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Local taxes › Pocahontas County › Laurens

City

Laurens

Pocahontas County · How cities work

$3,680 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($43.73 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$2,040 a yearof that goes to the city ($24.16 per $1,000)
$867,493property taxes the city levies, FY27
$1.6Mcity 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.

  • Homer MartzLaurens City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Rick WoodleyLaurens City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Aaron ChristensonLaurens City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Hannah ZylstraLaurens City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Loren BoothLaurens City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Rodney JohnsonLaurens Mayor · 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 Laurens

Homes and businesses in most of Laurens pay a combined $43.73 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Pocahontas County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $24.16. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$40.10$22.01
FY21$39.70$22.21
FY22$39.59$22.19
FY23$40.38$22.80
FY24$42.18$23.82
FY25$45.59$26.16
FY26$45.12$25.34
FY27$43.73$24.16
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$40.10$22.01
FY21$39.70$22.21
FY22$39.59$22.19
FY23$40.38$22.80
FY24$42.18$23.82
FY25$45.59$26.16
FY26$45.12$25.34
FY27$43.73$24.16

Compared with places this size3

Laurens’s city property tax rate of $24.16 per $1,000 is the 2nd highest of 147 Iowa cities with 840–1,900 people. The middle of the group is $13.39.

Elkader: $27.11Pocahontas: $20.79Villisca: $19.74Traer: $19.56Corning: $19.36Lake City: $19.32Allison: $19.06Corydon: $18.22Dysart: $17.95Greene: $17.91Lansing: $17.67Strawberry Point: $17.58Rockwell: $17.54Gowrie: $17.17Colo: $17.14Mapleton: $16.90George: $16.89Manson: $16.87Fayette: $16.85Eddyville: $16.82Nashua: $16.81Ackley: $16.63Buffalo Center: $16.58Roland: $16.51Monona: $16.41Aplington: $16.34Durant: $16.24Panora: $16.14Mechanicsville: $16.12Dike: $15.94Armstrong: $15.87Holstein: $15.81State Center: $15.80Pleasantville: $15.80Earlham: $15.55Shell Rock: $15.52Brooklyn: $15.49Newell: $15.49Mount Ayr: $15.32Neola: $15.30Guttenberg: $15.19Sidney: $15.19Logan: $15.05Griswold: $15.01Readlyn: $14.99Tripoli: $14.99Woodbine: $14.80Bedford: $14.66Lenox: $14.65Manning: $14.62Van Meter: $14.60Dunlap: $14.56Maxwell: $14.50Coon Rapids: $14.49Nora Springs: $14.25Kingsley: $14.25Urbana: $14.20Primghar: $14.18Sheffield: $14.16Hartley: $14.11Woodward: $14.05Guthrie Center: $14.04Alton: $13.87Montezuma: $13.79Victor: $13.72Gilbert: $13.71Edgewood: $13.64Donnellson: $13.63Clarksville: $13.53Avoca: $13.51Janesville: $13.43Glidden: $13.43Calmar: $13.39Baxter: $13.32Manly: $13.29Anita: $13.28Conrad: $13.23Springville: $13.22Keota: $13.21Shellsburg: $13.20De Soto: $13.18Treynor: $13.03Odebolt: $13.00Akron: $12.93Leon: $12.93Danville: $12.87Underwood: $12.85New Sharon: $12.80Slater: $12.79Malvern: $12.79Buffalo: $12.68Sanborn: $12.62New London: $12.56West Point: $12.39Hinton: $12.38Preston: $12.38Remsen: $12.32Hubbard: $12.30Reinbeck: $12.10Winfield: $12.04Elkhart: $12.00Afton: $11.96Tabor: $11.88Wellman: $11.88Aurelia: $11.84Blue Grass: $11.79Columbus Junction: $11.71Palo: $11.49Prairie City: $11.38Marcus: $11.31Dunkerton: $11.30Mediapolis: $11.27Melcher-Dallas: $11.21University Heights: $11.12Hamburg: $10.95Clarence: $10.94Farley: $10.91Oakland: $10.85Moville: $10.67Cambridge: $10.53Swisher: $10.39Elk Run Heights: $10.33Walcott: $10.29Fredericksburg: $10.27Lake Park: $10.25Inwood: $10.22Central City: $10.01Newhall: $9.99Long Grove: $9.59Lake View: $9.39Paullina: $9.21Fairbank: $9.00Walford: $8.72Keosauqua: $8.58Princeton: $8.24Lone Tree: $8.13Riverside: $8.02Hills: $7.94Larchwood: $7.52North English: $7.49Sloan: $7.49Sully: $7.41Fruitland: $7.21Lawton: $7.10Wayland: $7.07Arnolds Park: $4.95Laurens: $24.16$4.95 lowest$27.11 highestmiddle
