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Local taxes › Page County › Shenandoah

City

Shenandoah

Page County · How cities work

$3,170 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($37.64 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,270 a yearof that goes to the city ($15.02 per $1,000)
$3.0Mproperty taxes the city levies, FY27
$10.2Mcity 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.

  • Allan JordanShenandoah City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Gerald Francis WagemanShenandoah Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jeffrey CappsShenandoah City Council Ward 1 · elected November 4, 2025
  • Kim SwankShenandoah City Council Ward 3 · elected November 4, 2025
  • Matthew ReganShenandoah City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Rita GibsonShenandoah City Council Ward 1 · elected November 4, 2025
  • Roger McQueenShenandoah Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jon Eric BrantnerShenandoah City Council Ward 2 · elected November 7, 2023
  • Jon Eric BrantnerShenandoah City Council Ward 2 · elected November 7, 2023
  • Richard JonesShenandoah City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Nancy MaherShenandoah Park Commissioner · elected November 4, 2025
  • Alissa McGinnisShenandoah Park Commission · elected November 7, 2023
  • Cheryl MulliganShenandoah Park Commission · 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 Shenandoah

Homes and businesses in most of Shenandoah pay a combined $38.09 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Page County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $15.02. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$43.79$19.92
FY21$40.49$18.43
FY22$38.58$17.04
FY23$36.91$16.20
FY24$35.99$14.69
FY25$40.19$16.35
FY26$38.72$14.46
FY27$38.09$15.02
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$43.79$19.92
FY21$40.49$18.43
FY22$38.58$17.04
FY23$36.91$16.20
FY24$35.99$14.69
FY25$40.19$16.35
FY26$38.72$14.46
FY27$38.09$15.02

Compared with places this size3

Shenandoah’s city property tax rate of $15.02 per $1,000 is the 24th highest of 60 Iowa cities with 3,300–7,300 people. The middle of the group is $14.77.

Red Oak: $20.65Oelwein: $20.16Albia: $19.70Eagle Grove: $19.32Independence: $19.01Iowa Falls: $18.86West Liberty: $18.68Chariton: $18.37Atlantic: $17.48Clarinda: $17.25Centerville: $16.85Algona: $16.75Vinton: $16.25Winterset: $16.15Cresco: $16.13Humboldt: $16.00Anamosa: $15.95Charles City: $15.95Forest City: $15.77Sheldon: $15.33Estherville: $15.27Washington: $15.21Harlan: $15.07Manchester: $14.96Jefferson: $14.88Hampton: $14.86Carlisle: $14.82Cherokee: $14.82Glenwood: $14.77Waukon: $14.76Nevada: $14.58Monticello: $14.49Osceola: $14.37Windsor Heights: $14.30Osage: $14.29Orange City: $14.01Rock Valley: $13.76Sergeant Bluff: $13.70Emmetsburg: $13.70Mount Vernon: $13.50New Hampton: $13.44Adel: $13.43Maquoketa: $12.85Camanche: $12.75Le Claire: $12.64Milford: $12.57Tiffin: $11.80Huxley: $11.68Solon: $11.53Williamsburg: $11.11Polk City: $11.00Carter Lake: $10.67Story City: $10.39Dyersville: $10.27Spirit Lake: $10.17Robins: $9.68Asbury: $8.32Eldridge: $8.13Evansdale: $8.00Shenandoah: $15.02$8.00 lowest$20.65 highestmiddle
See all 60
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Red Oak$20.655,420
2Oelwein$20.165,788
3Albia$19.703,579
4Eagle Grove$19.323,615
5Independence$19.016,266
6Iowa Falls$18.864,993
7West Liberty$18.683,724
8Chariton$18.374,278
9Atlantic$17.486,717
10Clarinda$17.255,334
11Centerville$16.855,345
12Algona$16.755,341
13Vinton$16.254,962
14Winterset$16.155,421
15Cresco$16.133,890
16Humboldt$16.004,774
17Anamosa$15.955,845
18Charles City$15.957,081
19Forest City$15.774,199
20Sheldon$15.335,584
21Estherville$15.275,796
22Washington$15.217,281
23Harlan$15.074,898
24Shenandoah$15.024,878
25Manchester$14.965,283
26Jefferson$14.884,148
27Hampton$14.864,340
28Carlisle$14.824,381
29Cherokee$14.825,186
30Glenwood$14.775,250
31Waukon$14.763,799
32Nevada$14.587,082
33Monticello$14.494,095
34Osceola$14.375,585
35Windsor Heights$14.305,106
36Osage$14.293,559
37Orange City$14.016,547
38Rock Valley$13.764,024
39Sergeant Bluff$13.705,335
40Emmetsburg$13.703,632
41Mount Vernon$13.504,518
42New Hampton$13.443,433
43Adel$13.436,763
44Maquoketa$12.856,064
45Camanche$12.754,536
46Le Claire$12.644,776
47Milford$12.573,258
48Tiffin$11.806,695
49Huxley$11.684,737
50Solon$11.533,284
51Williamsburg$11.113,380
52Polk City$11.006,430
53Carter Lake$10.673,752
54Story City$10.393,439
55Dyersville$10.274,559
56Spirit Lake$10.175,548
57Robins$9.683,362
58Asbury$8.326,051
59Eldridge$8.136,967
60Evansdale$8.004,515

