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Graettinger

Palo Alto County · How cities work

$2,760 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($32.82 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$830 a yearof that goes to the city ($9.81 per $1,000)
$322,029property taxes the city levies, FY27
$1.1Mcity 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 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.

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.

YearCombinedCity’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
YearCombinedCity’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.

Elkader: $27.11Exira: $24.81Dayton: $22.51Correctionville: $19.84Villisca: $19.74Allison: $19.06Dumont: $19.04Seymour: $18.78Dexter: $18.69Fonda: $18.52Kanawha: $18.11Swea City: $18.04Greene: $17.91Alden: $17.90New Hartford: $17.69Lansing: $17.67Strawberry Point: $17.58Rockwell: $17.54Walnut: $17.46Murray: $17.44Gowrie: $17.17Colo: $17.14Mapleton: $16.90George: $16.89Fayette: $16.85Adair: $16.84Eddyville: $16.82Elk Horn: $16.78Oxford: $16.70Buffalo Center: $16.58Bancroft: $16.52Eldon: $16.42Early: $16.35Aplington: $16.34Panora: $16.14Mechanicsville: $16.12Armstrong: $15.87Ruthven: $15.84Minden: $15.77Walker: $15.74Newell: $15.49Riceville: $15.31Neola: $15.30Sidney: $15.19Gilbertville: $15.15Stanwood: $15.12Stratford: $15.03Griswold: $15.01Readlyn: $14.99Tripoli: $14.99Hopkinton: $14.79Essex: $14.76Dunlap: $14.56Garnavillo: $14.52Maxwell: $14.50Clermont: $14.30Moulton: $14.25Mcgregor: $14.20Olin: $14.19Primghar: $14.18Sheffield: $14.16Elgin: $14.05Ossian: $13.88Redfield: $13.73Victor: $13.72Edgewood: $13.64Sioux Rapids: $13.63Donnellson: $13.63Gladbrook: $13.58Rockford: $13.52Janesville: $13.43Glidden: $13.43Calmar: $13.39Boyden: $13.39Baxter: $13.32Anita: $13.28Van Horne: $13.27Conrad: $13.23Springville: $13.22Keota: $13.21Shellsburg: $13.20De Soto: $13.18Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Treynor: $13.03Odebolt: $13.00Coggon: $12.99Earlville: $12.90Brighton: $12.88Danville: $12.87Underwood: $12.85Malvern: $12.79Montrose: $12.78Goldfield: $12.73Wellsburg: $12.68Buffalo: $12.68Delmar: $12.68Badger: $12.67Stanton: $12.62Hospers: $12.58Everly: $12.51Hazleton: $12.48West Point: $12.39Hinton: $12.38Preston: $12.38Alburnett: $12.30Hubbard: $12.30Moravia: $12.27Hedrick: $12.22Carson: $12.22Wheatland: $12.18Schaller: $12.14Winfield: $12.04Elkhart: $12.00Afton: $11.96Lowden: $11.93Tabor: $11.88Albert City: $11.88Aurelia: $11.84Merrill: $11.64Morning Sun: $11.50Battle Creek: $11.49Wall Lake: $11.43West Bend: $11.42Dakota City: $11.39Marcus: $11.31Dunkerton: $11.30Sutherland: $11.25Arcadia: $11.23Whiting: $11.21Melcher-Dallas: $11.21Shelby: $11.17University Heights: $11.12Blairstown: $11.04Manilla: $11.01Hamburg: $10.95Clarence: $10.94Ireton: $10.93Fontanelle: $10.88Grand Mound: $10.78Cambridge: $10.53Swisher: $10.39Schleswig: $10.39Melbourne: $10.38Radcliffe: $10.37Elk Run Heights: $10.33Fredericksburg: $10.27Lake Park: $10.25Ventura: $10.22Inwood: $10.22Milo: $10.20Hartford: $10.16What Cheer: $10.01Newhall: $9.99Doon: $9.78Long Grove: $9.59Lake View: $9.39Paullina: $9.21Fairbank: $9.00Winthrop: $8.94Crescent: $8.72Keosauqua: $8.58Grand Junction: $8.57Princeton: $8.24Kellogg: $8.10Lakeside: $8.10Riverside: $8.02Agency: $7.94Hills: $7.94Fremont: $7.86Larchwood: $7.52North English: $7.49Sloan: $7.49Sully: $7.41Fruitland: $7.21Lawton: $7.10Wayland: $7.07Raymond: $6.85Keystone: $6.80Shueyville: $6.79Arnolds Park: $4.95Okoboji: $3.83Graettinger: $9.81$3.83 lowest$27.11 highestmiddle
See all 183
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Elkader$27.111,192
2Exira$24.81766
3Dayton$22.51766
4Correctionville$19.84759