See all 147
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Elkader$27.111,192
2Laurens$24.161,253
3Pocahontas$20.791,848
4Villisca$19.741,106
5Traer$19.561,547
6Corning$19.361,509
7Lake City$19.321,656
8Allison$19.06937
9Corydon$18.221,563
10Dysart$17.951,266
11Greene$17.91971
12Lansing$17.67959
13Strawberry Point$17.581,141
14Rockwell$17.541,044
15Gowrie$17.17943
16Colo$17.14856
17Mapleton$16.901,114
18George$16.891,106
19Manson$16.871,646
20Fayette$16.851,193
21Eddyville$16.82965
22Nashua$16.811,515
23Ackley$16.631,538
24Buffalo Center$16.58839
25Roland$16.511,376
26Monona$16.411,462
27Aplington$16.341,088
28Durant$16.241,798
29Panora$16.141,096
30Mechanicsville$16.12974
31Dike$15.941,293
32Armstrong$15.87847
33Holstein$15.811,475
34State Center$15.801,403
35Pleasantville$15.801,696
36Earlham$15.551,411
37Shell Rock$15.521,265
38Brooklyn$15.491,474
39Newell$15.49850
40Mount Ayr$15.321,616
41Neola$15.30917
42Guttenberg$15.191,804
43Sidney$15.191,048
44Logan$15.051,351
45Griswold$15.01975
46Readlyn$14.99857
47Tripoli$14.991,208
48Woodbine$14.801,707
49Bedford$14.661,474
50Lenox$14.651,355
51Manning$14.621,390
52Van Meter$14.601,840
53Dunlap$14.561,030
54Maxwell$14.50862
55Coon Rapids$14.491,258
56Nora Springs$14.251,330
57Kingsley$14.251,394
58Urbana$14.201,635
59Primghar$14.18893
60Sheffield$14.161,123
61Hartley$14.111,584
62Woodward$14.051,383
63Guthrie Center$14.041,579
64Alton$13.871,248
65Montezuma$13.791,421
66Victor$13.72852
67Gilbert$13.711,397
68Edgewood$13.64908
69Donnellson$13.63859
70Clarksville$13.531,238
71Avoca$13.511,685
72Janesville$13.431,052
73Glidden$13.431,140
74Calmar$13.391,100
75Baxter$13.32983
76Manly$13.291,233
77Anita$13.28953
78Conrad$13.231,098
79Springville$13.221,161
80Keota$13.21888
81Shellsburg$13.20987
82De Soto$13.18937
83Treynor$13.031,104
84Odebolt$13.00967
85Akron$12.931,545
86Leon$12.931,779
87Danville$12.87910
88Underwood$12.85973
89New Sharon$12.801,249
90Slater$12.791,626
91Malvern$12.791,056
92Buffalo$12.681,163
93Sanborn$12.621,463
94New London$12.561,853
95West Point$12.39903
96Hinton$12.38959
97Preston$12.38940
98Remsen$12.321,681
99Hubbard$12.30837
100Reinbeck$12.101,673
101Winfield$12.041,006
102Elkhart$12.001,079
103Afton$11.96864
104Tabor$11.88983
105Wellman$11.881,531
106Aurelia$11.84970
107Blue Grass$11.791,707
108Columbus Junction$11.711,794
109Palo$11.491,554
110Prairie City$11.381,722
111Marcus$11.311,069
112Dunkerton$11.30840
113Mediapolis$11.271,679
114Melcher-Dallas$11.211,193
115University Heights$11.121,188
116Hamburg$10.95863
117Clarence$10.94991
118Farley$10.911,723
119Oakland$10.851,519
120Moville$10.671,707
121Cambridge$10.53844
122Swisher$10.39909
123Elk Run Heights$10.331,061
124Walcott$10.291,556
125Fredericksburg$10.27983
126Lake Park$10.251,155
127Inwood$10.22962
128Central City$10.011,254
129Newhall$9.99887
130Long Grove$9.59849
131Lake View$9.391,120
132Paullina$9.21979
133Fairbank$9.001,133
134Walford$8.721,357
135Keosauqua$8.58944
136Princeton$8.24917
137Lone Tree$8.131,341
138Riverside$8.021,063
139Hills$7.94911
140Larchwood$7.52954
141North English$7.491,030
142Sloan$7.491,078
143Sully$7.41891
144Fruitland$7.21928
145Lawton$7.10949
146Wayland$7.07935
147Arnolds Park$4.951,214

