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Local taxes › O'Brien County › Calumet

City

Calumet

O'Brien County · How cities work

$2,530 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($30.07 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,110 a yearof that goes to the city ($13.16 per $1,000)
$75,055property taxes the city levies, FY27
$170,824city 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.

  • Andrew LichterCalumet City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Gloria SchuederCalumet City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jon NovakCalumet City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Michael N. JensenCalumet Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Heath NegusCalumet City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Josie GreathouseCalumet City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Kim MesenbrinkCalumet 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 Calumet

Homes and businesses in most of Calumet pay a combined $30.07 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the O'Brien County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $13.16. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$27.56$13.00
FY21$28.37$13.00
FY22$28.00$12.77
FY23$27.06$12.32
FY24$29.46$12.67
FY25$30.02$13.12
FY26$29.92$13.21
FY27$30.07$13.16
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$27.56$13.00
FY21$28.37$13.00
FY22$28.00$12.77
FY23$27.06$12.32
FY24$29.46$12.67
FY25$30.02$13.12
FY26$29.92$13.21
FY27$30.07$13.16

Compared with places this size3

Calumet’s city property tax rate of $13.16 per $1,000 is the 47th highest of 175 Iowa cities with 100–220 people. The middle of the group is $10.68.

Castana: $34.13Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Whitten: $22.65Soldier: $21.92Chelsea: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Coin: $19.59Rowan: $19.53Chester: $19.30Bouton: $19.25Ricketts: $19.22Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Jamaica: $18.24Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Prescott: $16.53Monmouth: $16.41Blockton: $16.37Montour: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Waterville: $16.25Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Woodburn: $15.59Kamrar: $15.47Greeley: $15.23Goodell: $15.16Marne: $15.03Baldwin: $14.91Magnolia: $14.68Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Ferguson: $13.53Lanesboro: $13.53Meservey: $13.43Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Clemons: $12.69Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Bridgewater: $12.29Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Arion: $12.14Webb: $12.10Decatur: $12.08Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92East Peru: $11.89Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Ledyard: $11.74Joice: $11.72Toronto: $11.68Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54College Springs: $11.44Melrose: $11.27Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Masonville: $11.00Somers: $10.99Frederika: $10.99Havelock: $10.95Alexander: $10.90Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Woden: $10.68Pacific Junction: $10.56Barnes City: $10.44Stockton: $10.37Randall: $10.35Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24North Washington: $10.23Dawson: $10.19Hancock: $10.13Melvin: $10.05Barnum: $9.96Grafton: $9.83Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Rutland: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Superior: $9.58Martinsburg: $9.49Larrabee: $9.41Hamilton: $9.35Floris: $9.29Mitchell: $9.22Westphalia: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Welton: $8.86Archer: $8.84Luther: $8.83Fraser: $8.81Macksburg: $8.81Washta: $8.65Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Andover: $8.28South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Rome: $8.10Westfield: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Morrison: $7.86Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Cromwell: $7.81Mcclelland: $7.79Luzerne: $7.69Lidderdale: $7.68Westwood: $7.67Bernard: $7.56Braddyville: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Franklin: $7.31Weldon: $7.18Brunsville: $6.95Packwood: $6.77Houghton: $6.73Williamson: $6.72Lincoln: $6.32Gravity: $6.18Ackworth: $5.90Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Harper: $5.29Panorama Park: $4.62Keomah Village: $3.15Mcintire: $2.78Sherrill: $2.66Centralia: $2.41Rickardsville: $2.27New Liberty: $2.27North Buena Vista: $1.78Calumet: $13.16$1.78 lowest$34.13 highestmiddle
