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Local taxes › O'Brien County › Sanborn

City

Sanborn

O'Brien 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
$1,060 a yearof that goes to the city ($12.62 per $1,000)
$796,475property taxes the city levies, FY27
$9.0Mcity 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.

  • Daniel VerripsSanborn Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Larry ReitsmaSanborn City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Stefan SybesmaSanborn City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Aaron WiekampSanborn City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Brian VisserSanborn City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Kevin GroendykeSanborn 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 Sanborn

Homes and businesses in most of Sanborn pay a combined $30.00 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, $12.62. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$31.65$13.13
FY21$32.10$13.16
FY22$31.98$13.29
FY23$30.05$11.95
FY24$30.70$12.62
FY25$29.97$12.19
FY26$30.11$12.74
FY27$30.00$12.62
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$31.65$13.13
FY21$32.10$13.16
FY22$31.98$13.29
FY23$30.05$11.95
FY24$30.70$12.62
FY25$29.97$12.19
FY26$30.11$12.74
FY27$30.00$12.62

Compared with places this size3

Sanborn’s city property tax rate of $12.62 per $1,000 is the 42nd lowest of 124 Iowa cities with 980–2,200 people. The middle of the group is $13.75.

Elkader: $27.11Laurens: $24.16Pocahontas: $20.79Rockwell City: $20.74Villisca: $19.74Sac City: $19.69Traer: $19.56Corning: $19.36Lake City: $19.32Corydon: $18.22Dysart: $17.95Britt: $17.72Strawberry Point: $17.58Rockwell: $17.54Mapleton: $16.90George: $16.89Manson: $16.87Fayette: $16.85Nashua: $16.81Ackley: $16.63Audubon: $16.52Roland: $16.51Monona: $16.41Aplington: $16.34Durant: $16.24Lamoni: $16.15Panora: $16.14Dike: $15.94Holstein: $15.81State Center: $15.80Pleasantville: $15.80Earlham: $15.55Shell Rock: $15.52Brooklyn: $15.49Stuart: $15.48Mount Ayr: $15.32Granger: $15.22Sigourney: $15.20Guttenberg: $15.19Sidney: $15.19Logan: $15.05Tripoli: $14.99Sumner: $14.83Woodbine: $14.80Bedford: $14.66Lenox: $14.65Manning: $14.62Van Meter: $14.60Dunlap: $14.56Coon Rapids: $14.49Nora Springs: $14.25Kingsley: $14.25Urbana: $14.20Sheffield: $14.16Parkersburg: $14.15Hartley: $14.11Ida Grove: $14.10Woodward: $14.05Guthrie Center: $14.04Alton: $13.87Lake Mills: $13.82Montezuma: $13.79Gilbert: $13.71Clarksville: $13.53Avoca: $13.51Janesville: $13.43Glidden: $13.43Calmar: $13.39Baxter: $13.32Wapello: $13.29Manly: $13.29Conrad: $13.23Springville: $13.22Shellsburg: $13.20Greenfield: $13.13Treynor: $13.03Akron: $12.93Leon: $12.93New Sharon: $12.80Slater: $12.79Malvern: $12.79Buffalo: $12.68New London: $12.56Dallas Center: $12.42Remsen: $12.32Monroe: $12.28Denver: $12.27Alta: $12.13Reinbeck: $12.10Winfield: $12.04Elkhart: $12.00Atkins: $11.99Tabor: $11.88Wellman: $11.88Blue Grass: $11.79Columbus Junction: $11.71Palo: $11.49Prairie City: $11.38Marcus: $11.31Northwood: $11.28Mediapolis: $11.27Melcher-Dallas: $11.21University Heights: $11.12Ogden: $10.99Clarence: $10.94Farley: $10.91Oakland: $10.85Moville: $10.67Elk Run Heights: $10.33Walcott: $10.29Fredericksburg: $10.27Lake Park: $10.25Central City: $10.01Epworth: $9.42Lake View: $9.39Paullina: $9.21Fairbank: $9.00Walford: $8.72Lone Tree: $8.13Riverside: $8.02North English: $7.49Sloan: $7.49Arnolds Park: $4.95Sanborn: $12.62$4.95 lowest$27.11 highestmiddle
See all 124
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Elkader$27.111,192
