Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Dennis LymanBondurant City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Doug ElrodBondurant Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Matt SillanpaaBondurant City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Angela McKenzieBondurant City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Chad DriscollBondurant City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Tara CoxBondurant 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 Bondurant
Homes and businesses in most of Bondurant pay a combined $27.14 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Polk County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $10.82. Estimate your bill.
- Bondurant-Farrar schools$17.0049%
- City of Bondurant$10.8231%
- Polk County$6.6119%
Rates over time
Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Bondurant pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $35.80 | $13.74 |
| FY21 | $34.63 | $11.79 |
| FY22 | $38.29 | $11.62 |
| FY23 | $32.90 | $11.27 |
| FY24 | $32.87 | $11.26 |
| FY25 | $32.46 | $10.84 |
| FY26 | $32.43 | $10.83 |
| FY27 | $31.76 | $10.82 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $35.80 | $13.74 |
| FY21 | $34.63 | $11.79 |
| FY22 | $38.29 | $11.62 |
| FY23 | $32.90 | $11.27 |
| FY24 | $32.87 | $11.26 |
| FY25 | $32.46 | $10.84 |
| FY26 | $32.43 | $10.83 |
| FY27 | $31.76 | $10.82 |
Compared with places this size3
Bondurant’s city property tax rate of $10.82 per $1,000 is the 4th lowest of 33 Iowa cities with 6,400–12,000 people. The middle of the group is $14.58.
See all 33
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keokuk | $19.68 | 9,462 |
| 2 | Fort Madison | $18.84 | 9,983 |
| 3 | Denison | $18.69 | 8,302 |
| 4 | Perry | $17.91 | 8,046 |
| 5 | Waverly | $17.53 | 10,576 |
| 6 | Atlantic | $17.48 | 6,717 |
| 7 | Knoxville | $17.46 | 7,440 |
| 8 | Fairfield | $16.69 | 9,511 |
| 9 | Webster City | $16.51 | 7,763 |
| 10 | Charles City | $15.95 | 7,081 |
| 11 | Grinnell | $15.60 | 9,495 |
| 12 | Decorah | $15.52 | 7,454 |
| 13 | Washington | $15.21 | 7,281 |
| 14 | Storm Lake | $15.17 | 11,627 |
| 15 | Boone | $15.13 | 12,461 |
| 16 | Creston | $14.99 | 7,421 |
| 17 | Nevada | $14.58 | 7,082 |
| 18 | Oskaloosa | $14.47 | 11,575 |
| 19 | Orange City | $14.01 | 6,547 |
| 20 | Spencer | $13.84 | 11,418 |
| 21 | Hiawatha | $13.78 | 7,347 |
| 22 | Adel | $13.43 | 6,763 |
| 23 | Pleasant Hill | $12.10 | 11,942 |
| 24 | Mount Pleasant | $11.94 | 8,509 |
| 25 | Tiffin | $11.80 | 6,695 |
| 26 | Carroll | $11.25 | 10,125 |
| 27 | Le Mars | $11.18 | 10,674 |
| 28 | Sioux Center | $11.05 | 8,675 |
| 29 | Polk City | $11.00 | 6,430 |
| 30 | Bondurant | $10.82 | 9,511 |
| 31 | Pella | $10.75 | 10,965 |
| 32 | Clear Lake | $9.85 | 7,602 |
| 33 | Eldridge | $8.13 | 6,967 |
The $8.10 limit
Bondurant’s general levy is $8.10 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, at the limit.4 247 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.
FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.07 · FY26 $7.99 · FY27 $8.10 (before FY25, the general levy alone)
Outside the limit: $2.72 more5
- Debt Service Levy$2.20 · $1.7M
- Liability, property & self insurance costs$0.35 · $184,387
- Total Employee Benefit Levies$0.17 · $91,621
- Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$0.01 · $4,031
Tax increment financing (TIF)
$248.8M of taxable value in Bondurant is in TIF districts’ increment (32% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.6 It budgeted $3.4M in TIF revenue for FY25.
