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Local taxes › Muscatine County › Stockton

City

Stockton

Muscatine County · How cities work

$2,710 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($32.17 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$870 a yearof that goes to the city ($10.37 per $1,000)
$46,104property taxes the city levies, FY27
$139,489city 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 PedersenStockton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Derryl (Glenn) Van DeeStockton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Lance McConnellStockton Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Cody DrapeauxStockton City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Joshua SmyserStockton City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Scott N. WolfStockton 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 Stockton

Homes and businesses in most of Stockton pay a combined $32.17 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, $10.37. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$31.35$9.96
FY21$31.42$10.96
FY22$27.90$10.96
FY23$27.92$11.02
FY24$28.73$11.06
FY25$29.25$11.51
FY26$32.36$11.06
FY27$32.17$10.37
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$31.35$9.96
FY21$31.42$10.96
FY22$27.90$10.96
FY23$27.92$11.02
FY24$28.73$11.06
FY25$29.25$11.51
FY26$32.36$11.06
FY27$32.17$10.37

Compared with places this size3

Stockton’s city property tax rate of $10.37 per $1,000 is the 86th lowest of 193 Iowa cities with 120–260 people. The middle of the group is $10.99.

Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Fenton: $22.05Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Coin: $19.59Rowan: $19.53Chester: $19.30Bouton: $19.25Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Cumberland: $18.42Jamaica: $18.24Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Pisgah: $17.09Auburn: $16.65Prescott: $16.53Monmouth: $16.41Blockton: $16.37Montour: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $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: $14.40Crystal Lake: $14.36Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Kellerton: $13.60Quimby: $13.58Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Meservey: $13.43Leland: $13.31Calumet: $13.16Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Silver City: $12.87Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Martelle: $12.83Clemons: $12.69Blencoe: $12.57Kensett: $12.47Millersburg: $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: $11.89New Providence: $11.88Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Ledyard: $11.74Joice: $11.72Cantril: $11.69Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54College Springs: $11.44Mallard: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Somers: $10.99Frederika: $10.99Havelock: $10.95Alexander: $10.90Goose Lake: $10.89Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Hornick: $10.74Woden: $10.68Cleghorn: $10.49Barnes City: $10.44Randall: $10.35Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $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: $9.65Rutland: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Luxemburg: $9.58Superior: $9.58Rippey: $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: $8.83Harvey: $8.71Washta: $8.65Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Fostoria: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Westfield: $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: $7.68Bernard: $7.56Fredonia: $7.55Braddyville: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Franklin: $7.31Weldon: $7.18Brunsville: $6.95Packwood: $6.77Houghton: $6.73Williamson: $6.72Keswick: $6.49Lincoln: $6.32Gravity: $6.18Ackworth: $5.90Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Harper: $5.29Panorama Park: $4.62Mcintire: $2.78Sherrill: $2.66Centralia: $2.41Rickardsville: $2.27New Liberty: $2.27Stockton: $10.37$2.27 lowest$25.07 highestmiddle
See all 193
#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
12Rowan$19.53118
13Chester$19.30134
14Bouton$19.25125
15Garden Grove$19.20173
16Hastings$18.95157
17Swaledale$18.62136
18Cumberland$18.42248
19Jamaica$18.24196
20Hillsboro$17.68158
21Bristow$17.39139
22Woolstock$17.26141
23Pisgah$17.09248
24Auburn$16.65253
25Prescott$16.53186
26Monmouth$16.41129
27Blockton$16.37123
28Montour$16.37199
29Geneva$16.25137
30Deep River$16.18243
31Waucoma$16.17235
32Little Sioux$15.74170
33Moorhead$15.68186
34Onslow$15.63198
35Linden$15.62206
36Woodburn$15.59133
37Kamrar$15.47178
38Greeley$15.23216
39Goodell$15.16139
40Riverton$14.94243
41Marathon$14.89221
42Ladora$14.74223
43Magnolia$14.68194
44Bagley$14.63230
45Davis City$14.45178
46Lucas$14.40176
47Crystal Lake$14.36243
48Westgate$14.05190
49Palmer$13.89137
50Kellerton$13.60241
51Quimby$13.58245
52Ayrshire$13.55128
53Searsboro$13.55129
54Meservey$13.43212
55Leland$13.31240
56Calumet$13.16144
57Portsmouth$13.05187
58Clutier$13.03209
59Silver City$12.87244
60Delaware$12.86139
61Patterson$12.84176
62Martelle$12.83250
63Clemons$12.69135
64Blencoe$12.57223
65Kensett$12.47256
66Millersburg$12.40135
67Aurora$12.40165
68Bridgewater$12.29145
69Cushing$12.18225
70Hanlontown$12.17200
71Stout$12.14194
72Webb$12.10139
73Paton$12.09217
74Decatur$12.08174
75Rembrandt$12.03199
76Shambaugh$11.98161
77Lone Rock$11.92143
78East Peru$11.89119
79New Providence$11.88233
80Henderson$11.85140
81Parnell$11.78190
82Reasnor$11.76157
83Ledyard$11.74118
84Joice$11.72206
85Cantril$11.69224
86Wadena$11.65201
87Exline$11.60157
88Beaman$11.54155
89College Springs$11.44172
90Mallard$11.28255
91Renwick$11.16228
92Linn Grove$11.15155
93Dundee$11.14193
94Randolph$11.08183
95Leighton$11.07153
96Rake$11.05179
97Somers$10.99121
98Frederika$10.99206
99Havelock$10.95127
100Alexander$10.90165
101Goose Lake$10.89250
102Lambs Grove$10.78174
103Wallingford$10.75154
104Hornick$10.74255
105Woden$10.68183
106Cleghorn$10.49235
107Barnes City$10.44152
108Stockton$10.37171
109Randall$10.35156
110Dedham$10.28221
111Deloit$10.28246
112Meriden$10.28175
113Drakesville$10.24170
114Hancock$10.13199
115La Motte$10.09235
116Melvin$10.05196
117Defiance$10.05248
118Barnum$9.96186
119Panama$9.85234
120Grafton$9.83212
121Clare$9.81133
122Tingley$9.81146
123Ionia$9.65220
124Rutland$9.65116
125Van Wert$9.62175
126Rock Falls$9.61143
127Kirkville$9.59159
128Luxemburg$9.58240
129Superior$9.58127
130Rippey$9.42217
131Larrabee$9.41116
132Hamilton$9.35125
133Floris$9.29119
134Mitchell$9.22118
135Westphalia$9.18133
136Elberon$9.16178
137Dixon$9.03204
138Blairsburg$8.93175
139Prairieburg$8.91156
140Oakville$8.89198
141Welton$8.86124
142Archer$8.84116
143Luther$8.83147
144Harvey$8.71242
145Washta$8.65206
146Moorland$8.61169
147Pilot Mound$8.54155
148Ollie$8.44196
149Thor$8.38182
150South English$8.27196
151Thurman$8.26162
152Boxholm$8.11177
153Fostoria$8.10229
154Low Moor$8.10242
155Westfield$8.10121
156Laurel$8.10214
157Lineville$8.10194
158Vincent$8.09125
159Lockridge$7.92245
160Mount Auburn$7.86162
161Haverhill$7.86164
162Grand River$7.86192
163Olds$7.86174
164Castalia$7.86141
165Dickens$7.86146
166Rose Hill$7.86156
167West Chester$7.82147
168Mcclelland$7.79147
169Lidderdale$7.68162
170Bernard$7.56117
171Fredonia$7.55227
172Braddyville$7.49142
173Alvord$7.41216
174Franklin$7.31133
175Weldon$7.18134
176Brunsville$6.95128
177Packwood$6.77186
178Houghton$6.73129
179Williamson$6.72126
180Keswick$6.49238
181Lincoln$6.32119
182Gravity$6.18149
183Ackworth$5.90117
184Oakland Acres$5.88178
185Springbrook$5.79145
186Maysville$5.77155
187Harper$5.29117
188Panorama Park$4.62142
189Mcintire$2.78115
190Sherrill$2.66176
191Centralia$2.41117
192Rickardsville$2.27204
193New Liberty$2.27141

