Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Andrew DyhrkoppGraettinger City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Brandon ArmstrongGraettinger Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Jim PetersenGraettinger City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Mike FaustGraettinger City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Travis AndersonGraettinger City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Joel AldersonGraettinger City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Nathan A. HarrisGraettinger 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 Graettinger
Homes and businesses in most of Graettinger pay a combined $32.82 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, $9.81. Estimate your bill.
- Graettinger-Terril schools$14.0243%
- City of Graettinger$9.8130%
- Palo Alto County$4.4814%
- Palo Alto County Hospital$1.986%
- Iowa Lakes Community College$1.274%
- Graettinger Benefited Fire Dist$0.612%
- Palo Alto County Assessor$0.351%
- Palo Alto County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.30<1%
Rates over time
Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Graettinger pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $34.08 | $11.56 |
| FY21 | $35.04 | $12.21 |
| FY22 | $35.84 | $12.45 |
| FY23 | $36.08 | $11.08 |
| FY24 | $36.08 | $12.55 |
| FY25 | $33.62 | $10.72 |
| FY26 | $34.75 | $11.66 |
| FY27 | $32.82 | $9.81 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $34.08 | $11.56 |
| FY21 | $35.04 | $12.21 |
| FY22 | $35.84 | $12.45 |
| FY23 | $36.08 | $11.08 |
| FY24 | $36.08 | $12.55 |
| FY25 | $33.62 | $10.72 |
| FY26 | $34.75 | $11.66 |
| FY27 | $32.82 | $9.81 |
Compared with places this size3
Graettinger’s city property tax rate of $9.81 per $1,000 is the 29th lowest of 183 Iowa cities with 540–1,200 people. The middle of the group is $12.79.
See all 183
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elkader | $27.11 | 1,192 |
| 2 | Exira | $24.81 | 766 |
| 3 | Dayton | $22.51 | 766 |
| 4 | Correctionville | $19.84 | 759 |
| 5 | Villisca | $19.74 | 1,106 |
| 6 | Allison | $19.06 | 937 |
| 7 | Dumont | $19.04 | 614 |
| 8 | Seymour | $18.78 | 646 |
| 9 | Dexter | $18.69 | 631 |
| 10 | Fonda | $18.52 | 636 |
| 11 | Kanawha | $18.11 | 638 |
| 12 | Swea City | $18.04 | 545 |
| 13 | Greene | $17.91 | 971 |
| 14 | Alden | $17.90 | 738 |
| 15 | New Hartford | $17.69 | 555 |
| 16 | Lansing | $17.67 | 959 |
| 17 | Strawberry Point | $17.58 | 1,141 |
| 18 | Rockwell | $17.54 | 1,044 |
| 19 | Walnut | $17.46 | 728 |
| 20 | Murray | $17.44 | 609 |
| 21 | Gowrie | $17.17 | 943 |
| 22 | Colo | $17.14 | 856 |
| 23 | Mapleton | $16.90 | 1,114 |
| 24 | George | $16.89 | 1,106 |
| 25 | Fayette | $16.85 | 1,193 |
| 26 | Adair | $16.84 | 792 |
| 27 | Eddyville | $16.82 | 965 |
| 28 | Elk Horn | $16.78 | 631 |
| 29 | Oxford | $16.70 | 715 |
| 30 | Buffalo Center | $16.58 | 839 |
| 31 | Bancroft | $16.52 | 677 |
| 32 | Eldon | $16.42 | 788 |
| 33 | Early | $16.35 | 571 |
| 34 | Aplington | $16.34 | 1,088 |
| 35 | Panora | $16.14 | 1,096 |
| 36 | Mechanicsville | $16.12 | 974 |