The $8.10 limit

Shenandoah’s general levy is $8.11 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.01 above the limit; it has to come down in steps.4 245 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.60 · FY26 $8.35 · FY27 $8.11 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $6.91 more5

  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$4.06 · $800,210
  • Debt Service Levy$1.44 · $287,986
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.41 · $279,220

Tax increment financing (TIF)

$2.3M of taxable value in Shenandoah is in TIF districts’ increment (1% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.6 It budgeted $144,345 in TIF revenue for FY25.

$318,111
$125,189

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 $31,196 of the city’s own.

  • Shenandoah schools$26,493
  • Page County$8,323
  • Fremont County$5,577
YearTIF revenue
FY16$192,578
FY17$289,462
FY18$318,111
FY19$267,231
FY20$274,304
FY21$214,825
FY22$208,320
FY23$125,189
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$192,578
FY17$289,462
FY18$318,111
FY19$267,231
FY20$274,304
FY21$214,825
FY22$208,320
FY23$125,189

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$1.6M54%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$800,21027%
  • Debt Service Levy$287,98610%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$279,2209%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Shenandoah’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 42¢ of every dollar42¢Public Safety: 13¢ of every dollar13¢Public Works: 12¢ of every dollar12¢Capital Projects: 12¢ of every dollar12¢Culture and Recreation: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Everything else: 12¢ of every dollar12¢

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 59 Iowa cities closest in size (3,300–7,300 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (59)
Business Type / Enterprise42¢37¢
Public Safety13¢13¢
Public Works12¢9¢
Capital Projects12¢18¢
Culture and Recreation9¢8¢
Everything else12¢16¢

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.

  • Capital Projects$2.2M22%
  • Public Safety$2.2M21%
  • Public Works$1.9M18%
  • Culture and Recreation$1.7M17%
  • Community and Economic Development$819,1508%
  • Debt Service$799,0308%
  • General Government$590,7106%
  • Health and Social Services$12,0000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($6.9M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$1.6M$1.6M
Public Safety$1.8M$1.6M
Health and Social Services$2,500$0
General Government$426,920$599,851
Debt Service$475,378$507,443
Culture and Recreation$1.4M$1.2M
Community and Economic Development$219,000$159,482
Capital Projects$3.6M$1.8M
Business Type / Enterprise$23.0M$4.3M

What it spent each year

FY24 left out8

$21.4M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Shenandoah owes

$45.0M at June 30, 2026: $9,142 per resident. 21st most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).9

