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Local taxes › Palo Alto County › Ayrshire

City

Ayrshire

Palo Alto County · How cities work

$2,800 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($33.25 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,140 a yearof that goes to the city ($13.55 per $1,000)
$22,686property taxes the city levies, FY27
$197,937city budget, all funds, FY272

Who runs it

The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.

  • April GreenAyrshire City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jaime DoddAyrshire City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • William DoddAyrshire Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jacob TreybalAyrshire City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Masen FayAyrshire City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Rob AllenAyrshire 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 Ayrshire

Homes and businesses in most of Ayrshire pay a combined $33.25 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Palo Alto County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $13.55. Estimate your bill.

  • City of Ayrshire$13.5541%
  • Ruthven-Ayrshire schools$11.1534%
  • Palo Alto County$4.4813%
  • Palo Alto County Hospital$1.986%
  • Iowa Lakes Community College$1.274%
  • Palo Alto County Assessor$0.351%
  • Palo Alto County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.30<1%
  • Silver Lake-Ayrshire Cemetery$0.17<1%

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$31.66$9.63
FY21$34.26$13.22
FY22$33.60$13.24
FY23$34.74$14.01
FY24$28.23$8.37
FY25$34.17$14.53
FY26$32.96$13.49
FY27$33.25$13.55
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$31.66$9.63
FY21$34.26$13.22
FY22$33.60$13.24
FY23$34.74$14.01
FY24$28.23$8.37
FY25$34.17$14.53
FY26$32.96$13.49
FY27$33.25$13.55

Compared with places this size3

Ayrshire’s city property tax rate of $13.55 per $1,000 is the 36th highest of 158 Iowa cities with 90–190 people. The middle of the group is $10.31.

Castana: $34.13Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Whitten: $22.65Soldier: $21.92Smithland: $21.12Stanley: $20.69Coin: $19.59Rowan: $19.53Chester: $19.30Bouton: $19.25Ricketts: $19.22Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Derby: $18.13Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Prescott: $16.53Monmouth: $16.41Blockton: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Waterville: $16.25Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Woodburn: $15.59Kamrar: $15.47Goodell: $15.16Marne: $15.03Baldwin: $14.91Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Searsboro: $13.55Ferguson: $13.53Lanesboro: $13.53Calumet: $13.16Portsmouth: $13.05Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Clemons: $12.69Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Bridgewater: $12.29Arion: $12.14Webb: $12.10Decatur: $12.08Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92East Peru: $11.89Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Morley: $11.74Ledyard: $11.74Toronto: $11.68Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54College Springs: $11.44Melrose: $11.27Linn Grove: $11.15Promise City: $11.13Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Masonville: $11.00Somers: $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: $10.19Barnum: $9.96Hartwick: $9.90Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Rutland: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Superior: $9.58Webster: $9.55Martinsburg: $9.49Larrabee: $9.41Hamilton: $9.35Wiota: $9.32Floris: $9.29Mitchell: $9.22Westphalia: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Welton: $8.86Archer: $8.84Luther: $8.83Fraser: $8.81Macksburg: $8.81Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Thor: $8.38Andover: $8.28Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Rome: $8.10Carpenter: $8.10Westfield: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Morrison: $7.86Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Oyens: $7.86Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Cromwell: $7.81Mcclelland: $7.79Arispe: $7.71Luzerne: $7.69Lidderdale: $7.68Westwood: $7.67Bernard: $7.56Braddyville: $7.49Franklin: $7.31Spragueville: $7.20Weldon: $7.18Brunsville: $6.95Zwingle: $6.93Packwood: $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: $2.41New Liberty: $2.27North Buena Vista: $1.78Ayrshire: $13.55$1.78 lowest$34.13 highestmiddle
See all 158
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Castana$34.13103
2Brayton$25.07138
3Harris$23.13145
4Whitten$22.6598
5Soldier$21.92176
6Smithland$21.12184
7Stanley$20.6986
8Coin$19.59171
9Rowan$19.53118
10Chester$19.30134
11Bouton$19.25125
12Ricketts$19.22105
13Garden Grove$19.20173
14Hastings$18.95157
15Swaledale$18.62136
16Derby$18.1389
17Hillsboro$17.68158
18Bristow$17.39139
19Woolstock$17.26141
20Prescott$16.53186
21Monmouth$16.41129
22Blockton$16.37123
23Geneva$16.25137
24Waterville$16.25112
25Little Sioux$15.74170
26Moorhead$15.68186
27Woodburn$15.59133
28Kamrar$15.47178
29Goodell$15.16139
30Marne$15.03109
31Baldwin$14.9199
32Davis City$14.45178
33Lucas$14.40176
34Westgate$14.05190
35Palmer$13.89137
36Ayrshire$13.55128
37Searsboro$13.55129
38Ferguson$13.5398
39Lanesboro$13.53112
40Calumet$13.16144
41Portsmouth$13.05187
42Delaware$12.86139
43Patterson$12.84176
44Clemons$12.69135
45Millersburg$12.40135
46Aurora$12.40165
47Bridgewater$12.29145
48Arion$12.1499
49Webb$12.10139
50Decatur$12.08174
51Shambaugh$11.98161
52Lone Rock$11.92143
53East Peru$11.89119
54Henderson$11.85140
55Parnell$11.78190
56Reasnor$11.76157
57Morley$11.7494
58Ledyard$11.74118
59Toronto$11.68101
60Exline$11.60157
61Beaman$11.54155
62College Springs$11.44172
63Melrose$11.27110
64Linn Grove$11.15155
65Promise City$11.1391
66Randolph$11.08183
67Leighton$11.07153
68Rake$11.05179
69Masonville$11.0098
70Somers$10.99121
71Havelock$10.95127
72Alexander$10.90165
73Lambs Grove$10.78174
74Wallingford$10.75154
75Woden$10.68183
76Pacific Junction$10.5699
77Barnes City$10.44152
78Stockton$10.37171
79Randall$10.35156
80Meriden$10.28175
81Drakesville$10.24170
82North Washington$10.23107
83Dawson$10.19110
84Barnum$9.96186
85Hartwick$9.9091
86Clare$9.81133
87Tingley$9.81146
88Rutland$9.65116
89Van Wert$9.62175
90Rock Falls$9.61143
91Kirkville$9.59159
92Superior$9.58127
93Webster$9.5594
94Martinsburg$9.49109
95Larrabee$9.41116
96Hamilton$9.35125
97Wiota$9.3291
98Floris$9.29119
99Mitchell$9.22118
100Westphalia$9.18133
101Elberon$9.16178
102Blairsburg$8.93175
103Prairieburg$8.91156
104Welton$8.86124
105Archer$8.84116
106Luther$8.83147
107Fraser$8.81107
108Macksburg$8.81103
109Moorland$8.61169
110Pilot Mound$8.54155
111Thor$8.38182
112Andover$8.28106
113Thurman$8.26162
114Boxholm$8.11177
115Rome$8.10112
116Carpenter$8.1092
117Westfield$8.10121
118Vincent$8.09125
119Morrison$7.86101
120Mount Auburn$7.86162
121Haverhill$7.86164
122Oyens$7.8688
123Grand River$7.86192
124Olds$7.86174
125Dickens$7.86146
126Castalia$7.86141
127Rose Hill$7.86156
128West Chester$7.82147
129Cromwell$7.81104
130Mcclelland$7.79147
131Arispe$7.7195
132Luzerne$7.69111
133Lidderdale$7.68162
134Westwood$7.6796
135Bernard$7.56117
136Braddyville$7.49142
137Franklin$7.31133
138Spragueville$7.2092
139Weldon$7.18134
140Brunsville$6.95128
141Zwingle$6.9386
142Packwood$6.77186
143Houghton$6.73129
144Williamson$6.72126
145Lincoln$6.32119
146Gravity$6.18149
147Ackworth$5.90117
148Oakland Acres$5.88178
149Springbrook$5.79145
150Maysville$5.77155
151Harper$5.29117
152Panorama Park$4.62142
153Keomah Village$3.15107
154Mcintire$2.78115
155Sherrill$2.66176
156Centralia$2.41117
157New Liberty$2.27141
158North Buena Vista$1.78107