The $8.10 limit

Laurens’s general levy is $8.32 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.22 above the limit; it has to come down in steps.4 82 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.57 · FY26 $8.57 · FY27 $8.32 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $15.84 more5

  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$6.62 · $237,532
  • Debt Service Levy$5.17 · $185,424
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$3.38 · $121,493
  • Capital Projects (Capital Improv. Reserve)$0.68 · $24,230

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$298,76134%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$237,53227%
  • Debt Service Levy$185,42421%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$121,49314%
  • Capital Projects (Capital Improv. Reserve)$24,2303%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Laurens’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 46¢ of every dollar46¢Public Safety: 14¢ of every dollar14¢Culture and Recreation: 12¢ of every dollar12¢Debt Service: 11¢ of every dollar11¢Public Works: 10¢ of every dollar10¢Everything else: 7¢ of every dollar7¢

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 146 Iowa cities closest in size (840–1,900 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (146)
Business Type / Enterprise46¢41¢
Public Safety14¢10¢
Culture and Recreation12¢9¢
Debt Service11¢6¢
Public Works10¢13¢
Everything else7¢10¢

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 Safety$485,31029%
  • Culture and Recreation$398,81724%
  • Public Works$329,00020%
  • General Government$215,42513%
  • Debt Service$186,96111%
  • Community and Economic Development$32,5002%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($1.4M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$290,200$251,947
Public Safety$455,051$365,619
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$143,985$156,852
Debt Service$259,138$188,000
Culture and Recreation$295,440$305,046
Community and Economic Development$42,500$185,260
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$1.2M$1.1M

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$3.7M

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? 7

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: $179,512 in FY25, up 10% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 12% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$174,578$173,941$178,543$179,512
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$13,649$8,621$7,453–

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.

$134,835
$38,662
  • State grants$38,662100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$116,088
FY20$50,265
FY21$123,776
FY22$134,835
FY23$38,928
FY24$37,090
FY25$38,662
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$116,088
FY20$50,265
FY21$123,776
FY22$134,835
FY23$38,928
FY24$37,090
FY25$38,662

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−12%$162,516 → $179,512, up 10% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 12% 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.

$157,858
$157,445

Federal grants, for comparison: $31,888 in FY25.

Elections

Most recent: November 4, 2025

City · 1

2 seats: the top 2 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Laurens; official results are on each county auditor’s site.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress8

Tim Kraayenbrink (Sen. 4)Wendy Larson (Rep. 7)

U.S. House:District 4

Pocahontas CountyLaurens-Marathon schools