5Villisca$19.741,106
6Allison$19.06937
7Dumont$19.04614
8Seymour$18.78646
9Dexter$18.69631
10Fonda$18.52636
11Kanawha$18.11638
12Swea City$18.04545
13Greene$17.91971
14Alden$17.90738
15New Hartford$17.69555
16Lansing$17.67959
17Strawberry Point$17.581,141
18Rockwell$17.541,044
19Walnut$17.46728
20Murray$17.44609
21Gowrie$17.17943
22Colo$17.14856
23Mapleton$16.901,114
24George$16.891,106
25Fayette$16.851,193
26Adair$16.84792
27Eddyville$16.82965
28Elk Horn$16.78631
29Oxford$16.70715
30Buffalo Center$16.58839
31Bancroft$16.52677
32Eldon$16.42788
33Early$16.35571
34Aplington$16.341,088
35Panora$16.141,096
36Mechanicsville$16.12974
37Armstrong$15.87847
38Ruthven$15.84710
39Minden$15.77581
40Walker$15.74671
41Newell$15.49850
42Riceville$15.31807
43Neola$15.30917
44Sidney$15.191,048
45Gilbertville$15.15792
46Stanwood$15.12612
47Stratford$15.03688
48Griswold$15.01975
49Readlyn$14.99857
50Tripoli$14.991,208
51Hopkinton$14.79622
52Essex$14.76721
53Dunlap$14.561,030
54Garnavillo$14.52751
55Maxwell$14.50862
56Clermont$14.30571
57Moulton$14.25596
58Mcgregor$14.20725
59Olin$14.19652
60Primghar$14.18893
61Sheffield$14.161,123
62Elgin$14.05676
63Ossian$13.88777
64Redfield$13.73719
65Victor$13.72852
66Edgewood$13.64908
67Sioux Rapids$13.63722
68Donnellson$13.63859
69Gladbrook$13.58775
70Rockford$13.52722
71Janesville$13.431,052
72Glidden$13.431,140
73Calmar$13.391,100
74Boyden$13.39694
75Baxter$13.32983
76Anita$13.28953
77Van Horne$13.27768
78Conrad$13.231,098
79Springville$13.221,161
80Keota$13.21888
81Shellsburg$13.20987
82De Soto$13.18937
83Quasqueton$13.12587
84Farmington$13.10583
85Treynor$13.031,104
86Odebolt$13.00967
87Coggon$12.99691
88Earlville$12.90713
89Brighton$12.88592
90Danville$12.87910
91Underwood$12.85973
92Malvern$12.791,056
93Montrose$12.78734
94Goldfield$12.73617
95Wellsburg$12.68709
96Buffalo$12.681,163
97Delmar$12.68541
98Badger$12.67540
99Stanton$12.62664
100Hospers$12.58703
101Everly$12.51570
102Hazleton$12.48711
103West Point$12.39903
104Hinton$12.38959
105Preston$12.38940
106Alburnett$12.30672
107Hubbard$12.30837
108Moravia$12.27625
109Hedrick$12.22717
110Carson$12.22772
111Wheatland$12.18765
112Schaller$12.14702
113Winfield$12.041,006
114Elkhart$12.001,079
115Afton$11.96864
116Lowden$11.93767
117Tabor$11.88983
118Albert City$11.88627
119Aurelia$11.84970
120Merrill$11.64713
121Morning Sun$11.50702
122Battle Creek$11.49683
123Wall Lake$11.43739
124West Bend$11.42770
125Dakota City$11.39764
126Marcus$11.311,069
127Dunkerton$11.30840
128Sutherland$11.25628
129Arcadia$11.23588
130Whiting$11.21725
131Melcher-Dallas$11.211,193
132Shelby$11.17730
133University Heights$11.121,188
134Blairstown$11.04705
135Manilla$11.01756
136Hamburg$10.95863
137Clarence$10.94991
138Ireton$10.93571
139Fontanelle$10.88684
140Grand Mound$10.78608
141Cambridge$10.53844
142Swisher$10.39909
143Schleswig$10.39820
144Melbourne$10.38771
145Radcliffe$10.37540
146Elk Run Heights$10.331,061
147Fredericksburg$10.27983
148Lake Park$10.251,155
149Ventura$10.22701
150Inwood$10.22962
151Milo$10.20762
152Hartford$10.16729
153What Cheer$10.01595
154Newhall$9.99887
155Graettinger$9.81810
156Doon$9.78640
157Long Grove$9.59849
158Lake View$9.391,120
159Paullina$9.21979
160Fairbank$9.001,133
161Winthrop$8.94814
162Crescent$8.72626
163Keosauqua$8.58944
164Grand Junction$8.57715
165Princeton$8.24917
166Kellogg$8.10597
167Lakeside$8.10695
168Riverside$8.021,063
169Agency$7.94623
170Hills$7.94911
171Fremont$7.86688
172Larchwood$7.52954
173North English$7.491,030
174Sloan$7.491,078
175Sully$7.41891
176Fruitland$7.21928
177Lawton$7.10949
178Wayland$7.07935
179Raymond$6.85754
180Keystone$6.80616
181Shueyville$6.79725
182Arnolds Park$4.951,214
183Okoboji$3.83729

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.