| 37 | Armstrong | $15.87 | 847 |
| 38 | Ruthven | $15.84 | 710 |
| 39 | Minden | $15.77 | 581 |
| 40 | Walker | $15.74 | 671 |
| 41 | Newell | $15.49 | 850 |
| 42 | Riceville | $15.31 | 807 |
| 43 | Neola | $15.30 | 917 |
| 44 | Sidney | $15.19 | 1,048 |
| 45 | Gilbertville | $15.15 | 792 |
| 46 | Stanwood | $15.12 | 612 |
| 47 | Stratford | $15.03 | 688 |
| 48 | Griswold | $15.01 | 975 |
| 49 | Readlyn | $14.99 | 857 |
| 50 | Tripoli | $14.99 | 1,208 |
| 51 | Hopkinton | $14.79 | 622 |
| 52 | Essex | $14.76 | 721 |
| 53 | Dunlap | $14.56 | 1,030 |
| 54 | Garnavillo | $14.52 | 751 |
| 55 | Maxwell | $14.50 | 862 |
| 56 | Clermont | $14.30 | 571 |
| 57 | Moulton | $14.25 | 596 |
| 58 | Mcgregor | $14.20 | 725 |
| 59 | Olin | $14.19 | 652 |
| 60 | Primghar | $14.18 | 893 |
| 61 | Sheffield | $14.16 | 1,123 |
| 62 | Elgin | $14.05 | 676 |
| 63 | Ossian | $13.88 | 777 |
| 64 | Redfield | $13.73 | 719 |
| 65 | Victor | $13.72 | 852 |
| 66 | Edgewood | $13.64 | 908 |
| 67 | Sioux Rapids | $13.63 | 722 |
| 68 | Donnellson | $13.63 | 859 |
| 69 | Gladbrook | $13.58 | 775 |
| 70 | Rockford | $13.52 | 722 |
| 71 | Janesville | $13.43 | 1,052 |
| 72 | Glidden | $13.43 | 1,140 |
| 73 | Calmar | $13.39 | 1,100 |
| 74 | Boyden | $13.39 | 694 |
| 75 | Baxter | $13.32 | 983 |
| 76 | Anita | $13.28 | 953 |
| 77 | Van Horne | $13.27 | 768 |
| 78 | Conrad | $13.23 | 1,098 |
| 79 | Springville | $13.22 | 1,161 |
| 80 | Keota | $13.21 | 888 |
| 81 | Shellsburg | $13.20 | 987 |
| 82 | De Soto | $13.18 | 937 |
| 83 | Quasqueton | $13.12 | 587 |
| 84 | Farmington | $13.10 | 583 |
| 85 | Treynor | $13.03 | 1,104 |
| 86 | Odebolt | $13.00 | 967 |
| 87 | Coggon | $12.99 | 691 |
| 88 | Earlville | $12.90 | 713 |
| 89 | Brighton | $12.88 | 592 |
| 90 | Danville | $12.87 | 910 |
| 91 | Underwood | $12.85 | 973 |
| 92 | Malvern | $12.79 | 1,056 |
| 93 | Montrose | $12.78 | 734 |
| 94 | Goldfield | $12.73 | 617 |
| 95 | Wellsburg | $12.68 | 709 |
| 96 | Buffalo | $12.68 | 1,163 |
| 97 | Delmar | $12.68 | 541 |
| 98 | Badger | $12.67 | 540 |
| 99 | Stanton | $12.62 | 664 |
| 100 | Hospers | $12.58 | 703 |
| 101 | Everly | $12.51 | 570 |
| 102 | Hazleton | $12.48 | 711 |
| 103 | West Point | $12.39 | 903 |
| 104 | Hinton | $12.38 | 959 |
| 105 | Preston | $12.38 | 940 |
| 106 | Alburnett | $12.30 | 672 |
| 107 | Hubbard | $12.30 | 837 |
| 108 | Moravia | $12.27 | 625 |
| 109 | Hedrick | $12.22 | 717 |
| 110 | Carson | $12.22 | 772 |
| 111 | Wheatland | $12.18 | 765 |
| 112 | Schaller | $12.14 | 702 |
| 113 | Winfield | $12.04 | 1,006 |
| 114 | Elkhart | $12.00 | 1,079 |
| 115 | Afton | $11.96 | 864 |
| 116 | Lowden | $11.93 | 767 |
| 117 | Tabor | $11.88 | 983 |
| 118 | Albert City | $11.88 | 627 |
| 119 | Aurelia | $11.84 | 970 |
| 120 | Merrill | $11.64 | 713 |
| 121 | Morning Sun | $11.50 | 702 |
| 122 | Battle Creek | $11.49 | 683 |
| 123 | Wall Lake | $11.43 | 739 |
| 124 | West Bend | $11.42 | 770 |
| 125 | Dakota City | $11.39 | 764 |
| 126 | Marcus | $11.31 | 1,069 |
| 127 | Dunkerton | $11.30 | 840 |
| 128 | Sutherland | $11.25 | 628 |
| 129 | Arcadia | $11.23 | 588 |
| 130 | Whiting | $11.21 | 725 |
| 131 | Melcher-Dallas | $11.21 | 1,193 |
