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Local taxes › Story County › Gilbert

City

Gilbert

Story County · How cities work

$3,300 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($39.19 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,150 a yearof that goes to the city ($13.71 per $1,000)
$966,256property taxes the city levies, FY27
$2.4Mcity 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.

  • Brent RandolphGilbert City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jonathan C. PoppGilbert Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Stephen J. MahoneyGilbert City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Carmon Wilson (W)Gilbert City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • David Frank RydlGilbert City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Shaon AndersonGilbert 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 Gilbert

Homes and businesses in most of Gilbert pay a combined $39.19 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Story County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $13.71. Estimate your bill.

  • Gilbert schools$18.6748%
  • City of Gilbert$13.7135%
  • Story County$4.3411%
  • Story County Hospital$1.083%
  • Des Moines Area Community College$0.812%
  • Story County Assessor$0.471%
  • Story County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.11<1%

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$36.18$10.03
FY21$35.84$10.65
FY22$37.11$12.81
FY23$35.73$12.00
FY24$35.83$12.34
FY25$36.46$12.71
FY26$37.13$12.72
FY27$39.19$13.71
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$36.18$10.03
FY21$35.84$10.65
FY22$37.11$12.81
FY23$35.73$12.00
FY24$35.83$12.34
FY25$36.46$12.71
FY26$37.13$12.72
FY27$39.19$13.71

Compared with places this size3

Gilbert’s city property tax rate of $13.71 per $1,000 is the 69th highest of 141 Iowa cities with 940–2,100 people. The middle of the group is $13.51.

