Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Brett WaterbeckHartwick City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Carma CraigHartwick Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Kyle GrayHartwick City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Mitchell ThysHartwick City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Sarah LahndorfHartwick City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Scott RiedelHartwick City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Chuck BaetsleHartwick City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Jason BlattnerHartwick City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Kyle N GrayHartwick City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Teri NeuhausHartwick Treasurer · elected November 4, 2025
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 Hartwick
Homes and businesses in most of Hartwick pay a combined $31.36 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Poweshiek County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $9.90. Estimate your bill.
- H-L-V schools$15.4849%
- City of Hartwick$9.9032%
- Poweshiek County$3.8612%
- Kirkwood Community College$1.435%
- Poweshiek County Assessor$0.502%
- Poweshiek Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.19<1%
Rates over time
Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Hartwick pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $32.56 | $10.86 |
| FY21 | $31.99 | $10.42 |
| FY22 | $31.74 | $10.46 |
| FY23 | $30.90 | $10.33 |
| FY24 | $30.87 | $10.57 |
| FY25 | $31.63 | $10.92 |
| FY26 | $32.10 | $10.86 |
| FY27 | $31.36 | $9.90 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $32.56 | $10.86 |
| FY21 | $31.99 | $10.42 |
| FY22 | $31.74 | $10.46 |
| FY23 | $30.90 | $10.33 |
| FY24 | $30.87 | $10.57 |
| FY25 | $31.63 | $10.92 |
| FY26 | $32.10 | $10.86 |
| FY27 | $31.36 | $9.90 |
Compared with places this size3
Hartwick’s city property tax rate of $9.90 per $1,000 is the 49th highest of 116 Iowa cities with 60–140 people. The middle of the group is $9.33.
See all 116
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Castana | $34.13 | 103 |
| 2 | Dougherty | $25.38 | 61 |
| 3 | Hansell | $23.66 | 85 |
| 4 | Whitten | $22.65 | 98 |
| 5 | Stanley | $20.69 | 86 |
| 6 | Rowan | $19.53 | 118 |
| 7 | Chester | $19.30 | 134 |
| 8 | Bouton | $19.25 | 125 |
| 9 | Ricketts | $19.22 | 105 |
| 10 | Varina | $19.09 | 69 |
| 11 | Sharpsburg | $18.93 | 69 |
| 12 | Grant | $18.71 | 82 |
| 13 | Swaledale | $18.62 | 136 |
| 14 | Derby | $18.13 | 89 |
| 15 | Monmouth | $16.41 | 129 |
| 16 | Blockton | $16.37 | 123 |
| 17 | Waterville | $16.25 | 112 |
| 18 | Popejoy | $15.80 | 76 |
| 19 | Woodburn | $15.59 | 133 |
| 20 | Marne | $15.03 | 109 |
| 21 | Baldwin | $14.91 | 99 |
| 22 | Truesdale | $14.56 | 64 |
| 23 | Ayrshire | $13.55 | 128 |
| 24 | Searsboro | $13.55 | 129 |
| 25 | Ferguson | $13.53 | 98 |
| 26 | Lanesboro | $13.53 | 112 |
| 27 | Clemons | $12.69 | 135 |
| 28 | Cylinder | $12.52 | 84 |
| 29 | Millersburg | $12.40 | 135 |
| 30 | Arion | $12.14 | 99 |
| 31 | East Peru | $11.89 | 119 |
| 32 | Dolliver | $11.85 | 63 |
| 33 | Morley | $11.74 | 94 |
| 34 | Ledyard | $11.74 | 118 |
| 35 | Toronto | $11.68 | 101 |
| 36 | Matlock | $11.44 | 74 |
| 37 | Melrose | $11.27 | 110 |
| 38 | Nodaway | $11.20 | 74 |
| 39 | Promise City | $11.13 | 91 |
| 40 | Masonville | $11.00 | 98 |