2Laurens$24.161,253
3Pocahontas$20.791,848
4Rockwell City$20.742,185
5Villisca$19.741,106
6Sac City$19.691,992
7Traer$19.561,547
8Corning$19.361,509
9Lake City$19.321,656
10Corydon$18.221,563
11Dysart$17.951,266
12Britt$17.722,001
13Strawberry Point$17.581,141
14Rockwell$17.541,044
15Mapleton$16.901,114
16George$16.891,106
17Manson$16.871,646
18Fayette$16.851,193
19Nashua$16.811,515
20Ackley$16.631,538
21Audubon$16.522,008
22Roland$16.511,376
23Monona$16.411,462
24Aplington$16.341,088
25Durant$16.241,798
26Lamoni$16.152,072
27Panora$16.141,096
28Dike$15.941,293
29Holstein$15.811,475
30State Center$15.801,403
31Pleasantville$15.801,696
32Earlham$15.551,411
33Shell Rock$15.521,265
34Brooklyn$15.491,474
35Stuart$15.481,887
36Mount Ayr$15.321,616
37Granger$15.222,095
38Sigourney$15.201,974
39Guttenberg$15.191,804
40Sidney$15.191,048
41Logan$15.051,351
42Tripoli$14.991,208
43Sumner$14.832,032
44Woodbine$14.801,707
45Bedford$14.661,474
46Lenox$14.651,355
47Manning$14.621,390
48Van Meter$14.601,840
49Dunlap$14.561,030
50Coon Rapids$14.491,258
51Nora Springs$14.251,330
52Kingsley$14.251,394
53Urbana$14.201,635
54Sheffield$14.161,123
55Parkersburg$14.151,986
56Hartley$14.111,584
57Ida Grove$14.101,988
58Woodward$14.051,383
59Guthrie Center$14.041,579
60Alton$13.871,248
61Lake Mills$13.822,077
62Montezuma$13.791,421
63Gilbert$13.711,397
64Clarksville$13.531,238
65Avoca$13.511,685
66Janesville$13.431,052
67Glidden$13.431,140
68Calmar$13.391,100
69Baxter$13.32983
70Wapello$13.292,026
71Manly$13.291,233
72Conrad$13.231,098
73Springville$13.221,161
74Shellsburg$13.20987
75Greenfield$13.131,988
76Treynor$13.031,104
77Akron$12.931,545
78Leon$12.931,779
79New Sharon$12.801,249
80Slater$12.791,626
81Malvern$12.791,056
82Buffalo$12.681,163
83Sanborn$12.621,463
84New London$12.561,853
85Dallas Center$12.421,993
86Remsen$12.321,681
87Monroe$12.282,021
88Denver$12.271,955
89Alta$12.132,039
90Reinbeck$12.101,673
91Winfield$12.041,006
92Elkhart$12.001,079
93Atkins$11.992,168
94Tabor$11.88983
95Wellman$11.881,531
96Blue Grass$11.791,707
97Columbus Junction$11.711,794
98Palo$11.491,554
99Prairie City$11.381,722
100Marcus$11.311,069
101Northwood$11.282,047
102Mediapolis$11.271,679
103Melcher-Dallas$11.211,193
104University Heights$11.121,188
105Ogden$10.991,970
106Clarence$10.94991
107Farley$10.911,723
108Oakland$10.851,519
109Moville$10.671,707
110Elk Run Heights$10.331,061
111Walcott$10.291,556
112Fredericksburg$10.27983
113Lake Park$10.251,155
114Central City$10.011,254
115Epworth$9.422,042
116Lake View$9.391,120
117Paullina$9.21979
118Fairbank$9.001,133
119Walford$8.721,357
120Lone Tree$8.131,341
121Riverside$8.021,063
122North English$7.491,030
123Sloan$7.491,078
124Arnolds Park$4.951,214

The $8.10 limit

Sanborn’s general levy is $8.13 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.03 above the limit; it has to come down in steps.4 222 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.13 · FY26 $8.13 · FY27 $8.13 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $4.49 more5

  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$2.87 · $177,248
  • Debt Service Levy$0.86 · $66,149
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$0.77 · $47,499

Tax increment financing (TIF)

$15.0M of taxable value in Sanborn is in TIF districts’ increment (19% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.6 It budgeted $100,000 in TIF revenue for FY25.

$711,161
$710

What that value would raise at each government’s rate, FY277

Taxes on TIF value go to the city’s TIF fund instead of the governments that levy them, including about $176,362 of the city’s own.