Elkader: $27.11Laurens: $24.16Pocahontas: $20.79Villisca: $19.74Sac City: $19.69Traer: $19.56Corning: $19.36Lake City: $19.32Allison: $19.06Corydon: $18.22Dysart: $17.95Greene: $17.91Britt: $17.72Lansing: $17.67Strawberry Point: $17.58Rockwell: $17.54Gowrie: $17.17Mapleton: $16.90George: $16.89Manson: $16.87Fayette: $16.85Eddyville: $16.82Nashua: $16.81Ackley: $16.63Audubon: $16.52Roland: $16.51Monona: $16.41Aplington: $16.34Durant: $16.24Lamoni: $16.15Panora: $16.14Mechanicsville: $16.12Dike: $15.94Holstein: $15.81State Center: $15.80Pleasantville: $15.80Earlham: $15.55Shell Rock: $15.52Brooklyn: $15.49Stuart: $15.48Mount Ayr: $15.32Granger: $15.22Sigourney: $15.20Guttenberg: $15.19Sidney: $15.19Logan: $15.05Griswold: $15.01Tripoli: $14.99Sumner: $14.83Woodbine: $14.80Bedford: $14.66Lenox: $14.65Manning: $14.62Van Meter: $14.60Dunlap: $14.56Coon 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: $13.79Clarksville: $13.53Avoca: $13.51Janesville: $13.43Glidden: $13.43Calmar: $13.39Baxter: $13.32Wapello: $13.29Manly: $13.29Anita: $13.28Conrad: $13.23Springville: $13.22Shellsburg: $13.20De Soto: $13.18Greenfield: $13.13Treynor: $13.03Odebolt: $13.00Akron: $12.93Leon: $12.93Underwood: $12.85New Sharon: $12.80Slater: $12.79Malvern: $12.79Buffalo: $12.68Sanborn: $12.62New London: $12.56Dallas Center: $12.42Hinton: $12.38Preston: $12.38Remsen: $12.32Monroe: $12.28Denver: $12.27Alta: $12.13Reinbeck: $12.10Winfield: $12.04Elkhart: $12.00Tabor: $11.88Wellman: $11.88Aurelia: $11.84Blue Grass: $11.79Columbus Junction: $11.71Palo: $11.49Prairie City: $11.38Marcus: $11.31Northwood: $11.28Mediapolis: $11.27Melcher-Dallas: $11.21University Heights: $11.12Ogden: $10.99Clarence: $10.94Farley: $10.91Oakland: $10.85Moville: $10.67Elk Run Heights: $10.33Walcott: $10.29Fredericksburg: $10.27Lake Park: $10.25Inwood: $10.22Central City: $10.01Epworth: $9.42Lake View: $9.39Paullina: $9.21Fairbank: $9.00Walford: $8.72Keosauqua: $8.58Lone Tree: $8.13Riverside: $8.02Larchwood: $7.52North English: $7.49Sloan: $7.49Lawton: $7.10Wayland: $7.07Arnolds Park: $4.95Gilbert: $13.71$4.95 lowest$27.11 highestmiddle
See all 141
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Elkader$27.111,192
2Laurens$24.161,253
3Pocahontas$20.791,848
4Villisca$19.741,106
5Sac City$19.691,992
6Traer$19.561,547
7Corning$19.361,509
8Lake City$19.321,656
9Allison$19.06937
10Corydon$18.221,563
11Dysart$17.951,266
12Greene$17.91971
13Britt$17.722,001
14Lansing$17.67959
15Strawberry Point$17.581,141
16Rockwell$17.541,044
17Gowrie$17.17943
18Mapleton$16.901,114
19George$16.891,106
20Manson$16.871,646
21Fayette$16.851,193
22Eddyville$16.82965
23Nashua$16.811,515
24Ackley$16.631,538
25Audubon$16.522,008
26Roland$16.511,376
27Monona$16.411,462
28Aplington$16.341,088
29Durant$16.241,798
30Lamoni$16.152,072
31Panora$16.141,096
32Mechanicsville$16.12974
33Dike$15.941,293
34Holstein$15.811,475
35State Center$15.801,403
36Pleasantville$15.801,696
37Earlham$15.551,411
38Shell Rock$15.521,265
39Brooklyn$15.491,474
40Stuart$15.481,887
41Mount Ayr$15.321,616
42Granger$15.222,095
43Sigourney$15.201,974
44Guttenberg$15.191,804
45Sidney$15.191,048
46Logan$15.051,351
47Griswold$15.01975
48Tripoli$14.991,208
49Sumner$14.832,032
50Woodbine$14.801,707
51Bedford$14.661,474
52Lenox$14.651,355
53Manning$14.621,390
54Van Meter$14.601,840
55Dunlap$14.561,030
56Coon Rapids$14.491,258
57Nora Springs$14.251,330
58Kingsley$14.251,394
59Urbana$14.201,635
60Sheffield$14.161,123
61Parkersburg$14.151,986
62Hartley$14.111,584
63Ida Grove$14.101,988
64Woodward$14.051,383
65Guthrie Center$14.041,579
66Alton$13.871,248
67Lake Mills$13.822,077
68Montezuma$13.791,421
69Gilbert$13.711,397
70Clarksville$13.531,238
71Avoca$13.511,685
72Janesville$13.431,052
73Glidden$13.431,140
74Calmar$13.391,100
75Baxter$13.32983
76Wapello$13.292,026
77Manly$13.291,233
78Anita$13.28953
79Conrad$13.231,098
80Springville$13.221,161
81Shellsburg$13.20987
82De Soto$13.18937
83Greenfield$13.131,988
84Treynor$13.031,104
85Odebolt$13.00967
86Akron$12.931,545
87Leon$12.931,779
88Underwood$12.85973
89New Sharon$12.801,249
90Slater$12.791,626
91Malvern$12.791,056
92Buffalo$12.681,163
93Sanborn$12.621,463
94New London$12.561,853
95Dallas Center$12.421,993
96Hinton$12.38959
97Preston$12.38940
98Remsen$12.321,681
99Monroe$12.282,021
100Denver$12.271,955
101Alta$12.132,039
102Reinbeck$12.101,673
103Winfield$12.041,006
104Elkhart$12.001,079
105Tabor$11.88983
106Wellman$11.881,531
107Aurelia$11.84970
108Blue Grass$11.791,707
109Columbus Junction$11.711,794
110Palo$11.491,554
111Prairie City$11.381,722
112Marcus$11.311,069
113Northwood$11.282,047
114Mediapolis$11.271,679
115Melcher-Dallas$11.211,193
116University Heights$11.121,188
117Ogden$10.991,970
118Clarence$10.94991
119Farley$10.911,723
120Oakland$10.851,519
121Moville$10.671,707
122Elk Run Heights$10.331,061
123Walcott$10.291,556
124Fredericksburg$10.27983
125Lake Park$10.251,155
126Inwood$10.22962
127Central City$10.011,254
128Epworth$9.422,042
129Lake View$9.391,120
130Paullina$9.21979
131Fairbank$9.001,133
132Walford$8.721,357
133Keosauqua$8.58944
134Lone Tree$8.131,341
135Riverside$8.021,063
136Larchwood$7.52954
137North English$7.491,030
138Sloan$7.491,078
139Lawton$7.10949
140Wayland$7.07935
141Arnolds Park$4.951,214