| 132 | Shelby | $11.17 | 730 |
| 133 | University Heights | $11.12 | 1,188 |
| 134 | Blairstown | $11.04 | 705 |
| 135 | Manilla | $11.01 | 756 |
| 136 | Hamburg | $10.95 | 863 |
| 137 | Clarence | $10.94 | 991 |
| 138 | Ireton | $10.93 | 571 |
| 139 | Fontanelle | $10.88 | 684 |
| 140 | Grand Mound | $10.78 | 608 |
| 141 | Cambridge | $10.53 | 844 |
| 142 | Swisher | $10.39 | 909 |
| 143 | Schleswig | $10.39 | 820 |
| 144 | Melbourne | $10.38 | 771 |
| 145 | Radcliffe | $10.37 | 540 |
| 146 | Elk Run Heights | $10.33 | 1,061 |
| 147 | Fredericksburg | $10.27 | 983 |
| 148 | Lake Park | $10.25 | 1,155 |
| 149 | Ventura | $10.22 | 701 |
| 150 | Inwood | $10.22 | 962 |
| 151 | Milo | $10.20 | 762 |
| 152 | Hartford | $10.16 | 729 |
| 153 | What Cheer | $10.01 | 595 |
| 154 | Newhall | $9.99 | 887 |
| 155 | Graettinger | $9.81 | 810 |
| 156 | Doon | $9.78 | 640 |
| 157 | Long Grove | $9.59 | 849 |
| 158 | Lake View | $9.39 | 1,120 |
| 159 | Paullina | $9.21 | 979 |
| 160 | Fairbank | $9.00 | 1,133 |
| 161 | Winthrop | $8.94 | 814 |
| 162 | Crescent | $8.72 | 626 |
| 163 | Keosauqua | $8.58 | 944 |
| 164 | Grand Junction | $8.57 | 715 |
| 165 | Princeton | $8.24 | 917 |
| 166 | Kellogg | $8.10 | 597 |
| 167 | Lakeside | $8.10 | 695 |
| 168 | Riverside | $8.02 | 1,063 |
| 169 | Agency | $7.94 | 623 |
| 170 | Hills | $7.94 | 911 |
| 171 | Fremont | $7.86 | 688 |
| 172 | Larchwood | $7.52 | 954 |
| 173 | North English | $7.49 | 1,030 |
| 174 | Sloan | $7.49 | 1,078 |
| 175 | Sully | $7.41 | 891 |
| 176 | Fruitland | $7.21 | 928 |
| 177 | Lawton | $7.10 | 949 |
| 178 | Wayland | $7.07 | 935 |
| 179 | Raymond | $6.85 | 754 |
| 180 | Keystone | $6.80 | 616 |
| 181 | Shueyville | $6.79 | 725 |
| 182 | Arnolds Park | $4.95 | 1,214 |
| 183 | Okoboji | $3.83 | 729 |
The $8.10 limit
Graettinger’s general levy is $6.67 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $1.43 below the limit.4 870 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.
FY23 $7.49 · FY24 $7.49 · FY25 $6.93 · FY26 $7.49 · FY27 $6.67 (before FY25, the general levy alone)
Outside the limit: $3.15 more5
- Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.84 · $60,519
- Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.22 · $39,881
- Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$0.09 · $2,797
Tax increment financing (TIF)
Graettinger’s TIF revenue, from its reports to the state.
| Year | TIF revenue |
|---|---|
| FY16 | $15,917 |
Show the numbers
| Year | TIF revenue |
|---|---|
| FY16 | $15,917 |
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.
Budget and spending
Where each dollar of Graettinger’s budget goes, FY26
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 182 Iowa cities closest in size (540–1,200 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (182) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Type / Enterprise | 75¢ | 40¢ |
| Public Works | 9¢ | 16¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 5¢ | 9¢ |
| General Government | 3¢ | 10¢ |
| Capital Projects | 3¢ | 8¢ |
| Everything else | 5¢ | 18¢ |
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.
