Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Brian ArkfeldDefiance City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Gabriel BaughmanDefiance City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- James Goetz Jr.Defiance Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Tom HellerDefiance City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Brian KloewerDefiance City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Max PowersDefiance 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 Defiance
Homes and businesses in most of Defiance pay a combined $32.82 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Shelby County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $10.18. Estimate your bill.
- Harlan schools$13.4341%
- City of Defiance$10.1831%
- Shelby County$6.3119%
- Iowa Central Community College$1.575%
- Shelby County Myrtue Memorial Hosp$1.033%
- Shelby County Assessor$0.30<1%
Rates over time
Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Defiance pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $29.66 | $9.81 |
| FY21 | $30.80 | $10.48 |
| FY22 | $30.89 | $10.48 |
| FY23 | $29.44 | $9.80 |
| FY24 | $31.76 | $10.01 |
| FY25 | $33.61 | $10.62 |
| FY26 | $33.70 | $10.42 |
| FY27 | $32.82 | $10.18 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $29.66 | $9.81 |
| FY21 | $30.80 | $10.48 |
| FY22 | $30.89 | $10.48 |
| FY23 | $29.44 | $9.80 |
| FY24 | $31.76 | $10.01 |
| FY25 | $33.61 | $10.62 |
| FY26 | $33.70 | $10.42 |
| FY27 | $32.82 | $10.18 |
Compared with places this size3
Defiance’s city property tax rate of $10.05 per $1,000 is the 53rd lowest of 199 Iowa cities with 170–370 people. The middle of the group is $12.03.
See all 199
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanhope | $29.10 | 354 |
| 2 | Fenton | $22.05 | 250 |
| 3 | Soldier | $21.92 | 176 |
| 4 | Coulter | $21.80 | 220 |
| 5 | Chelsea | $21.61 | 207 |
| 6 | Elliott | $21.61 | 328 |
| 7 | Smithland | $21.12 | 184 |
| 8 | Volga | $20.23 | 200 |
| 9 | Alta Vista | $19.88 | 219 |
| 10 | Arthur | $19.86 | 218 |
| 11 | Coin | $19.59 | 171 |
| 12 | Garden Grove | $19.20 | 173 |
| 13 | Fort Atkinson | $19.19 | 300 |
| 14 | Cumberland | $18.42 | 248 |
| 15 | Jamaica | $18.24 | 196 |
| 16 | Massena | $18.23 | 352 |
| 17 | Callender | $17.78 | 361 |
| 18 | Ringsted | $17.65 | 346 |
| 19 | Pierson | $17.12 | 335 |
| 20 | Pisgah | $17.09 | 248 |
| 21 | Lohrville | $16.95 | 366 |
| 22 | Lakota | $16.84 | 261 |
| 23 | Marble Rock | $16.78 | 258 |
| 24 | Auburn | $16.65 | 253 |
| 25 | Mccallsburg | $16.58 | 356 |
| 26 | Prescott | $16.53 | 186 |
| 27 | Irwin | $16.46 | 320 |
| 28 | Montour | $16.37 | 199 |
| 29 | Lewis | $16.25 | 358 |
| 30 | Corwith | $16.22 | 259 |
| 31 | Deep River | $16.18 | 243 |
| 32 | Waucoma | $16.17 | 235 |
| 33 | Granville | $16.00 | 302 |
| 34 | Minburn | $15.75 | 317 |
| 35 | Little Sioux | $15.74 | 170 |
| 36 | Moorhead | $15.68 | 186 |
| 37 | Onslow | $15.63 | 198 |
| 38 | Linden | $15.62 | 206 |
| 39 | Kamrar | $15.47 | 178 |
| 40 | Peterson | $15.27 | 321 |
| 41 | Greeley | $15.23 | 216 |
| 42 | Riverton | $14.94 | 243 |
| 43 | Marathon | $14.89 | 221 |
| 44 | Ryan | $14.84 | 348 |
| 45 | Ladora | $14.74 | 223 |
| 46 | Magnolia | $14.68 | 194 |
| 47 | Bagley | $14.63 | 230 |
| 48 | Davis City | $14.45 | 178 |
| 49 | Lucas | $14.40 | 176 |
| 50 | Garrison | $14.38 | 345 |
| 51 | Halbur | $14.37 | 268 |
| 52 | Crystal Lake | $14.36 | 243 |
| 53 | Kimballton | $14.27 | 281 |
