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Local taxes › Polk County › Runnells

City

Runnells

Polk County · How cities work

$3,170 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($37.64 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$990 a yearof that goes to the city ($11.79 per $1,000)
$261,743property taxes the city levies, FY27
$442,433city 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.

  • Abby HawkinsRunnells City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Clinton WebsterRunnells Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • JoAnn E. BohnRunnells City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Austin HenryRunnells City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Jacob DingmanRunnells City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Jeremy S. LindquistRunnells Mayor · elected November 7, 2023
  • Tiffany PhillipsRunnells 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 Runnells

Homes and businesses in most of Runnells pay a combined $37.64 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, $11.79. Estimate your bill.

  • Southeast Polk schools$15.4241%
  • City of Runnells$11.7931%
  • Polk County$6.6118%
  • Broadlawns Medical Center$2.467%
  • Des Moines Area Community College$0.812%
  • Camp-Runnells Cemetery$0.29<1%
  • Polk County Assessor$0.23<1%
  • Polk County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.03<1%

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$38.51$11.73
FY21$36.98$10.48
FY22$36.70$10.49
FY23$36.50$10.62
FY24$36.61$10.62
FY25$37.81$11.98
FY26$37.87$11.98
FY27$37.64$11.79
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$38.51$11.73
FY21$36.98$10.48
FY22$36.70$10.49
FY23$36.50$10.62
FY24$36.61$10.62
FY25$37.81$11.98
FY26$37.87$11.98
FY27$37.64$11.79

Compared with places this size3

Runnells’s city property tax rate of $11.79 per $1,000 is the 63rd lowest of 179 Iowa cities with 310–700 people. The middle of the group is $13.10.

