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Local taxes › Ringgold County › Mount Ayr

City

Mount Ayr

Ringgold County · How cities work

$3,260 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($38.73 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,290 a yearof that goes to the city ($15.32 per $1,000)
$917,079property taxes the city levies, FY27
$4.5Mcity 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.

  • Mack GreeneMount Ayr Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Matthew HenleMount Ayr City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Rachael RumpleMount Ayr City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Chandra Kay PooreMount Ayr City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Jessica MurphyMount Ayr City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Michael WikMount Ayr 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 Mount Ayr

Homes and businesses in most of Mount Ayr pay a combined $38.73 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, $15.32. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$46.40$17.80
FY21$42.67$16.82
FY22$32.85$16.84
FY23$31.55$15.07
FY24$41.24$16.17
FY25$32.57$17.85
FY26$42.09$17.74
FY27$38.73$15.32
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$46.40$17.80
FY21$42.67$16.82
FY22$32.85$16.84
FY23$31.55$15.07
FY24$41.24$16.17
FY25$32.57$17.85
FY26$42.09$17.74
FY27$38.73$15.32

Compared with places this size3

Mount Ayr’s city property tax rate of $15.32 per $1,000 is the 42nd highest of 120 Iowa cities with 1,100–2,400 people. The middle of the group is $14.10.