The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($2.8M in FY26), so this total is low.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $412,074 | $514,973 |
| Public Safety | $67,078 | $65,957 |
| Health and Social Services | $3,500 | $3,965 |
| General Government | $103,151 | $113,813 |
| Debt Service | $97,223 | $0 |
| Culture and Recreation | $174,247 | $166,186 |
| Community and Economic Development | $27,900 | $106,274 |
| Capital Projects | $292,985 | $199,672 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $2.7M | $2.2M |
What it spent each year
FY24 left out6
Debt, reserves and audits
How local debt works · What an audit tells you
What Graettinger owes
$299,769 at June 30, 2026: $360 per resident. 660th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $299,769 | $360 |
| 2025 | $405,093 | $487 |
| 2024 | $525,213 | $631 |
| 2023 | $787,657 | $947 |
| 2022 | $787,657 | $947 |
| 2021 | $917,880 | $1,103 |
| 2020 | $1.0M | $1,249 |
| 2019 | $196,000 | $236 |
| 2018 | $227,000 | $273 |
| 2017 | $258,000 | $310 |
| 2016 | $289,000 | $347 |
| 2015 | $338,000 | $406 |
| 2014 | $383,000 | $460 |
| 2013 | $427,000 | $513 |
| 2012 | $469,000 | $564 |
| 2011 | $510,000 | $613 |
| 2010 | $606,500 | $729 |
Show the numbers
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $299,769 | $360 |
| 2025 | $405,093 | $487 |
| 2024 | $525,213 | $631 |
| 2023 | $787,657 | $947 |
| 2022 | $787,657 | $947 |
| 2021 | $917,880 | $1,103 |
| 2020 | $1.0M | $1,249 |
| 2019 | $196,000 | $236 |
| 2018 | $227,000 | $273 |
| 2017 | $258,000 | $310 |
| 2016 | $289,000 | $347 |
| 2015 | $338,000 | $406 |
| 2014 | $383,000 | $460 |
| 2013 | $427,000 | $513 |
| 2012 | $469,000 | $564 |
| 2011 | $510,000 | $613 |
| 2010 | $606,500 | $729 |
Down 51% since 2010.
The 5% limit8
General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $2.3M (5% of $46.1M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).
1 obligation at June 30, 2026
| Kind | For | Paid off by | Owed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans | Robins Street project | 2029 | $299,769 |
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 balances9. Graettinger’s latest audit has them: Financial Statement, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).
Audits10
The latest: Financial Statement for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Wednesday, August 12, 2026, by a CPA firm.
AI summary11
- The city spent more money on community and economic development than was allowed by its budget, which violates state law.
- The capital projects fund had a deficit balance of $32,883.
- The city lacks the internal expertise to prepare its own official financial statements and footnotes.
- Management said they will amend the budget in the future if needed, plan to eliminate the deficit by transferring funds, and will continue to evaluate the cost of hiring expertise for financial reporting.
The findings, as the report states them
13 earlier reports for Graettinger
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2024Friday, July 18, 2025
- Financial Statement, period ending Friday, June 30, 2023Wednesday, May 15, 2024
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2022Tuesday, December 20, 2022
- Financial Statement, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021Tuesday, June 14, 2022
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2020Thursday, June 24, 2021
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2019Tuesday, April 14, 2020
- Financial Statement, period ending Saturday, June 30, 2018Thursday, March 28, 2019
- Financial Statement, period ending Friday, June 30, 2017Wednesday, March 14, 2018
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2016Thursday, March 16, 2017
- Annual Examination, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2015Thursday, August 27, 2015
- Annual Examination, period ending Monday, June 30, 2014Friday, March 13, 2015
- Annual Examination, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2013Thursday, January 23, 2014
- Financial Statement, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2010Wednesday, December 15, 2010
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? 12
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: $124,534 in FY25, up 5% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 16% less. Grants are below.
Show the numbers
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $115,310 | $114,493 | $117,522 | $118,160 |
| Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”) | $10,197 | $8,922 | $26,123 | $6,374 |
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.
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $36,043 |
| FY20 | $1,429 |
| FY21 | $37,413 |
| FY22 | $49,904 |
| FY23 | $65,026 |
| FY24 | $40,000 |
| FY25 | $17,272 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $36,043 |
| FY20 | $1,429 |
| FY21 | $37,413 |
| FY22 | $49,904 |
| FY23 | $65,026 |
| FY24 | $40,000 |
| FY25 | $17,272 |
Has it kept up with prices?
Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.
- Road Use Tax (streets)−14%$109,033 → $118,160, up 8% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 14% less
- Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)−48%$9,807 → $6,374, down 35% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 48% 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 49% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 19% more.
Federal grants, for comparison: $16,917 in FY25.
Business awards
Elections
Running for mayor and city council
Filing opens Monday, August 23, 2027: in 284 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)13.
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
3 seats: the top 3 win.
- Mike Faust Winner11926.8%
- Andrew Dyhrkopp Winner11626.1%
- Jim Petersen Winner10623.9%
- Bruce Masters 10323.2%
- Travis Anderson Winner11483.2%
- Margaret Tatman 2316.8%
- Brandon Armstrong Unopposed133100.0%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Graettinger; 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.
- Graettinger City Council At-Large (2 seats)Now held by Nathan A. Harris, Joel Alderson
- Graettinger MayorNow held by Brandon Armstrong
Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here14.
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 ballot15.
Related places
At the Statehouse and in Congress16
David D. Rowley (Sen. 5)John H. Wills (Rep. 10)
U.S. House:District 4