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 $2.1M of the city’s own.
| Year | TIF revenue |
|---|---|
| FY16 | $480,316 |
| FY17 | $467,205 |
| FY18 | $434,070 |
| FY19 | $492,063 |
| FY20 | $578,145 |
| FY21 | $536,611 |
| FY22 | $1.3M |
| FY23 | $1.6M |
Show the numbers
| Year | TIF revenue |
|---|---|
| FY16 | $480,316 |
| FY17 | $467,205 |
| FY18 | $434,070 |
| FY19 | $492,063 |
| FY20 | $578,145 |
| FY21 | $536,611 |
| FY22 | $1.3M |
| FY23 | $1.6M |
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 Bondurant’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 32 Iowa cities closest in size (6,400–12,000 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (32) |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Projects | 67¢ | 22¢ |
| Business Type / Enterprise | 9¢ | 36¢ |
| Public Safety | 8¢ | 13¢ |
| Debt Service | 8¢ | 7¢ |
| Public Works | 4¢ | 8¢ |
| Everything else | 5¢ | 15¢ |
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 ($5.4M in FY26), so this total is low.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $1.7M | $1.6M |
| Public Safety | $2.2M | $2.5M |
| Health and Social Services | $48,300 | $28,469 |
| General Government | $791,044 | $693,338 |
| Debt Service | $2.9M | $2.9M |
| Culture and Recreation | $1.1M | $1.3M |
| Community and Economic Development | $708,374 | $784,008 |
| Capital Projects | $12.6M | $9.1M |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $4.4M | $4.4M |
What it spent each year
FY24 left out8
Bondurant’s own budget documents
The adopted budgets, resolutions and hearing notices the city posts, often weeks before the state publishes the figures. The city’s finance page
- Annual Finance Report and External Audit FY25Audit
- Annual Finance Report and External Audit FY24Audit
- Annual Finance Report and External Audit FY23Audit
- Annual Finance Report and External Audit FY22Audit
- Annual Finance Report and External Audit FY21Audit
- 2008 Audit ReportAudit
32 older
- 2009 Audit ReportAudit
- 2010 Audit ReporAudit
- 2011 Audit ReportAudit
- 2012 Audit ReportAudit
- 2013 Audit ReportAudit
- 2014 Audit ReportAudit
- 2015 Audit ReportAudit
- 2016 Audit ReportAudit
- 2017 Audit ReportAudit
- 2018 Annual Financial ReportAudit
- 2019 Annual Financial ReportAudit
- 2020 Annual Financial ReportAudit
- Budget Book Year 2019Budget
- Budget Book Year 2020Budget
- Budget Book Year 2021Budget
- Budget Book Year 2022Budget
- Budget Year 2008Budget
- Budget Year 2009Budget
- Budget Year 2010Budget
- Budget Year 2011Budget
- Budget Year 2012Budget
- Budget Year 2013Budget
- Budget Year 2014Budget
- Budget Year 2015Budget
- Budget Year 2016Budget
- Budget Year 2017Budget
- Budget Year 2018Budget
- 2022 Budget PresentationPresentation
- 2023 Budget PresentationPresentation
- 2024 Budget PresentationPresentation
- 2025 Budget PresentationPresentation
- 2026 Budget PresentationPresentation
Debt, reserves and audits
How local debt works · What an audit tells you
What Bondurant owes
$50.3M at June 30, 2026: $6,830 per resident. 56th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).9
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $50.3M | $6,830 |
| 2025 | $50.8M | $6,900 |
| 2024 | $56.9M | $7,726 |
| 2023 | $39.2M | $5,320 |
| 2022 | $41.1M | $5,579 |
| 2021 | $29.4M | $3,994 |
| 2020 | $19.2M | $2,602 |
| 2019 | $8.6M | $1,173 |
| 2018 | $10.8M | $1,466 |
| 2017 | $8.4M | $1,138 |
| 2016 | $8.6M | $1,165 |
| 2015 | $8.8M | $1,194 |
| 2014 | $9.7M | $1,315 |
| 2013 | $9.4M | $1,282 |
| 2012 | $7.6M | $1,033 |
| 2011 | $6.3M | $855 |
| 2010 | $6.8M | $930 |
Show the numbers
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $50.3M | $6,830 |
| 2025 | $50.8M | $6,900 |
| 2024 | $56.9M | $7,726 |
| 2023 | $39.2M | $5,320 |
| 2022 | $41.1M | $5,579 |
| 2021 | $29.4M | $3,994 |
| 2020 | $19.2M | $2,602 |
| 2019 | $8.6M | $1,173 |
| 2018 | $10.8M | $1,466 |
| 2017 | $8.4M | $1,138 |
| 2016 | $8.6M | $1,165 |
| 2015 | $8.8M | $1,194 |
| 2014 | $9.7M | $1,315 |
| 2013 | $9.4M | $1,282 |
| 2012 | $7.6M | $1,033 |
| 2011 | $6.3M | $855 |
| 2010 | $6.8M | $930 |
Up 635% since 2010.
The 5% limit10
General obligation debt is $38.1M, 66% of the limit of about $57.9M (5% of $1.16B, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).