Elkader: $27.11Laurens: $24.16Pocahontas: $20.79Rockwell City: $20.74Belmond: $19.86Villisca: $19.74Sac City: $19.69Traer: $19.56Corning: $19.36Lake City: $19.32Corydon: $18.22Toledo: $18.21La Porte City: $18.08Dysart: $17.95Britt: $17.72Strawberry Point: $17.58Mapleton: $16.90George: $16.89Manson: $16.87Fayette: $16.85Nashua: $16.81Ackley: $16.63Audubon: $16.52Roland: $16.51Monona: $16.41Belle Plaine: $16.34Aplington: $16.34Colfax: $16.25Durant: $16.24Lamoni: $16.15Panora: $16.14Marengo: $16.10Dike: $15.94Holstein: $15.81State Center: $15.80Pleasantville: $15.80Postville: $15.68Earlham: $15.55Shell Rock: $15.52Brooklyn: $15.49Stuart: $15.48Granger: $15.22Sigourney: $15.20Guttenberg: $15.19Logan: $15.05Tripoli: $14.99Sumner: $14.83Woodbine: $14.80Bedford: $14.66Lenox: $14.65Manning: $14.62Van Meter: $14.60Coon Rapids: $14.49Nora Springs: $14.25Kingsley: $14.25Urbana: $14.20Sheffield: $14.16Parkersburg: $14.15Hartley: $14.11Ida Grove: $14.10Woodward: $14.05Guthrie Center: $14.04Alton: $13.87Lake Mills: $13.82Montezuma: $13.79Gilbert: $13.71Clarksville: $13.53Avoca: $13.51Glidden: $13.43Calmar: $13.39Wapello: $13.29Manly: $13.29Conrad: $13.23Springville: $13.22Greenfield: $13.13Treynor: $13.03Akron: $12.93Leon: $12.93New Sharon: $12.80Slater: $12.79Buffalo: $12.68Bellevue: $12.67Sanborn: $12.62New London: $12.56Lisbon: $12.50Dallas Center: $12.42Remsen: $12.32Monroe: $12.28Denver: $12.27Alta: $12.13Reinbeck: $12.10Elkhart: $12.00Atkins: $11.99Wellman: $11.88Blue Grass: $11.79Columbus Junction: $11.71Cascade: $11.64Palo: $11.49Prairie City: $11.38Northwood: $11.28Mediapolis: $11.27Melcher-Dallas: $11.21University Heights: $11.12Ely: $11.08Ogden: $10.99Farley: $10.91Oakland: $10.85Moville: $10.67Walcott: $10.29Lake Park: $10.25Central City: $10.01Peosta: $9.82Epworth: $9.42Lake View: $9.39Fairbank: $9.00Walford: $8.72Lone Tree: $8.13Sloan: $7.49Arnolds Park: $4.95Mount Ayr: $15.32$4.95 lowest$27.11 highestmiddle
See all 120
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Elkader$27.111,192
2Laurens$24.161,253
3Pocahontas$20.791,848
4Rockwell City$20.742,185
5Belmond$19.862,405
6Villisca$19.741,106
7Sac City$19.691,992
8Traer$19.561,547
9Corning$19.361,509
10Lake City$19.321,656
11Corydon$18.221,563
12Toledo$18.212,372
13La Porte City$18.082,267
14Dysart$17.951,266
15Britt$17.722,001
16Strawberry Point$17.581,141
17Mapleton$16.901,114
18George$16.891,106
19Manson$16.871,646
20Fayette$16.851,193
21Nashua$16.811,515
22Ackley$16.631,538
23Audubon$16.522,008
24Roland$16.511,376
25Monona$16.411,462
26Belle Plaine$16.342,335
27Aplington$16.341,088
28Colfax$16.252,305
29Durant$16.241,798
30Lamoni$16.152,072
31Panora$16.141,096
32Marengo$16.102,415
33Dike$15.941,293
34Holstein$15.811,475
35State Center$15.801,403
36Pleasantville$15.801,696
37Postville$15.682,418
38Earlham$15.551,411
39Shell Rock$15.521,265
40Brooklyn$15.491,474
41Stuart$15.481,887
42Mount Ayr$15.321,616
43Granger$15.222,095
44Sigourney$15.201,974
45Guttenberg$15.191,804
46Logan$15.051,351
47Tripoli$14.991,208
48Sumner$14.832,032
49Woodbine$14.801,707
50Bedford$14.661,474
51Lenox$14.651,355
52Manning$14.621,390
53Van Meter$14.601,840
54Coon Rapids$14.491,258
55Nora Springs$14.251,330
56Kingsley$14.251,394
57Urbana$14.201,635
58Sheffield$14.161,123
59Parkersburg$14.151,986
60Hartley$14.111,584
61Ida Grove$14.101,988
62Woodward$14.051,383
63Guthrie Center$14.041,579
64Alton$13.871,248
65Lake Mills$13.822,077
66Montezuma$13.791,421
67Gilbert$13.711,397
68Clarksville$13.531,238
69Avoca$13.511,685
70Glidden$13.431,140
71Calmar$13.391,100
72Wapello$13.292,026
73Manly$13.291,233
74Conrad$13.231,098
75Springville$13.221,161
76Greenfield$13.131,988
77Treynor$13.031,104
78Akron$12.931,545
79Leon$12.931,779
80New Sharon$12.801,249
81Slater$12.791,626
82Buffalo$12.681,163
83Bellevue$12.672,321
84Sanborn$12.621,463
85New London$12.561,853
86Lisbon$12.502,238
87Dallas Center$12.421,993
88Remsen$12.321,681
89Monroe$12.282,021
90Denver$12.271,955
91Alta$12.132,039
92Reinbeck$12.101,673
93Elkhart$12.001,079
94Atkins$11.992,168
95Wellman$11.881,531
96Blue Grass$11.791,707
97Columbus Junction$11.711,794
98Cascade$11.642,396
99Palo$11.491,554
100Prairie City$11.381,722
101Northwood$11.282,047
102Mediapolis$11.271,679
103Melcher-Dallas$11.211,193
104University Heights$11.121,188
105Ely$11.082,371
106Ogden$10.991,970
107Farley$10.911,723
108Oakland$10.851,519
109Moville$10.671,707
110Walcott$10.291,556
111Lake Park$10.251,155
112Central City$10.011,254
113Peosta$9.822,195
114Epworth$9.422,042
115Lake View$9.391,120
116Fairbank$9.001,133
117Walford$8.721,357
118Lone Tree$8.131,341
119Sloan$7.491,078
120Arnolds Park$4.951,214

The $8.10 limit

Mount Ayr’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.4 231 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

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

Outside the limit: $7.20 more5

  • Debt Service Levy$5.01 · $318,321
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.35 · $78,412
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$0.84 · $48,382

Tax increment financing (TIF)

Mount Ayr’s TIF revenue, from its reports to the state. It budgeted $15,000 in TIF revenue for FY25.