| 41 | Somers | $10.99 | 121 |
| 42 | Havelock | $10.95 | 127 |
| 43 | Numa | $10.80 | 69 |
| 44 | Pacific Junction | $10.56 | 99 |
| 45 | Oto | $10.45 | 71 |
| 46 | Bradgate | $10.37 | 76 |
| 47 | North Washington | $10.23 | 107 |
| 48 | Dawson | $10.19 | 110 |
| 49 | Hartwick | $9.90 | 91 |
| 50 | Gray | $9.85 | 62 |
| 51 | Clare | $9.81 | 133 |
| 52 | Rutland | $9.65 | 116 |
| 53 | Superior | $9.58 | 127 |
| 54 | Webster | $9.55 | 94 |
| 55 | Nemaha | $9.53 | 65 |
| 56 | Martinsburg | $9.49 | 109 |
| 57 | Larrabee | $9.41 | 116 |
| 58 | Hamilton | $9.35 | 125 |
| 59 | Wiota | $9.32 | 91 |
| 60 | Floris | $9.29 | 119 |
| 61 | Mitchell | $9.22 | 118 |
| 62 | Westphalia | $9.18 | 133 |
| 63 | Welton | $8.86 | 124 |
| 64 | Archer | $8.84 | 116 |
| 65 | Fraser | $8.81 | 107 |
| 66 | Macksburg | $8.81 | 103 |
| 67 | Andover | $8.28 | 106 |
| 68 | Carpenter | $8.10 | 92 |
| 69 | Chillicothe | $8.10 | 79 |
| 70 | Clio | $8.10 | 67 |
| 71 | Orchard | $8.10 | 64 |
| 72 | Rome | $8.10 | 112 |
| 73 | Scarville | $8.10 | 75 |
| 74 | Shannon City | $8.10 | 73 |
| 75 | Struble | $8.10 | 72 |
| 76 | Turin | $8.10 | 69 |
| 77 | Unionville | $8.10 | 74 |
| 78 | Westfield | $8.10 | 121 |
| 79 | Vincent | $8.09 | 125 |
| 80 | Buckeye | $7.94 | 82 |
| 81 | Gruver | $7.89 | 63 |
| 82 | Redding | $7.86 | 64 |
| 83 | Morrison | $7.86 | 101 |
| 84 | Oyens | $7.86 | 88 |
| 85 | Ralston | $7.86 | 76 |
| 86 | Chatsworth | $7.86 | 72 |
| 87 | Cromwell | $7.81 | 104 |
| 88 | Arispe | $7.71 | 95 |
| 89 | Luzerne | $7.69 | 111 |
| 90 | Westwood | $7.67 | 96 |
| 91 | Kinross | $7.57 | 80 |
| 92 | Bernard | $7.56 | 117 |
| 93 | Bevington | $7.41 | 62 |
| 94 | Garber | $7.35 | 76 |
| 95 | Franklin | $7.31 | 133 |
| 96 | Spring Hill | $7.26 | 68 |
| 97 | Greenville | $7.24 | 69 |
| 98 | Spragueville | $7.20 | 92 |
| 99 | Weldon | $7.18 | 134 |
| 100 | Craig | $7.01 | 78 |
| 101 | Brunsville | $6.95 | 128 |
| 102 | Zwingle | $6.93 | 86 |
| 103 | Pleasant Plain | $6.79 | 83 |
| 104 | Houghton | $6.73 | 129 |
| 105 | Williamson | $6.72 | 126 |
| 106 | Willey | $6.69 | 72 |
| 107 | Lincoln | $6.32 | 119 |
| 108 | Tennant | $6.29 | 83 |
| 109 | Ackworth | $5.90 | 117 |
| 110 | Harper | $5.29 | 117 |
| 111 | Keomah Village | $3.15 | 107 |
| 112 | Mcintire | $2.78 | 115 |
| 113 | Graf | $2.56 | 76 |
| 114 | Centralia | $2.41 | 117 |
| 115 | North Buena Vista | $1.78 | 107 |
| 116 | Balltown | $0.12 | 78 |
The $8.10 limit
Hartwick’s general levy is $8.13 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.03 above the limit; it has to come down in steps.4 188 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.
FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.13 · FY26 $8.13 · FY27 $8.13 (before FY25, the general levy alone)
Outside the limit: $1.77 more5
- Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.35 · $2,721
- Total Employee Benefit Levies$0.42 · $842
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 Hartwick’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 117 Iowa cities closest in size (60–140 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (117) |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | 46¢ | 31¢ |
| General Government | 37¢ | 29¢ |
| Business Type / Enterprise | 12¢ | 17¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 4¢ | 7¢ |
| Public Safety | 2¢ | 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.
