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Local taxes › Pottawattamie County › Neola

City

Neola

Pottawattamie County · How cities work

$3,100 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($36.81 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,290 a yearof that goes to the city ($15.30 per $1,000)
$421,957property taxes the city levies, FY27
$2.3Mcity 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.

  • Karla PoggeNeola Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Nicole SchnecklothNeola City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Robb LockeyNeola City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Charles RedinbaughNeola City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Kody MartinNeola City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Ty UngradNeola 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 Neola

Homes and businesses in most of Neola pay a combined $36.81 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Pottawattamie County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $15.30. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$35.19$12.36
FY21$36.18$13.32
FY22$36.07$13.32
FY23$35.93$13.68
FY24$36.80$14.46
FY25$37.45$15.30
FY26$36.97$15.30
FY27$36.81$15.30
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$35.19$12.36
FY21$36.18$13.32
FY22$36.07$13.32
FY23$35.93$13.68
FY24$36.80$14.46
FY25$37.45$15.30
FY26$36.97$15.30
FY27$36.81$15.30

Compared with places this size3

Neola’s city property tax rate of $15.30 per $1,000 is the 42nd highest of 179 Iowa cities with 610–1,400 people. The middle of the group is $12.90.

Elkader: $27.11Exira: $24.81Laurens: $24.16Dayton: $22.51Correctionville: $19.84Villisca: $19.74Allison: $19.06Dumont: $19.04Seymour: $18.78Dexter: $18.69Fonda: $18.52Kanawha: $18.11Dysart: $17.95Greene: $17.91Alden: $17.90Lansing: $17.67Strawberry Point: $17.58Rockwell: $17.54Walnut: $17.46Gowrie: $17.17Colo: $17.14Mapleton: $16.90George: $16.89Fayette: $16.85Adair: $16.84Eddyville: $16.82Elk Horn: $16.78Oxford: $16.70Buffalo Center: $16.58Bancroft: $16.52Eldon: $16.42Aplington: $16.34Panora: $16.14Mechanicsville: $16.12Dike: $15.94Armstrong: $15.87Ruthven: $15.84Walker: $15.74Shell Rock: $15.52Newell: $15.49Riceville: $15.31Sidney: $15.19Gilbertville: $15.15Stanwood: $15.12Logan: $15.05Stratford: $15.03Griswold: $15.01Readlyn: $14.99Tripoli: $14.99Hopkinton: $14.79Essex: $14.76Lenox: $14.65Dunlap: $14.56Garnavillo: $14.52Maxwell: $14.50Coon Rapids: $14.49Nora Springs: $14.25Mcgregor: $14.20Olin: $14.19Primghar: $14.18Sheffield: $14.16Elgin: $14.05Ossian: $13.88Alton: $13.87Redfield: $13.73Victor: $13.72Edgewood: $13.64Sioux Rapids: $13.63Donnellson: $13.63Gladbrook: $13.58Clarksville: $13.53Rockford: $13.52Janesville: $13.43Glidden: $13.43Calmar: $13.39Boyden: $13.39Baxter: $13.32Manly: $13.29Anita: $13.28Van Horne: $13.27Conrad: $13.23Springville: $13.22Keota: $13.21Shellsburg: $13.20De Soto: $13.18Treynor: $13.03Odebolt: $13.00Coggon: $12.99Earlville: $12.90Danville: $12.87Underwood: $12.85New Sharon: $12.80Malvern: $12.79Montrose: $12.78Goldfield: $12.73Wellsburg: $12.68Buffalo: $12.68Stanton: $12.62Hospers: $12.58Hazleton: $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: $11.25Whiting: $11.21Melcher-Dallas: $11.21Shelby: $11.17University Heights: $11.12Blairstown: $11.04Manilla: $11.01Hamburg: $10.95Clarence: $10.94Fontanelle: $10.88Cambridge: $10.53Swisher: $10.39Schleswig: $10.39Melbourne: $10.38Elk Run Heights: $10.33Fredericksburg: $10.27Lake Park: $10.25Ventura: $10.22Inwood: $10.22Milo: $10.20Hartford: $10.16Central City: $10.01Newhall: $9.99Graettinger: $9.81Doon: $9.78Long Grove: $9.59Lake View: $9.39Paullina: $9.21Fairbank: $9.00Winthrop: $8.94Walford: $8.72Crescent: $8.72Keosauqua: $8.58Grand Junction: $8.57Princeton: $8.24Lone Tree: $8.13Lakeside: $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: $3.83Neola: $15.30$3.83 lowest$27.11 highestmiddle
See all 179
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Elkader$27.111,192
2Exira$24.81766
3Laurens$24.161,253
4Dayton$22.51766
5Correctionville$19.84759
6Villisca$19.741,106
7Allison$19.06937