See all 175
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Castana$34.13103
2Brayton$25.07138
3Harris$23.13145
4Whitten$22.6598
5Soldier$21.92176
6Chelsea$21.61207
7Smithland$21.12184
8Volga$20.23200
9Coin$19.59171
10Rowan$19.53118
11Chester$19.30134
12Bouton$19.25125
13Ricketts$19.22105
14Garden Grove$19.20173
15Hastings$18.95157
16Swaledale$18.62136
17Jamaica$18.24196
18Hillsboro$17.68158
19Bristow$17.39139
20Woolstock$17.26141
21Prescott$16.53186
22Monmouth$16.41129
23Blockton$16.37123
24Montour$16.37199
25Geneva$16.25137
26Waterville$16.25112
27Little Sioux$15.74170
28Moorhead$15.68186
29Onslow$15.63198
30Linden$15.62206
31Woodburn$15.59133
32Kamrar$15.47178
33Greeley$15.23216
34Goodell$15.16139
35Marne$15.03109
36Baldwin$14.9199
37Magnolia$14.68194
38Davis City$14.45178
39Lucas$14.40176
40Westgate$14.05190
41Palmer$13.89137
42Ayrshire$13.55128
43Searsboro$13.55129
44Ferguson$13.5398
45Lanesboro$13.53112
46Meservey$13.43212
47Calumet$13.16144
48Portsmouth$13.05187
49Clutier$13.03209
50Delaware$12.86139
51Patterson$12.84176
52Clemons$12.69135
53Millersburg$12.40135
54Aurora$12.40165
55Bridgewater$12.29145
56Hanlontown$12.17200
57Stout$12.14194
58Arion$12.1499
59Webb$12.10139
60Decatur$12.08174
61Rembrandt$12.03199
62Shambaugh$11.98161
63Lone Rock$11.92143
64East Peru$11.89119
65Henderson$11.85140
66Parnell$11.78190
67Reasnor$11.76157
68Ledyard$11.74118
69Joice$11.72206
70Toronto$11.68101
71Wadena$11.65201
72Exline$11.60157
73Beaman$11.54155
74College Springs$11.44172
75Melrose$11.27110
76Linn Grove$11.15155
77Dundee$11.14193
78Randolph$11.08183
79Leighton$11.07153
80Rake$11.05179
81Masonville$11.0098
82Somers$10.99121
83Frederika$10.99206
84Havelock$10.95127
85Alexander$10.90165
86Lambs Grove$10.78174
87Wallingford$10.75154
88Woden$10.68183
89Pacific Junction$10.5699
90Barnes City$10.44152
91Stockton$10.37171
92Randall$10.35156
93Meriden$10.28175
94Drakesville$10.24170
95North Washington$10.23107
96Dawson$10.19110
97Hancock$10.13199
98Melvin$10.05196
99Barnum$9.96186
100Grafton$9.83212
101Clare$9.81133
102Tingley$9.81146
103Rutland$9.65116
104Van Wert$9.62175
105Rock Falls$9.61143
106Kirkville$9.59159
107Superior$9.58127
108Martinsburg$9.49109
109Larrabee$9.41116
110Hamilton$9.35125
111Floris$9.29119
112Mitchell$9.22118
113Westphalia$9.18133
114Elberon$9.16178
115Dixon$9.03204
116Blairsburg$8.93175
117Prairieburg$8.91156
118Oakville$8.89198
119Welton$8.86124
120Archer$8.84116
121Luther$8.83147
122Fraser$8.81107
123Macksburg$8.81103
124Washta$8.65206
125Moorland$8.61169
126Pilot Mound$8.54155
127Ollie$8.44196
128Thor$8.38182
129Andover$8.28106
130South English$8.27196
131Thurman$8.26162
132Boxholm$8.11177
133Rome$8.10112
134Westfield$8.10121
135Laurel$8.10214
136Lineville$8.10194
137Vincent$8.09125
138Morrison$7.86101
139Mount Auburn$7.86162
140Haverhill$7.86164
141Grand River$7.86192
142Olds$7.86174
143Castalia$7.86141
144Dickens$7.86146
145Rose Hill$7.86156
146West Chester$7.82147
147Cromwell$7.81104
148Mcclelland$7.79147
149Luzerne$7.69111
150Lidderdale$7.68162
151Westwood$7.6796
152Bernard$7.56117
153Braddyville$7.49142
154Alvord$7.41216
155Franklin$7.31133
156Weldon$7.18134
157Brunsville$6.95128
158Packwood$6.77186
159Houghton$6.73129
160Williamson$6.72126
161Lincoln$6.32119
162Gravity$6.18149
163Ackworth$5.90117
164Oakland Acres$5.88178
165Springbrook$5.79145
166Maysville$5.77155
167Harper$5.29117
168Panorama Park$4.62142
169Keomah Village$3.15107
170Mcintire$2.78115
171Sherrill$2.66176
172Centralia$2.41117
173Rickardsville$2.27204
174New Liberty$2.27141
175North Buena Vista$1.78107