  • O'Brien County$53,876
YearTIF revenue
FY16$522,367
FY17$549,267
FY18$570,838
FY19$539,075
FY20$558,689
FY21$581,519
FY22$711,161
FY23$710
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$522,367
FY17$549,267
FY18$570,838
FY19$539,075
FY20$558,689
FY21$581,519
FY22$711,161
FY23$710

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$502,72363%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$177,24822%
  • Debt Service Levy$66,1498%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$47,4996%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Sanborn’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 47¢ of every dollar47¢Community and Economic Development: 25¢ of every dollar25¢Culture and Recreation: 7¢ of every dollar7¢Public Safety: 7¢ of every dollarDebt Service: 6¢ of every dollarEverything else: 8¢ of every dollar8¢

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 123 Iowa cities closest in size (980–2,200 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (123)
Business Type / Enterprise47¢40¢
Community and Economic Development25¢3¢
Culture and Recreation7¢8¢
Public Safety7¢11¢
Debt Service6¢6¢
Everything else8¢19¢

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.

  • Community and Economic Development$4.8M53%
  • Public Works$1.7M19%
  • General Government$800,0009%
  • Public Safety$644,7507%
  • Debt Service$571,3306%
  • Culture and Recreation$551,1006%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($4.5M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$668,800$416,038
Public Safety$474,200$328,282
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$119,950$111,683
Debt Service$348,525$571,712
Culture and Recreation$673,800$976,227
Community and Economic Development$1.6M$363,091
Capital Projects$1.3M$589,968
Business Type / Enterprise$3.6M$3.9M

What it spent each year

FY24 left out8

$12.0M
$7.5M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Sanborn owes

$17.5M at June 30, 2026: $12,547 per resident. 7th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).9

$19.8M
$17.5M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$17.5M$12,547
2025$15.9M$11,434
2024$17.4M$12,491
2023$18.5M$13,261
2022$19.8M$14,207
2021$17.6M$12,654
2020$4.6M$3,273
2019$6.0M$4,300
2018$6.4M$4,576
2017$5.1M$3,639
2016$6.0M$4,283
2015$5.6M$4,052
2014$6.3M$4,497
2013$6.0M$4,304
2012$6.0M$4,313
2011$6.8M$4,915
2010$7.2M$5,155
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$17.5M$12,547
2025$15.9M$11,434
2024$17.4M$12,491
2023$18.5M$13,261
2022$19.8M$14,207
2021$17.6M$12,654
2020$4.6M$3,273
2019$6.0M$4,300
2018$6.4M$4,576
2017$5.1M$3,639
2016$6.0M$4,283
2015$5.6M$4,052
2014$6.3M$4,497
2013$6.0M$4,304
2012$6.0M$4,313
2011$6.8M$4,915
2010$7.2M$5,155

Up 143% since 2010.

The 5% limit10

General obligation debt is $6.1M, 93% of the limit of about $6.5M (5% of $129.6M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

7 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsSW REV 2018 Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion2040$6.9M
General ObligationGO2026 Maris PhaseII/Street Resurfacing/Econ.Dev.2046$3.3M
Revenue BondsWT REV 2020 Water Treatment Plant2041$3.2M
General ObligationGO2020 Water Treatment Plant2040$2.7M
Revenue Bonds2020 Electric Substation Project2028$835,000
Revenue Bonds2016 New Electric Substation Project2032$495,000
General ObligationGO2013 Street Construction Main St/1st St2027$65,000

General obligation bonds are repaid from property taxes; revenue bonds and loans from the fees or revenue they’re tied to. On the Treasurer’s site

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances11. Sanborn’s latest audit has them: Financial Statement, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).

Audits12

The latest: Financial Statement for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Tuesday, December 23, 2025, by a CPA firm.

8 earlier reports for Sanborn

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? 13

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: $197,691 in FY25, up 9% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 13% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$192,720$191,555$196,624$197,691

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.

$54,305
$2,639
  • State grants$2,639100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$54,305
FY20$2,279
FY21$26,248
FY22$2,573
FY23$0
FY24$2,461
FY25$2,639
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$54,305
FY20$2,279
FY21$26,248
FY22$2,573
FY23$0
FY24$2,461
FY25$2,639

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−13%$181,377 → $197,691, up 9% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 13% 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 43% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 14% more.

$242,697
$240,678

Federal grants, for comparison: $170,185 in FY25.

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)14.

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 Sanborn; 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.

  • Sanborn City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Brian Visser, Aaron Wiekamp, Kevin Groendyke
  • Sanborn Mayor
    Now held by Daniel Verrips

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here15.

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 ballot16.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress17

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

U.S. House:District 4

O'Brien CountyHartley-Melvin-Sanborn schools