8Dumont$19.04614
9Seymour$18.78646
10Dexter$18.69631
11Fonda$18.52636
12Kanawha$18.11638
13Dysart$17.951,266
14Greene$17.91971
15Alden$17.90738
16Lansing$17.67959
17Strawberry Point$17.581,141
18Rockwell$17.541,044
19Walnut$17.46728
20Gowrie$17.17943
21Colo$17.14856
22Mapleton$16.901,114
23George$16.891,106
24Fayette$16.851,193
25Adair$16.84792
26Eddyville$16.82965
27Elk Horn$16.78631
28Oxford$16.70715
29Buffalo Center$16.58839
30Bancroft$16.52677
31Eldon$16.42788
32Aplington$16.341,088
33Panora$16.141,096
34Mechanicsville$16.12974
35Dike$15.941,293
36Armstrong$15.87847
37Ruthven$15.84710
38Walker$15.74671
39Shell Rock$15.521,265
40Newell$15.49850
41Riceville$15.31807
42Neola$15.30917
43Sidney$15.191,048
44Gilbertville$15.15792
45Stanwood$15.12612
46Logan$15.051,351
47Stratford$15.03688
48Griswold$15.01975
49Readlyn$14.99857
50Tripoli$14.991,208
51Hopkinton$14.79622
52Essex$14.76721
53Lenox$14.651,355
54Dunlap$14.561,030
55Garnavillo$14.52751
56Maxwell$14.50862
57Coon Rapids$14.491,258
58Nora Springs$14.251,330
59Mcgregor$14.20725
60Olin$14.19652
61Primghar$14.18893
62Sheffield$14.161,123
63Elgin$14.05676
64Ossian$13.88777
65Alton$13.871,248
66Redfield$13.73719
67Victor$13.72852
68Edgewood$13.64908
69Sioux Rapids$13.63722
70Donnellson$13.63859
71Gladbrook$13.58775
72Clarksville$13.531,238
73Rockford$13.52722
74Janesville$13.431,052
75Glidden$13.431,140
76Calmar$13.391,100
77Boyden$13.39694
78Baxter$13.32983
79Manly$13.291,233
80Anita$13.28953
81Van Horne$13.27768
82Conrad$13.231,098
83Springville$13.221,161
84Keota$13.21888
85Shellsburg$13.20987
86De Soto$13.18937
87Treynor$13.031,104
88Odebolt$13.00967
89Coggon$12.99691
90Earlville$12.90713
91Danville$12.87910
92Underwood$12.85973
93New Sharon$12.801,249
94Malvern$12.791,056
95Montrose$12.78734
96Goldfield$12.73617
97Wellsburg$12.68709
98Buffalo$12.681,163
99Stanton$12.62664
100Hospers$12.58703
101Hazleton$12.48711
102West Point$12.39903
103Hinton$12.38959
104Preston$12.38940
105Alburnett$12.30672
106Hubbard$12.30837
107Moravia$12.27625
108Hedrick$12.22717
109Carson$12.22772
110Wheatland$12.18765
111Schaller$12.14702
112Winfield$12.041,006
113Elkhart$12.001,079
114Afton$11.96864
115Lowden$11.93767
116Tabor$11.88983
117Albert City$11.88627
118Aurelia$11.84970
119Merrill$11.64713
120Morning Sun$11.50702
121Battle Creek$11.49683
122Wall Lake$11.43739
123West Bend$11.42770
124Dakota City$11.39764
125Marcus$11.311,069
126Dunkerton$11.30840
127Sutherland$11.25628
128Whiting$11.21725
129Melcher-Dallas$11.211,193
130Shelby$11.17730
131University Heights$11.121,188
132Blairstown$11.04705
133Manilla$11.01756
134Hamburg$10.95863
135Clarence$10.94991
136Fontanelle$10.88684
137Cambridge$10.53844
138Swisher$10.39909
139Schleswig$10.39820
140Melbourne$10.38771
141Elk Run Heights$10.331,061
142Fredericksburg$10.27983
143Lake Park$10.251,155
144Ventura$10.22701
145Inwood$10.22962
146Milo$10.20762
147Hartford$10.16729
148Central City$10.011,254
149Newhall$9.99887
150Graettinger$9.81810
151Doon$9.78640
152Long Grove$9.59849
153Lake View$9.391,120
154Paullina$9.21979
155Fairbank$9.001,133
156Winthrop$8.94814
157Walford$8.721,357
158Crescent$8.72626
159Keosauqua$8.58944
160Grand Junction$8.57715
161Princeton$8.24917
162Lone Tree$8.131,341
163Lakeside$8.10695
164Riverside$8.021,063
165Agency$7.94623
166Hills$7.94911
167Fremont$7.86688
168Larchwood$7.52954
169North English$7.491,030
170Sloan$7.491,078
171Sully$7.41891
172Fruitland$7.21928
173Lawton$7.10949
174Wayland$7.07935
175Raymond$6.85754
176Keystone$6.80616
177Shueyville$6.79725
178Arnolds Park$4.951,214
179Okoboji$3.83729

The $8.10 limit

Neola’s general levy is $7.89 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.21 below the limit.4 545 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.37 · FY26 $8.13 · FY27 $7.89 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $7.41 more5

  • Debt Service Levy$5.23 · $237,293
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$2.19 · $39,887

Tax increment financing (TIF)

$27.2M of taxable value in Neola is in TIF districts’ increment (59% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.6 It budgeted $859,842 in TIF revenue for FY25.