The $8.10 limit

Calumet’s general levy is $8.10 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, at the limit.4 372 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.26 · FY26 $8.26 · FY27 $8.10 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $5.06 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$4.04 · $22,715
  • Capital Projects (Capital Improv. Reserve)$0.68 · $3,798
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$0.35 · $1,957

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$45,54762%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$22,71531%
  • Capital Projects (Capital Improv. Reserve)$3,7985%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1,9573%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Calumet’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 37¢ of every dollar37¢General Government: 25¢ of every dollar25¢Public Works: 17¢ of every dollar17¢Public Safety: 13¢ of every dollar13¢Culture and Recreation: 8¢ of every dollar8¢Everything 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 175 Iowa cities closest in size (100–220 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (175)
Business Type / Enterprise37¢28¢
General Government25¢23¢
Public Works17¢25¢
Public Safety13¢9¢
Culture and Recreation8¢8¢
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$61,31536%
  • Public Works$52,94431%
  • Culture and Recreation$29,39017%
  • Public Safety$25,35015%
  • Health and Social Services$1,3251%
  • Community and Economic Development$5000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($88,080 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$46,000$5,480
Public Safety$8,000$12,341
Health and Social Services$1,500$1,325
General Government$70,500$50,189
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$15,100$14,116
Community and Economic Development$900$1,876
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$107,000$135,145

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$1.8M
$200,311

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Calumet owes

$1.1M at June 30, 2026: $7,358 per resident. 46th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$1.3M
$1.1M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$1.1M$7,358
2025$1.1M$7,520
2024$1.1M$7,681
2023$1.1M$7,839
2022$1.2M$7,970
2021$1.3M$9,130
2020$361,768$2,478
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$0$0
2016$18,676$128
2015$30,000$205
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$1.1M$7,358
2025$1.1M$7,520
2024$1.1M$7,681
2023$1.1M$7,839
2022$1.2M$7,970
2021$1.3M$9,130
2020$361,768$2,478
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$0$0
2016$18,676$128
2015$30,000$205
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0

Up 3481% since 2015.

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. Calumet’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Sunday, March 31, 2019 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Sunday, March 31, 2019 (PDF), released Friday, February 7, 2020, by the Auditor of State.

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: $25,333 in FY25, up 36% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 8% more. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$17,690$17,071$17,520$17,615
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$1,780–$6,965$7,718

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.

$230,903
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$0
    FY21$0
    FY22$230,903
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$0
    FY21$0
    FY22$230,903
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−25%$18,695 → $17,615, down 6% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 25% 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 26% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 0% more.

    $25,459
    $25,247

    Federal grants, for comparison: $58,469 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 · 3

    2 seats: the top 2 win.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Calumet; 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.

    • Calumet City Council At-Large (3 seats)
      Now held by Heath Negus, Kim Mesenbrink, Josie Greathouse

    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

    Lynn Evans (Sen. 3)Zach Dieken (Rep. 5)

    U.S. House:District 4

    O'Brien CountySouth O'Brien schools