15 obligations at June 30, 2026
| Kind | For | Paid off by | Owed |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Obligation | 2023B, GO URB REM BD | 2039 | $11.2M |
| General Obligation | 2025A GO Corporate Purpose | 2044 | $10.2M |
| Loans | 2023 SFR WATER MAINS AND TOWER | 2044 | $7.5M |
| General Obligation | 2023A, GO CORP PURP BD | 2039 | $6.0M |
| General Obligation | 2020B Street and capital facilities | 2034 | $4.8M |
| General Obligation | 2020D GO CORP PURP BD LIB TO BE PAID FOR BY LOSST REVENUE | 2040 | $2.6M |
| Revenue Bonds | 2020C Sewer extension NW trunk | 2035 | $1.7M |
| Revenue Bonds | 2020E STORMWATER REVENUE BONDS | 2040 | $1.7M |
| General Obligation | 2020A Capital equipment, parks, and street inpmrovements | 2032 | $1.3M |
| Loans | WATER FACILITIES PLANNING AND DESIGN | 2026 | $1.2M |
| General Obligation | 2018 G.O./ Regular and Urban Renewal Bonds | 2029 | $850,000 |
| General Obligation | 2022A EMERGECY SERVICES BUILDING, CITY CAMPUS LAND, MEYERS CERTIFIED SITE | 2041 | $455,000 |
| General Obligation | 2021A TIF ANNUAL APPROPRIATION | 2037 | $390,000 |
| General Obligation | 2014A GO debt Water purchase capacity from City of Pleasant Hill | 2029 | $365,000 |
| General Obligation | 2025B GO Annual Appropriation Urban Renewal | 2044 | $0 |
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. Bondurant’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 Wednesday, August 5, 2026, by a CPA firm.
AI summary13
- The auditors found that the city's spending during the year did not exceed the amounts set in its certified budget.
- A business transaction of $500 was noted between the city and an independent contractor who is the spouse of a city employee.
The findings, as the report states them
15 earlier reports for Bondurant
- Financial Statement, period ending Friday, June 30, 2023Thursday, November 20, 2025
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2024Wednesday, April 30, 2025
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2022Thursday, March 30, 2023
- Financial Statement, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021Friday, April 1, 2022
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2020Wednesday, March 31, 2021
- Financial Statement, period ending Saturday, June 30, 2018Tuesday, March 5, 2019
- Financial Statement, period ending Friday, June 30, 2017Monday, December 11, 2017
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2016Thursday, December 1, 2016
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2015Wednesday, December 2, 2015
- Financial Statement, period ending Monday, June 30, 2014Tuesday, November 25, 2014
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2013Thursday, November 7, 2013
- Financial Statement, period ending Saturday, June 30, 2012Thursday, October 18, 2012
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2011Wednesday, November 9, 2011
- Financial Statement, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2010Thursday, October 21, 2010
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2009Thursday, November 5, 2009
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? 14
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: $1.3M in FY25, up 56% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 24% more. Grants are below.
Show the numbers
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $971,825 | $1.0M | $1.0M | $1.2M |
| Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”) | $90,424 | $72,365 | $54,274 | $87,878 |
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 | $3,696 |
| FY20 | $2.4M |
| FY21 | $5.7M |
| FY22 | $704,840 |
| FY23 | $518,675 |
| FY24 | $120,000 |
| FY25 | $231,919 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $3,696 |
| FY20 | $2.4M |
| FY21 | $5.7M |
| FY22 | $704,840 |
| FY23 | $518,675 |
| FY24 | $120,000 |
| FY25 | $231,919 |
Has it kept up with prices?
Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.
- Road Use Tax (streets)+31%$710,378 → $1.2M, up 64% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 31% more
- Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)−24%$92,152 → $87,878, down 5% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 24% 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 437% since FY20 while prices rose 24%, so it buys 335% more.
Federal grants, for comparison: $242,250 in FY25.
Business awards
State economic development awards
Community college new jobs training: 1 contract since 2018 worth $175K, for 50 pledged jobs.
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.
Most recent: November 4, 2025
City · 2
2 seats: the top 2 win.
- Matt Sillanpaa Winner57436.3%
- Dennis Lyman Winner54734.6%
- Chris Johnsen 45929.1%
- Doug Elrod Unopposed768100.0%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Bondurant; 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.
- Bondurant City Council At-Large (3 seats)Now held by Tara Cox, Angela McKenzie, Chad Driscoll
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
Jack Whitver (Sen. 23)Brian K. Lohse (Rep. 45)
U.S. House:District 3