$598,138

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 $273,632 of the city’s own.

  • Tri-Center schools$271,708
  • Pottawattamie County$178,961
YearTIF revenue
FY16$57,712
FY17$183,271
FY18$190,765
FY19$248,163
FY20$417,575
FY21$480,702
FY22$573,188
FY23$598,138
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$57,712
FY17$183,271
FY18$190,765
FY19$248,163
FY20$417,575
FY21$480,702
FY22$573,188
FY23$598,138

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.

  • Debt Service Levy$237,29356%
  • Consolidate General Fund$143,92334%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$39,8879%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Neola’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 36¢ of every dollar36¢Capital Projects: 20¢ of every dollar20¢Debt Service: 16¢ of every dollar16¢Public Works: 12¢ of every dollar12¢General Government: 8¢ of every dollar8¢Everything else: 8¢ of every dollar8¢

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 (610–1,400 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (178)
Business Type / Enterprise36¢40¢
Capital Projects20¢9¢
Debt Service16¢6¢
Public Works12¢16¢
General Government8¢9¢
Everything else8¢21¢

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.

  • Capital Projects$687,02530%
  • Debt Service$550,68424%
  • Public Works$460,63420%
  • General Government$339,14815%
  • Public Safety$167,5607%
  • Culture and Recreation$61,6003%
  • Community and Economic Development$21,0001%
  • Health and Social Services$14,4001%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($1.2M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$337,554$400,978
Public Safety$134,060$99,329
Health and Social Services$12,400$14,400
General Government$208,790$217,705
Debt Service$483,034$491,552
Culture and Recreation$94,320$93,823
Community and Economic Development$15,000$16,185
Capital Projects$0$2.5M
Business Type / Enterprise$4.8M$1.0M

What it spent each year

FY24 left out8

$6.7M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Neola owes

$7.4M at June 30, 2026: $8,008 per resident. 37th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).9

$9.1M
$7.4M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$7.4M$8,008
2025$9.1M$9,926
2024$8.7M$9,471
2023$3.8M$4,103
2022$2.8M$3,002
2021$3.2M$3,533
2020$3.1M$3,412
2019$3.0M$3,311
2018$3.1M$3,338
2017$3.2M$3,533
2016$3.0M$3,285
2015$3.2M$3,447
2014$3.0M$3,319
2013$3.2M$3,435
2012$2.1M$2,243
2011$310,000$338
2010$354,000$386
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$7.4M$8,008
2025$9.1M$9,926
2024$8.7M$9,471
2023$3.8M$4,103
2022$2.8M$3,002
2021$3.2M$3,533
2020$3.1M$3,412
2019$3.0M$3,311
2018$3.1M$3,338
2017$3.2M$3,533
2016$3.0M$3,285
2015$3.2M$3,447
2014$3.0M$3,319
2013$3.2M$3,435
2012$2.1M$2,243
2011$310,000$338
2010$354,000$386

Up 1977% since 2010.

The 5% limit10

General obligation debt is $5.6M, 142% of the limit of about $4.0M (5% of $79.2M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

9 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
General ObligationUSDA-WT2064$3.8M
Revenue BondsSewer plant - C0435R2038$1.0M
General ObligationLuana Bank-Well2038$854,000
LoansMuni Loan2028$573,333
General ObligationSewer Plant-C0471G2032$425,000
General ObligationFire Truck Loan2034$277,505
General ObligationMidstates-SW2037$267,655
Revenue BondsMidstates-EL2031$150,094
General ObligationAmbulance2028$16,814

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

Audits12

The latest: Financial Statement for the period ending Sunday, June 30, 2024 (PDF), released Monday, August 11, 2025, by a CPA firm.

12 earlier reports for Neola

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? 13

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: $142,480 in FY25, up 19% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 5% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$125,004$126,327$129,667$130,374
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$11,202$7,854$10,946$12,106

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.

$203,612
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$0
    FY21$21,176
    FY22$66,390
    FY23$203,612
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$0
    FY21$21,176
    FY22$66,390
    FY23$203,612
    FY24$0
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−4%$108,774 → $130,374, up 20% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 4% less
    • Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)−13%$11,035 → $12,106, up 10% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 13% 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 48% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 18% more.

    $180,873

    Business awards

    Every award statewide

    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)14.

    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.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Neola; 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.

    • Neola City Council At-Large (3 seats)
      Now held by Kody Martin, Ty Ungrad, Charles Redinbaugh
    • Neola Mayor
      Now held by Karla Pogge

    Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here15.

    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 ballot16.

    Related places

    At the Statehouse and in Congress17

    Mark Costello (Sen. 8)David Sieck (Rep. 16)

    U.S. House:District 4

    Pottawattamie CountyTri-Center schools