The $8.10 limit

Ayrshire’s general levy is $7.40 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.70 below the limit.4 828 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.21 · FY26 $7.62 · FY27 $7.40 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $6.15 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$5.91 · $9,480
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$0.25 · $396

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$11,87255%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$9,48044%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$3962%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Ayrshire’s budget goes, FY26

Public Works: 54¢ of every dollar54¢General Government: 28¢ of every dollar28¢Community and Economic Development: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Culture and Recreation: 6¢ of every dollarPublic Safety: 2¢ 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 158 Iowa cities closest in size (90–190 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (158)
Public Works54¢26¢
General Government28¢25¢
Community and Economic Development9¢1¢
Culture and Recreation6¢8¢
Public Safety2¢10¢
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$88,86045%
  • Culture and Recreation$50,95026%
  • General Government$46,41723%
  • Community and Economic Development$7,7004%
  • Public Safety$2,7101%
  • Health and Social Services$1,3001%
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$49,560$23,035
Public Safety$3,075$8,964
Health and Social Services$1,500$1,300
General Government$35,500$32,716
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$5,850$21,516
Community and Economic Development$4,000$23,319
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$0$0

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$130,600
$98,198

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Ayrshire owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.7

$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% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $155,783 (5% of $3.1M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. A city’s audit has them; the Auditor of State lists every city’s reports.

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: $0 in FY25, down 100% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 100% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$12,486$12,106$12,413–
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)–$206––

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.

$14,861
$11,682
  • Iowa DOT projects$11,682100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$14,861
FY20$0
FY21$0
FY22$244
FY23$0
FY24$0
FY25$11,682
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$14,861
FY20$0
FY21$0
FY22$244
FY23$0
FY24$0
FY25$11,682

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 58% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 26% more.

$25,900
$19,419

Federal grants, for comparison: $10,018 in FY23.

Business awards

Every award statewide

Elections

Running for mayor and city council

Filing opens Monday, August 23, 2027: in 286 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 Ayrshire; 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.

  • Ayrshire City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Masen Fay, Jacob Treybal, Rob Allen
  • Ayrshire Mayor
    Now held by William Dodd

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

David D. Rowley (Sen. 5)John H. Wills (Rep. 10)

U.S. House:District 4

Palo Alto CountyRuthven-Ayrshire schools