| 54 | Steamboat Rock | $14.19 | 261 |
| 55 | Westgate | $14.05 | 190 |
| 56 | Mystic | $14.01 | 318 |
| 57 | Diagonal | $13.91 | 331 |
| 58 | Mondamin | $13.82 | 335 |
| 59 | Fertile | $13.70 | 300 |
| 60 | Stockport | $13.68 | 272 |
| 61 | Kellerton | $13.60 | 241 |
| 62 | Quimby | $13.58 | 245 |
| 63 | Meservey | $13.43 | 212 |
| 64 | Persia | $13.41 | 292 |
| 65 | Lacona | $13.38 | 336 |
| 66 | Leland | $13.31 | 240 |
| 67 | Ute | $13.26 | 326 |
| 68 | Plymouth | $13.21 | 368 |
| 69 | Harcourt | $13.21 | 257 |
| 70 | Bennett | $13.16 | 330 |
| 71 | Ridgeway | $13.10 | 261 |
| 72 | Farmersburg | $13.09 | 264 |
| 73 | Portsmouth | $13.05 | 187 |
| 74 | Clutier | $13.03 | 209 |
| 75 | Menlo | $12.92 | 347 |
| 76 | Templeton | $12.91 | 337 |
| 77 | Silver City | $12.87 | 244 |
| 78 | Patterson | $12.84 | 176 |
| 79 | Martelle | $12.83 | 250 |
| 80 | Malcom | $12.82 | 257 |
| 81 | Blencoe | $12.57 | 223 |
| 82 | Williams | $12.57 | 299 |
| 83 | Maurice | $12.56 | 271 |
| 84 | Clearfield | $12.50 | 277 |
| 85 | Kensett | $12.47 | 256 |
| 86 | Mccausland | $12.45 | 314 |
| 87 | Spillville | $12.40 | 371 |
| 88 | Modale | $12.34 | 284 |
| 89 | Mingo | $12.31 | 314 |
| 90 | Brandon | $12.29 | 331 |
| 91 | Blakesburg | $12.21 | 273 |
| 92 | Cushing | $12.18 | 225 |
| 93 | Bonaparte | $12.17 | 357 |
| 94 | Hanlontown | $12.17 | 200 |
| 95 | Stout | $12.14 | 194 |
| 96 | Macedonia | $12.12 | 266 |
| 97 | Paton | $12.09 | 217 |
| 98 | Decatur | $12.08 | 174 |
| 99 | Kiron | $12.03 | 262 |
| 100 | Rembrandt | $12.03 | 199 |
| 101 | Liscomb | $11.96 | 292 |
| 102 | New Providence | $11.88 | 233 |
| 103 | Parnell | $11.78 | 190 |
| 104 | Joice | $11.72 | 206 |
| 105 | Atalissa | $11.71 | 287 |
| 106 | Cantril | $11.69 | 224 |
| 107 | Kelley | $11.69 | 312 |
| 108 | Orient | $11.66 | 363 |
| 109 | Wadena | $11.65 | 201 |
| 110 | Cincinnati | $11.57 | 280 |
| 111 | Delta | $11.52 | 257 |
| 112 | Terril | $11.48 | 310 |
| 113 | Westside | $11.45 | 283 |
| 114 | College Springs | $11.44 | 172 |
| 115 | Holland | $11.37 | 261 |
| 116 | Churdan | $11.31 | 359 |
| 117 | Mallard | $11.28 | 255 |
| 118 | Renwick | $11.16 | 228 |
| 119 | Dundee | $11.14 | 193 |
| 120 | Randolph | $11.08 | 183 |
| 121 | Rake | $11.05 | 179 |
| 122 | Frederika | $10.99 | 206 |
| 123 | Letts | $10.91 | 358 |
| 124 | Goose Lake | $10.89 | 250 |
| 125 | Birmingham | $10.87 | 371 |
| 126 | Yale | $10.85 | 265 |
| 127 | Lambs Grove | $10.78 | 174 |
| 128 | Hornick | $10.74 | 255 |
| 129 | Woden | $10.68 | 183 |
| 130 | Bode | $10.64 | 304 |
| 131 | Cleghorn | $10.49 | 235 |
| 132 | Calamus | $10.47 | 348 |
| 133 | Danbury | $10.43 | 315 |
| 134 | Lytton | $10.38 | 274 |
| 135 | Stockton | $10.37 | 171 |
| 136 | Rhodes | $10.36 | 269 |
| 137 | Dedham | $10.28 | 221 |
| 138 | Deloit | $10.28 | 246 |
| 139 | Protivin | $10.28 | 264 |
| 140 | Meriden | $10.28 | 175 |
| 141 | Drakesville | $10.24 | 170 |
| 142 | Bronson | $10.14 | 294 |
| 143 | Hancock | $10.13 | 199 |
| 144 | Rudd | $10.13 | 339 |
| 145 | La Motte | $10.09 | 235 |
| 146 | Melvin | $10.05 | 196 |
| 147 | Defiance | $10.05 | 248 |
| 148 | Floyd | $10.02 | 297 |
| 149 | Barnum | $9.96 | 186 |
| 150 | Panama | $9.85 | 234 |
| 151 | Grafton | $9.83 | 212 |
| 152 | Ionia | $9.65 | 220 |
| 153 | Salix | $9.63 | 303 |
| 154 | Van Wert | $9.62 | 175 |
| 155 | Luxemburg | $9.58 | 240 |
| 156 | Rippey | $9.42 | 217 |
| 157 | Farnhamville | $9.18 | 364 |
| 158 | Elberon | $9.16 | 178 |
| 159 | Middletown | $9.16 | 365 |