The $8.10 limit

Gilbert’s general levy is $7.50 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.60 below the limit.4 800 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.06 · FY24 $8.06 · FY25 $7.83 · FY26 $7.60 · FY27 $7.50 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $6.21 more5

  • Debt Service Levy$4.51 · $317,757
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.15 · $80,653
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$0.55 · $38,835

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$527,66255%
  • Debt Service Levy$317,75733%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$80,6538%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$38,8354%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Gilbert’s budget goes, FY26

Capital Projects: 25¢ of every dollar25¢Business Type / Enterprise: 23¢ of every dollar23¢Debt Service: 11¢ of every dollar11¢Community and Economic Development: 10¢ of every dollar10¢Culture and Recreation: 10¢ of every dollar10¢Everything else: 21¢ of every dollar21¢

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 140 Iowa cities closest in size (940–2,100 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (140)
Capital Projects25¢12¢
Business Type / Enterprise23¢41¢
Debt Service11¢6¢
Community and Economic Development10¢3¢
Culture and Recreation10¢8¢
Everything else21¢30¢

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$488,30020%
  • Culture and Recreation$406,56517%
  • General Government$375,55016%
  • Debt Service$373,51916%
  • Community and Economic Development$290,60012%
  • Public Works$285,07012%
  • Public Safety$180,6708%
  • Health and Social Services$2,1000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($921,752 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$251,000$390,078
Public Safety$253,875$171,809
Health and Social Services$2,300$1,800
General Government$284,280$217,867
Debt Service$128,304$31,740
Culture and Recreation$213,280$388,399
Community and Economic Development$11,250$6,835
Capital Projects$97,570$0
Business Type / Enterprise$1.0M$914,345

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$5.2M
$5.2M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Gilbert owes

$7.8M at June 30, 2026: $6,470 per resident. 64th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$9.7M
$7.8M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$7.8M$6,470
2025$7.8M$6,470
2024$9.7M$7,991
2023$8.8M$7,245
2022$9.3M$7,651
2021$9.6M$7,934
2020$6.0M$4,945
2019$3.7M$3,026
2018$345,287$285
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 30OwedPer resident
2026$7.8M$6,470
2025$7.8M$6,470
2024$9.7M$7,991
2023$8.8M$7,245
2022$9.3M$7,651
2021$9.6M$7,934
2020$6.0M$4,945
2019$3.7M$3,026
2018$345,287$285
2017$0$0
2016$0$0
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0

Up 2169% since 2018.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $2.5M, 35% of the limit of about $7.1M (5% of $141.8M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

5 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsWater Plant Project - Rev D0499R2040$2.8M
Revenue BondsSewer/Lagoon Project C0934R CS-1920844-012039$2.6M
General Obligation2nd Phase of Main Street reconstruction projec.2033$1.2M
General ObligationMain Street Project - Phase 12036$949,049
General ObligationWater Plant - G.O. Loan D0498G2039$368,000

General obligation bonds are repaid from property taxes; revenue bonds and loans from the fees or revenue they’re tied to. On the Treasurer’s site

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. Gilbert’s latest audit has them: Annual Examination, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Annual Examination for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Thursday, April 2, 2026, by a CPA firm.

10 earlier reports for Gilbert

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: $171,985 in FY25, up 23% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 2% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$177,043$166,647$171,057$171,985

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.

$29,594
$1,500
  • State grants$1,500100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$0
FY20$0
FY21$29,594
FY22$4,787
FY23$3,806
FY24$2,908
FY25$1,500
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$0
FY20$0
FY21$29,594
FY22$4,787
FY23$3,806
FY24$2,908
FY25$1,500

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−2%$139,779 → $171,985, up 23% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 2% 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 35% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 8% more.

$287,367
$205,642

Federal grants, for comparison: $1,096 in FY23.

Business awards

Every award 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)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

City · 2

2 seats: the top 2 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Gilbert; 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.

  • Gilbert City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by David Frank Rydl, Shaon Anderson, Carmon Wilson (W)
  • Gilbert Mayor
    Now held by Jonathan C. Popp

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here13.

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 ballot14.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress15

Kara Warme (Sen. 26)Brett Barker (Rep. 51)

U.S. House:District 4

Story CountyGilbert schools