah$17.09248
22Lohrville$16.95366
23Lakota$16.84261
24Marble Rock$16.78258
25Auburn$16.65253
26Mccallsburg$16.58356
27Irwin$16.46320
28Lewis$16.25358
29Corwith$16.22259
30Deep River$16.18243
31Waucoma$16.17235
32Duncombe$16.10374
33Bayard$16.05402
34Granville$16.00302
35Minburn$15.75317
36Peterson$15.27321
37Greeley$15.23216
38Russell$15.18475
39Arlington$14.98415
40Riverton$14.94243
41Marathon$14.89221
42Maynard$14.85466
43Plainfield$14.84392
44Ryan$14.84348
45Otho$14.82417
46Humeston$14.80472
47Ladora$14.74223
48Bagley$14.63230
49Garrison$14.38345
50Halbur$14.37268
51Lorimor$14.36377
52Crystal Lake$14.36243
53Kimballton$14.27281
54Ocheyedan$14.22424
55Steamboat Rock$14.19261
56Garwin$14.08469
57Mystic$14.01318
58Lime Springs$13.95467
59Wesley$13.91382
60Diagonal$13.91331
61Bussey$13.83378
62Mondamin$13.82335
63Livermore$13.78382
64Fertile$13.70300
65Stockport$13.68272
66Kellerton$13.60241
67Albion$13.58444
68Quimby$13.58245
69Lamont$13.57429
70New Albin$13.55435
71Meservey$13.43212
72Persia$13.41292
73Lawler$13.39392
74Lacona$13.38336
75Leland$13.31240
76Ute$13.26326
77New Market$13.25381
78Plymouth$13.21368
79Harcourt$13.21257
80Bennett$13.16330
81Ridgeway$13.10261
82Farmersburg$13.09264
83Little Rock$13.03447
84Lehigh$12.97395
85Menlo$12.92347
86Templeton$12.91337
87Silver City$12.87244
88Martelle$12.83250
89Malcom$12.82257
90Galva$12.68416
91Martensdale$12.63413
92Blencoe$12.57223
93Williams$12.57299
94Maurice$12.56271
95Norway$12.53463
96Clearfield$12.50277
97Kensett$12.47256
98Mccausland$12.45314
99Spillville$12.40371
100Modale$12.34284
101Mingo$12.31314
102Brandon$12.29331
103Blakesburg$12.21273
104Cushing$12.18225
105Bonaparte$12.17357
106Macedonia$12.12266
107Hawkeye$12.11429
108Paton$12.09217
109Kiron$12.03262
110Colesburg$11.97379
111Liscomb$11.96292
112New Providence$11.88233
113Thornton$11.86394
114Runnells$11.79467
115Allerton$11.72432
116Atalissa$11.71287
117Cantril$11.69224
118Kelley$11.69312
119Orient$11.66363
120Cincinnati$11.57280
121Delta$11.52257
122Terril$11.48310
123Westside$11.45283
124Holland$11.37261
125Churdan$11.31359
126Mallard$11.28255
127Miles$11.28400
128Renwick$11.16228
129Milton$10.98395
130New Vienna$10.91384
131Letts$10.91358
132Goose Lake$10.89250
133Birmingham$10.87371
134Charlotte$10.86386
135Yale$10.85265
136Batavia$10.77434
137Hornick$10.74255
138Riverdale$10.67385
139Bode$10.64304
140Union$10.58378
141Cleghorn$10.49235
142Calamus$10.47348
143Lovilia$10.46456
144Danbury$10.43315
145Lytton$10.38274
146Stacyville$10.36436
147Rhodes$10.36269
148Dedham$10.28221
149Deloit$10.28246
150Protivin$10.28264
151Andrew$10.22374
152Royal$10.20379
153Bronson$10.14294
154Rudd$10.13339
155La Motte$10.09235
156Defiance$10.05248
157Floyd$10.02297
158Panama$9.85234
159Grafton$9.83212
160Lynnville$9.68382
161Ionia$9.65220
162Salix$9.63303
163Luxemburg$9.58240
164Rippey$9.42217
165Farnhamville$9.18364
166Middletown$9.16365
167Alleman$9.12439
168Lester$8.94309
169Harvey$8.71242
170Rowley$8.31264
171Bertram$8.10267
172Fostoria$8.10229
173Grandview$8.10431
174Lost Nation$8.10425
175Low Moor$8.10242
176Nichols$8.10317
177Laurel$8.10214
178Luana$7.98303
179Lockridge$7.92245
180Delhi$7.81438
181Klemme$7.74429
182Pulaski$7.58259
183Beacon$7.56434
184Sheldahl$7.56312
185Fredonia$7.55227
186Worthington$7.50374
187Harpers Ferry$7.49273
188Alvord$7.41216
189Marquette$7.08434
190Columbus City$6.94385
191Donahue$6.83336
192Libertyville$6.60278
193Keswick$6.49238
194Crawfordsville$6.44278
195Holy Cross$5.91348
196Conesville$5.86350
197Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
198Wahpeton$3.19337
199West Okoboji$2.92311

The $8.10 limit

Nichols’s general levy is $8.10 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, at the limit.4 368 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.10 · FY26 $7.86 · FY27 $8.10 (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$69,531100%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Nichols’s budget goes, FY26

Public Works: 33¢ of every dollar33¢Public Safety: 24¢ of every dollar24¢General Government: 23¢ of every dollar23¢Business Type / Enterprise: 16¢ of every dollar16¢Culture 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 197 Iowa cities closest in size (210–480 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (197)
Public Works33¢20¢
Public Safety24¢9¢
General Government23¢16¢
Business Type / Enterprise16¢39¢
Culture and Recreation3¢8¢
Everything else1¢<1¢

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$95,00039%
  • Public Safety$68,50028%
  • General Government$66,60028%
  • Culture and Recreation$8,9604%
  • Health and Social Services$2,2501%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($45,000 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$91,000$84,133
Public Safety$56,500$51,565
Health and Social Services$1,500$1,500
General Government$51,600$56,784
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$8,000$8,128
Community and Economic Development$0$0
Capital Projects$0$79,749
Business Type / Enterprise$40,000$16,882

What it spent each year

FY24 left out5

$480,002
$318,971

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Nichols 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 $974,786 (5% of $19.5M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. Nichols’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Friday, June 30, 2023 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Friday, June 30, 2023 (PDF), released Thursday, February 15, 2024, by the Auditor of State.

1 earlier report for Nichols

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: $48,287 in FY25, down 0% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 20% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$47,847$46,788$48,026$48,287

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.

$8,604
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$0
    FY21$8,604
    FY22$0
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$0
    FY21$8,604
    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)−20%$48,315 → $48,287, down 0% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 20% 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 10% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 13% less.

    $51,908
    $51,580

    Federal grants, for comparison: $16,190 in FY24.

    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

    City · 2

    5 seats: the top 5 win.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Nichols; 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.

    • Nichols City Council At-Large (5 seats)
      Now held by Kelsie Lampe, Cynthia Massey, John J. Hudson, Russell E. Grim, Jay Hora
    • Nichols Mayor
      Now held by Cynthia Massey

    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

    Mark S. Lofgren (Sen. 48)Taylor R. Collins (Rep. 95)

    U.S. House:District 1

    Muscatine CountyWest Liberty schools