The $8.10 limit

Stockton’s general levy is $8.37 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.27 above the limit; it has to come down in steps.4 52 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

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

Outside the limit: $2.00 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.33 · $5,920
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$0.67 · $2,960

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$37,22481%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$5,92013%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$2,9606%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Stockton’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 47¢ of every dollar47¢Public Works: 24¢ of every dollar24¢General Government: 22¢ of every dollar22¢Culture and Recreation: 6¢ of every dollarPublic Safety: 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 191 Iowa cities closest in size (120–260 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (191)
Business Type / Enterprise47¢30¢
Public Works24¢25¢
General Government22¢22¢
Culture and Recreation6¢8¢
Public Safety1¢9¢

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$64,05146%
  • Public Works$59,52043%
  • Culture and Recreation$12,9209%
  • Public Safety$2,9982%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($98,530 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$71,640$43,967
Public Safety$2,631$2,601
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$39,160$35,448
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$15,050$7,454
Community and Economic Development$0$0
Capital Projects$14,280$16,700
Business Type / Enterprise$82,351$63,255

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$304,162

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Stockton owes

$41,000 at June 30, 2026: $233 per resident. 683rd most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$277,598
$41,000
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$41,000$233
2025$54,000$307
2024$67,000$381
2023$79,000$449
2022$91,000$517
2021$102,000$580
2020$113,000$642
2019$124,000$705
2018$204,000$1,159
2017$154,000$875
2016$154,000$875
2015$163,000$926
2014$172,000$977
2013$181,528$1,031
2012$193,575$1,100
2011$204,483$1,162
2010$277,598$1,577
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$41,000$233
2025$54,000$307
2024$67,000$381
2023$79,000$449
2022$91,000$517
2021$102,000$580
2020$113,000$642
2019$124,000$705
2018$204,000$1,159
2017$154,000$875
2016$154,000$875
2015$163,000$926
2014$172,000$977
2013$181,528$1,031
2012$193,575$1,100
2011$204,483$1,162
2010$277,598$1,577

Down 85% since 2010.

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. Stockton’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination Follow-Up, period ending Saturday, March 31, 2018 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Periodic Examination Follow-Up for the period ending Saturday, March 31, 2018 (PDF), released Friday, November 30, 2018, by the Auditor of State.

4 earlier reports for Stockton

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: $21,819 in FY25, up 16% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 7% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$18,294$18,016$18,482$18,581
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)–$432$2,459$3,238

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.

$27
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$0
    FY21$0
    FY22$0
    FY23$27
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$0
    FY21$0
    FY22$0
    FY23$27
    FY24$0
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−21%$18,734 → $18,581, down 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 21% 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 8% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 14% less.

    $27,063
    $26,440

    Federal grants, for comparison: $14,279 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 Stockton; 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.

    • Stockton City Council At-Large (3 seats)
      Now held by Scott N. Wolf, Joshua Smyser, Cody Drapeaux
    • Stockton Mayor
      Now held by Lance McConnell

    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

    Kerry Gruenhagen (Sen. 41)Bobby Kaufmann (Rep. 82)

    U.S. House:District 1

    Muscatine CountyDurant schools