$46.4M
$45.0M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$45.0M$9,142
2025$46.4M$9,414
2024$14.6M$2,968
2023$12.1M$2,452
2022$12.7M$2,585
2021$13.1M$2,661
2020$14.7M$2,990
2019$15.0M$3,050
2018$16.8M$3,412
2017$18.3M$3,716
2016$17.5M$3,550
2015$16.8M$3,416
2014$8.5M$1,735
2013$8.3M$1,682
2012$9.1M$1,843
2011$9.6M$1,940
2010$8.8M$1,789
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$45.0M$9,142
2025$46.4M$9,414
2024$14.6M$2,968
2023$12.1M$2,452
2022$12.7M$2,585
2021$13.1M$2,661
2020$14.7M$2,990
2019$15.0M$3,050
2018$16.8M$3,412
2017$18.3M$3,716
2016$17.5M$3,550
2015$16.8M$3,416
2014$8.5M$1,735
2013$8.3M$1,682
2012$9.1M$1,843
2011$9.6M$1,940
2010$8.8M$1,789

Up 411% since 2010.

The 5% limit10

General obligation debt is $4.5M, 27% of the limit of about $16.8M (5% of $336.3M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

19 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue Bonds2023 WWTP Improvement Project2027$33.0M
Revenue Bonds2013 Revenue Bond-WTP Project2035$6.3M
General Obligation2023B-WWTP West Property acquisition.2032$1.5M
General Obligation2024 GO Bond-Aerial Firetruck2039$885,142
General Obligation2022 Street Resurfacing Project [Nishna Rd., W. Thomas Ave., and Center St.].2031$645,000
Revenue Bonds2017 WWTP Digester Updates-SRF2037$464,000
General Obligation2023 GPRE Rail/Maloja2038$455,000
General Obligation2023B-Demo2034$400,000
General Obligation2023B-WWTP East Property acquisition.2033$360,000
Revenue Bonds2020A Theatre 2014 Refunding; Theatre Improvements; and GPRE Railroad2028$275,000
General Obligation2023B-Rural Fire Truck [tanker]2043$215,000
Loans2007 Revenue Bond-WWTP Improvements2027$176,000
Capital Leases/Lease to Purchase2024 Street JD Payloader2029$121,533
General Obligation2023B-Tree Care [Ash Borer removal]2033$65,000
Capital Leases/Lease to PurchaseLease: Greenmaster mower2031$53,073
Capital Leases/Lease to PurchaseLease: JD Tractor2030$44,623
Capital Leases/Lease to PurchaseLease: Triflex Snake Mower [Golf]2030$44,490
Capital Leases/Lease to PurchaseLease: Golf Course Tractor2027$23,736
Capital Leases/Lease to PurchaseLease: Golf Course Topdresser2027$11,637

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. Shenandoah’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 Friday, December 12, 2025, by the Auditor of State.

16 earlier reports for Shenandoah

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: $699,445 in FY25, up 5% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 16% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$686,411$677,735$695,669$699,445

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.

$792,609
$204,059
  • State grants$204,059100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$113,696
FY20$97,455
FY21$100,265
FY22$151,310
FY23$673,932
FY24$792,609
FY25$204,059
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$113,696
FY20$97,455
FY21$100,265
FY22$151,310
FY23$673,932
FY24$792,609
FY25$204,059

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−16%$665,306 → $699,445, up 5% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 16% 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 41% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 12% more.

$774,116
$713,530

Federal grants, for comparison: $7,200 in FY25.

Business awards

Every award statewide

State economic development awards

1 business has state awards in SHENANDOAH: $1.1M in grants, loans and tax benefits, for 12 jobs.14

  • Green Plains Shenandoah, LLC
    High Quality Jobs Program · FY22 · Under contract: Building · 12 jobs required
    $1.1M

Awards 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)15.

In a city that can hold a primary, filing runs Monday, August 9, 2027 to Thursday, August 26, 2027.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Shenandoah; 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.

  • Shenandoah City Council At-Large
    Now held by Richard Jones
  • Shenandoah City Council Ward 2 (2 seats)
    Now held by Jon Eric Brantner, Jon Eric Brantner
  • Shenandoah Park Commission
    Now held by Alissa McGinnis, Cheryl Mulligan

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here16.

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 ballot17.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress18

Tom Shipley (Sen. 9)Thomas Jay Moore (Rep. 18)

U.S. House:District 3

Page CountyShenandoah schools