| 160 | Dixon | $9.03 | 204 |
| 161 | Lester | $8.94 | 309 |
| 162 | Blairsburg | $8.93 | 175 |
| 163 | Oakville | $8.89 | 198 |
| 164 | Harvey | $8.71 | 242 |
| 165 | Washta | $8.65 | 206 |
| 166 | Moorland | $8.61 | 169 |
| 167 | Ollie | $8.44 | 196 |
| 168 | Thor | $8.38 | 182 |
| 169 | Rowley | $8.31 | 264 |
| 170 | South English | $8.27 | 196 |
| 171 | Boxholm | $8.11 | 177 |
| 172 | Fostoria | $8.10 | 229 |
| 173 | Low Moor | $8.10 | 242 |
| 174 | Bertram | $8.10 | 267 |
| 175 | Nichols | $8.10 | 317 |
| 176 | Laurel | $8.10 | 214 |
| 177 | Lineville | $8.10 | 194 |
| 178 | Luana | $7.98 | 303 |
| 179 | Lockridge | $7.92 | 245 |
| 180 | Grand River | $7.86 | 192 |
| 181 | Olds | $7.86 | 174 |
| 182 | Pulaski | $7.58 | 259 |
| 183 | Sheldahl | $7.56 | 312 |
| 184 | Fredonia | $7.55 | 227 |
| 185 | Harpers Ferry | $7.49 | 273 |
| 186 | Alvord | $7.41 | 216 |
| 187 | Donahue | $6.83 | 336 |
| 188 | Packwood | $6.77 | 186 |
| 189 | Libertyville | $6.60 | 278 |
| 190 | Keswick | $6.49 | 238 |
| 191 | Crawfordsville | $6.44 | 278 |
| 192 | Holy Cross | $5.91 | 348 |
| 193 | Oakland Acres | $5.88 | 178 |
| 194 | Conesville | $5.86 | 350 |
| 195 | Maharishi Vedic City | $3.87 | 290 |
| 196 | Wahpeton | $3.19 | 337 |
| 197 | West Okoboji | $2.92 | 311 |
| 198 | Sherrill | $2.66 | 176 |
| 199 | Rickardsville | $2.27 | 204 |
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 Defiance’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 197 Iowa cities closest in size (170–370 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (197) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Type / Enterprise | 48¢ | 36¢ |
| General Government | 36¢ | 19¢ |
| Public Works | 11¢ | 21¢ |
| Public Safety | 4¢ | 9¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | <1¢ | 8¢ |
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 ($123,000 in FY26), so this total is low.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $29,100 | $12,631 |
| Public Safety | $17,120 | $0 |
| Health and Social Services | $0 | $0 |
| General Government | $66,500 | $145,488 |
| Debt Service | $0 | $1,520 |
| Culture and Recreation | $7,550 | $6,589 |
| Community and Economic Development | $0 | $0 |
| Capital Projects | $1,677 | $0 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $71,910 | $277,175 |
What it spent each year
FY24 left out4
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? 5
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: $31,989 in FY25, down 4% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 23% less. Grants are below.
Show the numbers
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $31,515 | $30,952 | $31,816 | $31,989 |
Has it kept up with prices?
Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.
- Road Use Tax (streets)−23%$33,188 → $31,989, down 4% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 23% 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 29% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 3% more.
Federal grants, for comparison: $727 in FY25.
Elections
Most recent: November 4, 2025
City · 2
3 seats: the top 3 win.
- Brian Arkfeld Winner3568.6%
- Gabriel Baughman Winner1427.4%
- Tom Heller Winner23.9%
- James Goetz Jr. Unopposed34100.0%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Defiance; official results are on each county auditor’s site.
Related places
At the Statehouse and in Congress6
Jason Schultz (Sen. 6)Steven C. Holt (Rep. 12)
U.S. House:District 4