Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Curt FryEllston City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Janet CordesEllston City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Jennifer CrevelingEllston Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Joe DukesEllston City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Matt WeedaEllston City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Nan DerscheidEllston City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Jen CrevelingEllston 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
Who gets a property owner’s tax bill in Ellston
Homes and businesses in most of Ellston pay a combined $30.48 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Ringgold County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $7.07. Estimate your bill.
- Mount Ayr schools$10.4534%
- Ringgold County$7.1523%
- City of Ellston$7.0723%
- Ringgold County Hospital$3.6912%
- Southwestern Community College$1.074%
- Ringgold County Assessor$0.742%
- Ringgold County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.311%
Rates over time
Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Ellston pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $39.35 | $10.75 |
| FY21 | $36.79 | $10.93 |
| FY22 | $32.90 | $11.35 |
| FY23 | $32.08 | $11.10 |
| FY24 | $36.72 | $11.65 |
| FY25 | $31.37 | $11.44 |
| FY26 | $32.19 | $7.84 |
| FY27 | $30.48 | $7.07 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $39.35 | $10.75 |
| FY21 | $36.79 | $10.93 |
| FY22 | $32.90 | $11.35 |
| FY23 | $32.08 | $11.10 |
| FY24 | $36.72 | $11.65 |
| FY25 | $31.37 | $11.44 |
| FY26 | $32.19 | $7.84 |
| FY27 | $30.48 | $7.07 |
Compared with places this size3
Ellston’s city property tax rate of $7.07 per $1,000 is the 4th lowest of 17 Iowa cities with 20–30 people. The middle of the group is $8.10.
See all 17
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gillett Grove | $14.27 | 31 |
| 2 | Jolley | $13.34 | 28 |
| 3 | Rodman | $13.31 | 28 |
| 4 | Dana | $10.85 | 34 |
| 5 | Owasa | $10.58 | 30 |
| 6 | Buck Grove | $9.08 | 31 |
| 7 | Carbon | $8.78 | 32 |
| 8 | Coburg | $8.77 | 26 |
| 9 | Elkport | $8.10 | 29 |
| 10 | Galt | $8.10 | 22 |
| 11 | Maloy | $7.94 | 26 |
| 12 | Blanchard | $7.52 | 29 |
| 13 | Yetter | $7.36 | 19 |
| 14 | Ellston | $7.07 | 23 |
| 15 | Udell | $6.85 | 31 |
| 16 | Pleasanton | $6.65 | 32 |
| 17 | Berkley | $6.13 | 23 |
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 Ellston’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 18 Iowa cities closest in size (20–30 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (18) |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | 44¢ | 35¢ |
| General Government | 28¢ | 42¢ |
| Community and Economic Development | 15¢ | 2¢ |
| Public Safety | 12¢ | 5¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 1¢ | 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.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $5,190 | $5,573 |
| Public Safety | $1,400 | $0 |
| Health and Social Services | $0 | $0 |
| General Government | $2,905 | $232 |
| Debt Service | $0 | $0 |
| Culture and Recreation | $7,355 | $1,348 |
| Community and Economic Development | $200 | $4,476 |
| 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.
| Program | FY27 | FY26 | FY25 | FY24 | FY23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local option sales tax | $204 | $2,503 | $2,483 | $2,321 | $2,201 |
Show the numbers
| Program | FY27 | FY26 | FY25 | FY24 | FY23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local option sales tax | $204 | $2,503 | $2,483 | $2,321 | $2,201 |
Elections
Most recent: November 4, 2025
Ballot measures · 1
Passed Yes 100.0% (9) · No 0.0% (0)
Passes with more yes votes than no.
City · 2
5 seats: the top 5 win.
- Joe Dukes Winner924.3%
- Matt Weeda Winner821.6%
- Janet Cordes Winner821.6%
- Curt Fry Winner718.9%
- Nan Derscheid Winner513.5%
- Jennifer Creveling Unopposed8100.0%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Ellston; official results are on each county auditor’s site.