$155,986
YearTIF revenue
FY16$47,256
FY17$29,369
FY18$33,819
FY19$31,944
FY20$42,538
FY21$110,615
FY22$154,420
FY23$155,986
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$47,256
FY17$29,369
FY18$33,819
FY19$31,944
FY20$42,538
FY21$110,615
FY22$154,420
FY23$155,986

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$470,43851%
  • Debt Service Levy$318,32135%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$78,4129%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$48,3825%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Mount Ayr’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 47¢ of every dollar47¢Capital Projects: 18¢ of every dollar18¢Debt Service: 10¢ of every dollar10¢Public Safety: 8¢ of every dollar8¢Public Works: 6¢ of every dollarEverything else: 11¢ of every dollar11¢

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 119 Iowa cities closest in size (1,100–2,400 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (119)
Business Type / Enterprise47¢41¢
Capital Projects18¢13¢
Debt Service10¢7¢
Public Safety8¢11¢
Public Works6¢12¢
Everything else11¢17¢

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$2.2M49%
  • Debt Service$775,02617%
  • Public Safety$503,65011%
  • Culture and Recreation$471,43010%
  • Public Works$320,1567%
  • General Government$201,9094%
  • Community and Economic Development$43,2001%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($3.0M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$424,463$675,393
Public Safety$380,173$368,491
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$228,210$264,419
Debt Service$491,311$490,985
Culture and Recreation$289,395$230,460
Community and Economic Development$302,185$142,425
Capital Projects$258,034$52,447
Business Type / Enterprise$2.4M$1.6M

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$7.4M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Mount Ayr owes

$9.5M at June 30, 2026: $5,842 per resident. 87th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$9.5M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$9.5M$5,842
2025$8.4M$5,198
2024$9.2M$5,687
2023$7.0M$4,296
2022$7.7M$4,763
2021$8.5M$5,247
2020$8.5M$5,247
2019$5.0M$3,073
2018$3.8M$2,343
2017$4.1M$2,499
2016$4.6M$2,846
2015$4.2M$2,599
2014$4.5M$2,749
2013$3.2M$1,971
2012$3.5M$2,138
2011$3.6M$2,239
2010$3.7M$2,292
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$9.5M$5,842
2025$8.4M$5,198
2024$9.2M$5,687
2023$7.0M$4,296
2022$7.7M$4,763
2021$8.5M$5,247
2020$8.5M$5,247
2019$5.0M$3,073
2018$3.8M$2,343
2017$4.1M$2,499
2016$4.6M$2,846
2015$4.2M$2,599
2014$4.5M$2,749
2013$3.2M$1,971
2012$3.5M$2,138
2011$3.6M$2,239
2010$3.7M$2,292

Up 155% since 2010.

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. Mount Ayr’s latest audit has them: Annual Examination, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Annual Examination for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Friday, July 17, 2026, by the Auditor of State.

5 earlier reports for Mount Ayr

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? 10

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: $246,765 in FY25, up 4% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 17% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$226,102$223,343$229,253$230,497
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)–$24,362$8,394$16,268

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.

$1.9M
$90,548
  • State grants$90,548100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$1.5M
FY20$1.9M
FY21$420,032
FY22$29,764
FY23$67,763
FY24$74,872
FY25$90,548
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$1.5M
FY20$1.9M
FY21$420,032
FY22$29,764
FY23$67,763
FY24$74,872
FY25$90,548

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−16%$218,453 → $230,497, up 6% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 16% less
  • Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)−35%$19,812 → $16,268, down 18% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 35% 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 49% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 19% more.

$238,797
$237,095

Federal grants, for comparison: $373,027 in FY24.

Business awards

Every award statewide

State economic development awards

Community college new jobs training: 1 contract since 2008 worth $745K, for 106 pledged jobs.

Awards 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)11.

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 Mount Ayr; 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.

  • Mount Ayr City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Chandra Kay Poore, Jessica Murphy, Michael Wik
  • Mount Ayr Mayor
    Now held by Mack Greene

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here12.

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 ballot13.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress14

Tom Shipley (Sen. 9)Devon Wood (Rep. 17)

U.S. House:District 3

Ringgold CountyMount Ayr schools