The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($9,600 in FY26), so this total is low.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $22,813 | $46,454 |
| Public Safety | $1,257 | $6,982 |
| Health and Social Services | $100 | $100 |
| General Government | $17,858 | $23,907 |
| Debt Service | $0 | $0 |
| Culture and Recreation | $2,596 | $1,966 |
| Community and Economic Development | $0 | $0 |
| Capital Projects | $0 | $0 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $6,311 | $7,517 |
What it spent each year
FY24 left out6
Debt, reserves and audits
How local debt works · What an audit tells you
What Hartwick owes
No debt at June 30, 2026.7
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0 | $0 |
| 2025 | $0 | $0 |
| 2024 | $0 | $0 |
| 2023 | $0 | $0 |
| 2022 | $0 | $0 |
| 2021 | $0 | $0 |
| 2020 | $0 | $0 |
| 2019 | $0 | $0 |
| 2018 | $0 | $0 |
| 2017 | $0 | $0 |
| 2016 | $0 | $0 |
| 2015 | $0 | $0 |
| 2014 | $0 | $0 |
| 2013 | $0 | $0 |
| 2012 | $0 | $0 |
| 2011 | $0 | $0 |
| 2010 | $0 | $0 |
Show the numbers
| June 30 | Owed | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0 | $0 |
| 2025 | $0 | $0 |
| 2024 | $0 | $0 |
| 2023 | $0 | $0 |
| 2022 | $0 | $0 |
| 2021 | $0 | $0 |
| 2020 | $0 | $0 |
| 2019 | $0 | $0 |
| 2018 | $0 | $0 |
| 2017 | $0 | $0 |
| 2016 | $0 | $0 |
| 2015 | $0 | $0 |
| 2014 | $0 | $0 |
| 2013 | $0 | $0 |
| 2012 | $0 | $0 |
| 2011 | $0 | $0 |
| 2010 | $0 | $0 |
The 5% limit8
General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $220,023 (5% of $4.4M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).
Money in reserve
The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. Hartwick’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).
Audits10
The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Monday, July 13, 2026, by the Auditor of State.
1 earlier report for Hartwick
- Periodic Examination, period ending Sunday, December 31, 2017Friday, January 25, 2019
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: $11,178 in FY25, up 40% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 12% more. Grants are below.
Show the numbers
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $9,009 | $8,472 | $8,645 | $8,692 |
| Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”) | – | $269 | $230 | $2,486 |
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 | $0 |
| FY20 | $0 |
| FY21 | $0 |
| FY22 | $5,961 |
| FY23 | $0 |
| FY24 | $0 |
| FY25 | $21,650 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $0 |
| FY20 | $0 |
| FY21 | $0 |
| FY22 | $5,961 |
| FY23 | $0 |
| FY24 | $0 |
| FY25 | $21,650 |
Has it kept up with prices?
Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.
- Road Use Tax (streets)−13%$7,964 → $8,692, up 9% 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 23% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 2% less.
Business awards
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)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
Ballot measures · 1
Passed Yes 89.3% (25) · No 10.7% (3)
Passes with more yes votes than no.
City · 3
5 seats: the top 5 win.
- Kyle Gray Winner2720.8%
- Scott Riedel Winner2720.8%
- Mitchell Thys Winner2720.8%
- Brett Waterbeck Winner2519.2%
- Sarah Lahndorf Winner2418.5%
- Carma Craig Unopposed25100.0%
- Teri Neuhaus Unopposed27100.0%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Hartwick; 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.
- Hartwick City Council At-Large (5 seats)Now held by Kyle N Gray, Jason Blattner, Scott Riedel, Mitchell Thys, Chuck Baetsle
- Hartwick MayorNow held by Carma Craig
- Hartwick TreasurerNow held by Teri Neuhaus
Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here13.
Past ballot measures
- Public Measure SKNovember 4, 2025
Passed Yes 89.3% (25) · No 10.7% (3)
Passes with more yes votes than no.
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
Annette Sweeney (Sen. 27)Dean Fisher (Rep. 53)
U.S. House:District 2