Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Daron RichieBenton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Don ZollmanBenton Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Karyn GrahamBenton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Sharon K BowenBenton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Sharon BowenBenton 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
Where a property tax dollar goes in Benton
The combined rate in most of Benton is $38.53 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). The city sets only its own piece. Estimate your bill.
- City of Benton$15.1239%
- Mount Ayr schools$10.4527%
- Ringgold County$7.1519%
- Ringgold County Hospital$3.6910%
- Southwestern Community. College$1.073%
- Ringgold County Assessor$0.742%
- Ringgold County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.31<1%
Compared with places this size3
Benton’s city property tax rate of $15.12 per $1,000 is the 3rd highest of 46 Iowa cities with 30–60 people. The middle of the group is $8.62.
See all 46
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vining | $16.97 | 53 |
| 2 | Northboro | $15.81 | 52 |
| 3 | Benton | $15.12 | 40 |
| 4 | Yorktown | $14.48 | 60 |
| 5 | Gillett Grove | $14.27 | 31 |
| 6 | Jolley | $13.34 | 28 |
| 7 | Rodman | $13.31 | 28 |
| 8 | Rodney | $13.04 | 43 |
| 9 | Rinard | $12.56 | 38 |
| 10 | Aredale | $12.19 | 59 |
| 11 | Colwell | $12.14 | 52 |
| 12 | Hayesville | $11.13 | 43 |
| 13 | Plover | $11.10 | 52 |
| 14 | Curlew | $10.85 | 38 |
| 15 | Dana | $10.85 | 34 |
| 16 | Owasa | $10.58 | 30 |
| 17 | Guernsey | $10.13 | 59 |
| 18 | Rathbun | $9.96 | 44 |
| 19 | Kirkman | $9.44 | 60 |
| 20 | Ottosen | $9.10 | 41 |
| 21 | Imogene | $9.10 | 37 |
| 22 | Buck Grove | $9.08 | 31 |
| 23 | Carbon | $8.78 | 32 |
| 24 | Aspinwall | $8.45 | 35 |
| 25 | Knierim | $8.13 | 53 |
| 26 | Elkport | $8.10 | 29 |
| 27 | Valeria | $8.10 | 41 |
| 28 | Coppock | $7.94 | 35 |
| 29 | Marysville | $7.89 | 46 |
| 30 | Bassett | $7.86 | 42 |
| 31 | Millerton | $7.86 | 37 |
| 32 | Cotter | $7.73 | 40 |
| 33 | Thornburg | $7.57 | 46 |
| 34 | Blanchard | $7.52 | 29 |
| 35 | Thayer | $7.39 | 48 |
| 36 | Udell | $6.85 | 31 |
| 37 | Pleasanton | $6.65 | 32 |
| 38 | Rossie | $6.32 | 46 |
| 39 | Sandyville | $6.06 | 59 |
| 40 | Clayton | $5.08 | 45 |
| 41 | Plano | $4.66 | 57 |
| 42 | Hardy | $4.36 | 55 |
| 43 | Jackson Junction | $3.66 | 38 |
| 44 | Beaver | $2.71 | 46 |
| 45 | Osterdock | $2.44 | 45 |
| 46 | Gibson | $1.88 | 58 |
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 Benton’s budget goes, FY26
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (46) |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | 40¢ | 40¢ |
| General Government | 27¢ | 39¢ |
| Public Safety | 26¢ | 6¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 7¢ | 7¢ |
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 46 Iowa cities closest in size (30–60 people).
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.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $8,690 | $2,759 |
| Public Safety | $2,109 | $2,345 |
| Health and Social Services | $0 | $0 |
| General Government | $2,753 | $3,481 |
| Debt Service | $0 | $0 |
| Culture and Recreation | $1,160 | $854 |
| Community and Economic Development | $0 | $0 |
| Capital Projects | $0 | $0 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $0 | $0 |
What it spent each year
State money
What the state sends the city
Sales tax and property tax credits the state paid the city: up 14% since FY23; up 4% after inflation.
Show the numbers
| Program | FY27 | FY26 | FY25 | FY24 | FY23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local option sales tax | $391 | $4,792 | $4,753 | $4,442 | $4,213 |
Elections
Most recent: November 4, 2025
Ballot measures · 1
Passed Yes 92.9% (13) · No 7.1% (1)
Passes with more yes votes than no.
City · 2
3 seats: the top 3 win.
- Daron Richie Winner1334.2%
- Sharon K Bowen Winner1334.2%
- Karyn Graham Winner1231.6%
- Don Zollman Unopposed13100.0%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Benton; official results are on each county auditor’s site.