Stanhope: $29.10Rolfe: $22.67Elliott: $21.61Charter Oak: $21.32Oxford Junction: $20.84Earling: $20.47Pomeroy: $19.60Salem: $19.15Dumont: $19.04Seymour: $18.78Dexter: $18.69Fonda: $18.52Massena: $18.23Kanawha: $18.11Swea City: $18.04Elma: $17.82Callender: $17.78Casey: $17.72Dows: $17.70New Hartford: $17.69Vail: $17.66Ringsted: $17.65Emerson: $17.54Murray: $17.44Thompson: $17.25Ashton: $17.17Pierson: $17.12Burt: $17.10Latimer: $16.96Lohrville: $16.95Elk Horn: $16.78Mccallsburg: $16.58Whittemore: $16.54Bancroft: $16.52Irwin: $16.46Titonka: $16.45Early: $16.35Truro: $16.34Lewis: $16.25Duncombe: $16.10Bayard: $16.05Scranton: $16.01Minden: $15.77Minburn: $15.75Walker: $15.74Peterson: $15.27Russell: $15.18Stanwood: $15.12Stratford: $15.03Zearing: $14.99Arlington: $14.98Maynard: $14.85Plainfield: $14.84Ryan: $14.84Otho: $14.82Wyoming: $14.81Humeston: $14.80Hopkinton: $14.79Gilmore City: $14.60Sabula: $14.38Garrison: $14.38Lorimor: $14.36Collins: $14.32Clermont: $14.30Moulton: $14.25Ocheyedan: $14.22Olin: $14.19Garwin: $14.08Farragut: $14.07Elgin: $14.05Mystic: $14.01Lime Springs: $13.95Dow City: $13.94Wesley: $13.91Diagonal: $13.91Bussey: $13.83Mondamin: $13.82Livermore: $13.78Albion: $13.58Lamont: $13.57New Albin: $13.55Boyden: $13.39Lawler: $13.39Lacona: $13.38Ute: $13.26New Market: $13.25Plymouth: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Anthon: $13.05Little Rock: $13.03Coggon: $12.99Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Brighton: $12.88Goldfield: $12.73Delmar: $12.68Galva: $12.68Badger: $12.67Martensdale: $12.63Stanton: $12.62Norway: $12.53Everly: $12.51Mccausland: $12.45Spillville: $12.40Mingo: $12.31Alburnett: $12.30Brandon: $12.29Moravia: $12.27Bonaparte: $12.17Hawkeye: $12.11Colesburg: $11.97Albert City: $11.88Thornton: $11.86Allerton: $11.72Kelley: $11.69Orient: $11.66Ellsworth: $11.57Battle Creek: $11.49Churdan: $11.31Miles: $11.28Sutherland: $11.25Arcadia: $11.23Milton: $10.98Ireton: $10.93New Vienna: $10.91Letts: $10.91Fontanelle: $10.88Birmingham: $10.87Charlotte: $10.86Richland: $10.82Grand Mound: $10.78Batavia: $10.77Riverdale: $10.67Union: $10.58Calamus: $10.47Lovilia: $10.46Danbury: $10.43Radcliffe: $10.37Stacyville: $10.36Andrew: $10.22Royal: $10.20Rudd: $10.13What Cheer: $10.01Cumming: $9.85Breda: $9.80Doon: $9.78Lynnville: $9.68Farnhamville: $9.18Middletown: $9.16Alleman: $9.12Crescent: $8.72Ainsworth: $8.62Gilman: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Kellogg: $8.10Lakeside: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Nichols: $8.10Agency: $7.94Fremont: $7.86Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Beacon: $7.56Sheldahl: $7.56Worthington: $7.50Marquette: $7.08Columbus City: $6.94Donahue: $6.83Keystone: $6.80New Virginia: $5.97Holy Cross: $5.91Conesville: $5.86University Park: $5.27Orleans: $4.13Wahpeton: $3.19Runnells: $11.79$3.19 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 179
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Stanhope$29.10354
2Rolfe$22.67505
3Elliott$21.61328
4Charter Oak$21.32521
5Oxford Junction$20.84424
6Earling$20.47394
7Pomeroy$19.60511
8Salem$19.15380
9Dumont$19.04614
10Seymour$18.78646
11Dexter$18.69631
12Fonda$18.52636
13Massena$18.23352
14Kanawha$18.11638
15Swea City$18.04545
16Elma$17.82493
17Callender$17.78361
18Casey$17.72387
19Dows$17.70509
20New Hartford$17.69555
21Vail$17.66383
22Ringsted$17.65346
23Emerson$17.54401
24Murray$17.44609
25Thompson$17.25478
26Ashton$17.17434
27Pierson$17.12335
28Burt$17.10404
29Latimer$16.96477
30Lohrville$16.95366
31Elk Horn$16.78631
32Mccallsburg$16.58356
33Whittemore$16.54478
34Bancroft$16.52677
35Irwin$16.46320
36Titonka$16.45491
37Early$16.35571
38Truro$16.34515
39Lewis$16.25358
40Duncombe$16.10374
41Bayard$16.05402
42Scranton$16.01496
43Minden$15.77581
44Minburn$15.75317
45Walker$15.74671
46Peterson$15.27321
47Russell$15.18475
48Stanwood$15.12612
49Stratford$15.03688
50Zearing$14.99508
51Arlington$14.98415
52Maynard$14.85466
53Plainfield$14.84392
54Ryan$14.84348
55Otho$14.82417
56Wyoming$14.81526
57Humeston$14.80472
58Hopkinton$14.79622
59Gilmore City$14.60484
60Sabula$14.38498
61Garrison$14.38345
62Lorimor$14.36377
63Collins$14.32503
64Clermont$14.30571
65Moulton$14.25596
66Ocheyedan$14.22424
67Olin$14.19652
68Garwin$14.08469
69Farragut$14.07480
70Elgin$14.05676
71Mystic$14.01318
72Lime Springs$13.95467
73Dow City$13.94477
74Wesley$13.91382
75Diagonal$13.91331
76Bussey$13.83378
77Mondamin$13.82335
78Livermore$13.78382
79Albion$13.58444
80Lamont$13.57429
81New Albin$13.55435
82Boyden$13.39694
83Lawler$13.39392
84Lacona$13.38336
85Ute$13.26326
86New Market$13.25381
87Plymouth$13.21368
88Bennett$13.16330
89Quasqueton$13.12587
90Farmington$13.10583
91Anthon$13.05534
92Little Rock$13.03447
93Coggon$12.99691
94Lehigh$12.97395
95Menlo$12.92347
96Templeton$12.91337
97Brighton$12.88592
98Goldfield$12.73617
99Delmar$12.68541
100Galva$12.68416
101Badger$12.67540
102Martensdale$12.63413
103Stanton$12.62664
104Norway$12.53463
105Everly$12.51570
106Mccausland$12.45314
107Spillville$12.40371
108Mingo$12.31314
109Alburnett$12.30672
110Brandon$12.29331
111Moravia$12.27625
112Bonaparte$12.17357
113Hawkeye$12.11429
114Colesburg$11.97379
115Albert City$11.88627
116Thornton$11.86394
117Runnells$11.79467
118Allerton$11.72432
119Kelley$11.69312
120Orient$11.66363
121Ellsworth$11.57495
122Battle Creek$11.49683
123Churdan$11.31359
124Miles$11.28400
125Sutherland$11.25628
126Arcadia$11.23588
127Milton$10.98395
128Ireton$10.93571
129New Vienna$10.91384
130Letts$10.91358
131Fontanelle$10.88684
132Birmingham$10.87371
133Charlotte$10.86386
134Richland$10.82532
135Grand Mound$10.78608
136Batavia$10.77434
137Riverdale$10.67385
138Union$10.58378
139Calamus$10.47348
140Lovilia$10.46456
141Danbury$10.43315
142Radcliffe$10.37540
143Stacyville$10.36436
144Andrew$10.22374
145Royal$10.20379
146Rudd$10.13339
147What Cheer$10.01595
148Cumming$9.85527
149Breda$9.80492
150Doon$9.78640
151Lynnville$9.68382
152Farnhamville$9.18364
153Middletown$9.16365
154Alleman$9.12439
155Crescent$8.72626
156Ainsworth$8.62511
157Gilman$8.10530
158Grandview$8.10431
159Kellogg$8.10597
160Lakeside$8.10695
161Lost Nation$8.10425
162Nichols$8.10317
163Agency$7.94623
164Fremont$7.86688
165Delhi$7.81438
166Klemme$7.74429
167Beacon$7.56434
168Sheldahl$7.56312
169Worthington$7.50374
170Marquette$7.08434
171Columbus City$6.94385
172Donahue$6.83336
173Keystone$6.80616
174New Virginia$5.97499
175Holy Cross$5.91348
176Conesville$5.86350
177University Park$5.27476
178Orleans$4.13503
179Wahpeton$3.19337