YearTIF revenue
FY16$15,917
Show the numbers
YearTIF 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.

  • Consolidate General Fund$218,74168%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$60,51919%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$39,88112%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$2,7971%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Graettinger’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 75¢ of every dollar75¢Public Works: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Culture and Recreation: 5¢ of every dollarGeneral Government: 3¢ of every dollarCapital Projects: 3¢ of every dollarEverything else: 5¢ 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 182 Iowa cities closest in size (540–1,200 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (182)
Business Type / Enterprise75¢40¢
Public Works9¢16¢
Culture and Recreation5¢9¢
General Government3¢10¢
Capital Projects3¢8¢
Everything else5¢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.

  • Public Works$444,17039%
  • Culture and Recreation$236,37921%
  • General Government$123,44811%
  • Capital Projects$114,50010%
  • Debt Service$97,2239%
  • Public Safety$68,2526%
  • Community and Economic Development$41,5004%
  • Health and Social Services$4,0000%

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
FunctionBudgetSpent
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

$3.7M
$3.5M

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

$1.0M
$299,769
June 30OwedPer 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 30OwedPer 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
KindForPaid off byOwed
LoansRobins Street project2029$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
Schedule of Findings Year ended June 30,20252025-002 Preparation of Financial Statements Criteria - Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining internal controls over financial reporting and procedures related to the fair presentation of the financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Condition - The City does not have an internal control system designed to provide the preparation of the financial statements, including the accompanying footnotes, as required by generally accepted accounting principles. Cause - The staff has not obtained the expertise necessary to prepare the financial statements, including the accompanying footnotes. Effect -The audit firm was requested to draft the financial statements and accompanying notes to the financial statements, which is not unusual in an organization of your size. Recommendation - We realize that obtaining the expertise necessary to prepare the financial statements, including all necessary disclosures, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles can be considered costly and ineffective. However, it is the responsibility of the City's management and those charged with governance to make the decision whether to accept the degree of risk associated with this condition because of cost or other considerations. Response -Management feels that committing the resources necessary to remain current on GASB reporting requirements and corresponding footnote disclosures would lack benefit in relation to the cost, but will continue evaluating on a going forward basis. Conclusion- Response accepted.INSTANCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE:No matters were noted. 51 ### Page 58 City of Graettinger, Iowa Schedule of Findings Year ended June 30,2025Part II: Other Findings Related to Required Statutory Reporting:2025-A Certified Budget - Disbursements during the year ended June 30, 2025 exceeded amount budgeted in the community and economic development function. Chapter 384.20 of the Code ofiowa states, in part, "Public monies may not be expended or encumbered except under an annual or continuing appropriation."Recommendation- The budget should have been amended in sufficient amounts in accordance with chapter 3 84.18 of the Code oflowa before disbursements were allowed to exceed the budget. Response - The budget will be amended in sufficient amounts in the future, if applicable. Conclusion- Response accepted. 2025-B Questionable Disbursements- No disbursements were noted that may not meet the requirements of public purpose as defined in an Attorney General's opinion dated April25, 1979. 2025-C Travel Expense- No disbursements of City money for travel expenses of spouses of City officials or employees were noted. 2025-D Business Transactions- No transactions between the City and City officials were noted. 2025-E Restricted Donor Activity - No transactions were noted between the City, City officials, City employees and restricted donors in compliance with Chapter 68B of the Code oflowa. 2025-F Bond Coverage - Surety bond coverage of City officials and employees is in accordance with statutory provisions. The amount of coverage is reviewed annually to ensure that coverage is adequate for current operations. 2025-G Council Minutes -No transactions were found that we believe should have been approved in the City Council minutes but were not. 52 ### Page 59 City of Graettinger, Iowa Schedule of Findings Year ended June 30,20252025-H Deposits and Investments - No instances of non-compliance with the deposit and investment provisions of Chapters 12B and 12C of the Code oflowa and the City's investment policy were noted.2025-I Revenue Notes- No instances of non-compliance with the revenue note resolutions were noted.2025-J Financial Condition- The capital projects fund had a deficit balance of$32,883 as of June 30, 2025.Recommendation- The City should investigate alternatives to eliminate this deficit. Response - This deficit should be eliminated upon transfer of funds. Conclusion - Response accepted. 53
13 earlier reports for Graettinger

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
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
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.

$65,026
$17,272
  • Other$17,272100%
YearGrants 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
YearGrants 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.

$153,174
$121,748

Federal grants, for comparison: $16,917 in FY25.

Business awards

Every award statewide

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

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 Mayor
    Now 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.

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