The $8.10 limit

Runnells’s general levy is $7.84 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.26 below the limit.4 684 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.32 · FY26 $8.07 · FY27 $7.84 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $3.95 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.52 · $33,610
  • Debt Service Levy$1.43 · $31,633
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$0.94 · $20,760
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$0.07 · $1,483

Tax increment financing (TIF)

Runnells’s TIF revenue, from its reports to the state.

YearTIF revenue
FY16$991
FY17$8
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$991
FY17$8

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$173,59566%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$33,61013%
  • Debt Service Levy$31,63312%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$20,7608%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$1,4831%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Runnells’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 75¢ of every dollar75¢General Government: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Public Works: 7¢ of every dollar7¢Culture and Recreation: 5¢ of every dollarDebt Service: 2¢ of every dollarEverything else: 2¢ 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 178 Iowa cities closest in size (310–700 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (178)
Business Type / Enterprise75¢40¢
General Government9¢14¢
Public Works7¢18¢
Culture and Recreation5¢9¢
Debt Service2¢4¢
Everything else2¢11¢

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.

  • General Government$146,31433%
  • Public Works$137,60031%
  • Culture and Recreation$99,61923%
  • Debt Service$32,0007%
  • Public Safety$19,4004%
  • Community and Economic Development$6,0001%
  • Health and Social Services$1,5000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($1.3M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$145,806$90,201
Public Safety$14,400$19,685
Health and Social Services$3,200$0
General Government$146,764$120,390
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$92,750$65,361
Community and Economic Development$8,000$2,216
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$111,100$72,308

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$2.7M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Runnells owes

$3.1M at June 30, 2026: $6,801 per resident. 57th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$3.1M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$3.1M$6,801
2025$3.0M$6,494
2024$1.2M$2,628
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$21,829$48
2019$54,342$119
2018$75,542$165
2017$88,765$194
2016$93,365$204
2015$95,927$210
2014$124,343$272
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$3.1M$6,801
2025$3.0M$6,494
2024$1.2M$2,628
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$21,829$48
2019$54,342$119
2018$75,542$165
2017$88,765$194
2016$93,365$204
2015$95,927$210
2014$124,343$272
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0

Up 2399% since 2014.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $422,636, 20% of the limit of about $2.1M (5% of $41.7M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

2 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsCity of Runnells sewer upgrade 20232052$2.7M
General ObligationSewer plant update2043$422,636

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. Runnells’s latest audit has them: Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2024 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Financial Statement for the period ending Sunday, June 30, 2024 (PDF), released Thursday, November 13, 2025, by the Auditor of State.

3 earlier reports for Runnells

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? 11

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: $64,903 in FY25, down 3% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 23% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$67,044$62,888$64,552$64,903
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$1,034$905––

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.

$1.3M
$232,132
  • State grants$229,19499%
  • CEBA grants$2,9381%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$9,660
FY20$112,418
FY21$16,097
FY22$17,004
FY23$19,034
FY24$1.3M
FY25$232,132
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$9,660
FY20$112,418
FY21$16,097
FY22$17,004
FY23$19,034
FY24$1.3M
FY25$232,132

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−21%$65,497 → $64,903, down 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 21% 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 down 48% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 59% less.

$184,571
$95,769

Federal grants, for comparison: $37,680 in FY23.

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)12.

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

2 seats: the top 2 win.

    No candidates listed.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Runnells; 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.

    • Runnells City Council At-Large (3 seats)
      Now held by Tiffany Phillips, Jacob Dingman, Austin Henry
    • Runnells Mayor
      Now held by Jeremy S. Lindquist

    Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here13.

    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 ballot14.

    Related places

    At the Statehouse and in Congress15

    Jack Whitver (Sen. 23)Brian K. Lohse (Rep. 45)

    U.S. House:District 3

    Polk CountySoutheast Polk schools