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Local taxes › Story County › Kelley

City

Kelley

Story County · How cities work

$3,160 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($37.50 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$980 a yearof that goes to the city ($11.69 per $1,000)
$163,752property taxes the city levies, FY27
$244,725city 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.

  • Alex LundgrenKelley City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Benjamin David AdamsKelley City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jacqueline SappKelley Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Tim SalasekKelley City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Brendan BurtnettKelley City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Jacqueline Lea SappKelley City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Kelly NetcottKelley City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Rick TerronesKelley Mayor · 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 Kelley

Homes and businesses in most of Kelley pay a combined $37.50 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, $11.69. Estimate your bill.

  • Ballard schools$19.0051%
  • City of Kelley$11.6931%
  • Story County$4.3412%
  • 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 Kelley pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$36.14$9.25
FY21$35.89$9.18
FY22$35.88$9.18
FY23$35.47$9.18
FY24$35.29$9.35
FY25$34.35$8.61
FY26$34.64$9.21
FY27$37.50$11.69
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$36.14$9.25
FY21$35.89$9.18
FY22$35.88$9.18
FY23$35.47$9.18
FY24$35.29$9.35
FY25$34.35$8.61
FY26$34.64$9.21
FY27$37.50$11.69

Compared with places this size3

Kelley’s city property tax rate of $11.69 per $1,000 is the 82nd lowest of 197 Iowa cities with 210–470 people. The middle of the group is $12.31.

Stanhope: $29.10Fenton: $22.05Coulter: $21.80Elliott: $21.61Oxford Junction: $20.84Earling: $20.47Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Fort Atkinson: $19.19Salem: $19.15Cumberland: $18.42Massena: $18.23Callender: $17.78Casey: $17.72Vail: $17.66Ringsted: $17.65Emerson: $17.54Ashton: $17.17Pierson: $17.12Burt: $17.10Pisgah: $17.09Lohrville: $16.95Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Mccallsburg: $16.58Irwin: $16.46Lewis: $16.25Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Duncombe: $16.10Bayard: $16.05Granville: $16.00Minburn: $15.75Peterson: $15.27Greeley: $15.23Arlington: $14.98Riverton: $14.94Marathon: $14.89Maynard: $14.85Plainfield: $14.84Ryan: $14.84Otho: $14.82Ladora: $14.74Bagley: $14.63Garrison: $14.38Halbur: $14.37Lorimor: $14.36Crystal Lake: $14.36Kimballton: $14.27Ocheyedan: $14.22Steamboat Rock: $14.19Mystic: $14.01Lime Springs: $13.95Wesley: $13.91Diagonal: $13.91Bussey: $13.83Mondamin: $13.82Livermore: $13.78Fertile: $13.70Stockport: $13.68Kellerton: $13.60Albion: $13.58Quimby: $13.58Lamont: $13.57New Albin: $13.55Meservey: $13.43Persia: $13.41Lawler: $13.39Lacona: $13.38Leland: $13.31Ute: $13.26New Market: $13.25Plymouth: $13.21Harcourt: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Clutier: $13.03Little Rock: $13.03Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Silver City: $12.87Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Galva: $12.68Martensdale: $12.63Blencoe: $12.57Williams: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Norway: $12.53Clearfield: $12.50Kensett: $12.47Mccausland: $12.45Spillville: $12.40Modale: $12.34Mingo: $12.31Brandon: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Cushing: $12.18Bonaparte: $12.17Macedonia: $12.12Hawkeye: $12.11Paton: $12.09Kiron: $12.03Colesburg: $11.97Liscomb: $11.96New Providence: $11.88Thornton: $11.86Runnells: $11.79Allerton: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Cantril: $11.69Orient: $11.66Cincinnati: $11.57Delta: $11.52Terril: $11.48Westside: $11.45Holland: $11.37Churdan: $11.31Mallard: $11.28Miles: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Milton: $10.98New Vienna: $10.91Letts: $10.91Goose Lake: $10.89Birmingham: $10.87Charlotte: $10.86Yale: $10.85Batavia: $10.77Hornick: $10.74Riverdale: $10.67Bode: $10.64Union: $10.58Cleghorn: $10.49Calamus: $10.47Lovilia: $10.46Danbury: $10.43Lytton: $10.38Stacyville: $10.36Rhodes: $10.36Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $10.28Andrew: $10.22Royal: $10.20Bronson: $10.14Rudd: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Defiance: $10.05Floyd: $10.02Panama: $9.85Grafton: $9.83Lynnville: $9.68Ionia: $9.65Salix: $9.63Luxemburg: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Farnhamville: $9.18Middletown: $9.16Alleman: $9.12Lester: $8.94Harvey: $8.71Rowley: $8.31Bertram: $8.10Fostoria: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Nichols: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Luana: $7.98Lockridge: $7.92Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Pulaski: $7.58Beacon: $7.56Sheldahl: $7.56Fredonia: $7.55Worthington: $7.50Harpers Ferry: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Marquette: $7.08Columbus City: $6.94Donahue: $6.83Libertyville: $6.60Keswick: $6.49Crawfordsville: $6.44Holy Cross: $5.91Conesville: $5.86Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87Wahpeton: $3.19West Okoboji: $2.92Kelley: $11.69$2.92 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 197
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Stanhope$29.10354
2Fenton$22.05250
3Coulter$21.80220
4Elliott$21.61328
5Oxford Junction$20.84424
6Earling$20.47394
7Alta Vista$19.88219
8Arthur$19.86218
9Fort Atkinson$19.19300
10Salem$19.15380
11Cumberland$18.42248
12Massena$18.23352
13Callender$17.78361
14Casey$17.72387
15Vail$17.66383
16Ringsted$17.65346
17Emerson$17.54401
18Ashton$17.17434
19Pierson$17.12335
20Burt$17.10404
21Pisgah$17.09248
22Lohrville$16.95366
23Lakota$16.84261
24Marble Rock$16.78258
25Auburn$16.65253
26Mccallsburg$16.58356
27Irwin$16.46320
28Lewis$16.25358
29Corwith$16.22259
30Deep River$16.18243
31Waucoma$16.17235
32Duncombe$16.10374
33Bayard$16.05402
34Granville$16.00302
35Minburn$15.75317
36Peterson$15.27321
37Greeley$15.23216
38Arlington$14.98415
39Riverton$14.94243
40Marathon$14.89221
41Maynard$14.85466
42Plainfield$14.84392
43Ryan$14.84348
44Otho$14.82417
45Ladora$14.74223
46Bagley$14.63230
47Garrison$14.38345
48Halbur$14.37268
49Lorimor$14.36377
50Crystal Lake$14.36243
51Kimballton$14.27281
52Ocheyedan$14.22424
53Steamboat Rock$14.19261
54Mystic$14.01318
55Lime Springs$13.95467
56Wesley$13.91382
57Diagonal$13.91331
58Bussey$13.83378
59Mondamin$13.82335
60Livermore$13.78382
61Fertile$13.70300
62Stockport$13.68272
63Kellerton$13.60241
64Albion$13.58444
65Quimby$13.58245
66Lamont$13.57429
67New Albin$13.55435
68Meservey$13.43212
69Persia$13.41292
70Lawler$13.39392
71Lacona$13.38336
72Leland$13.31240
73Ute$13.26326
74New Market$13.25381
75Plymouth$13.21368
76Harcourt$13.21257
77Bennett$13.16330
78Ridgeway$13.10261
79Farmersburg$13.09264
80Clutier$13.03209
81Little Rock$13.03447
82Lehigh$12.97395
83Menlo$12.92347
84Templeton$12.91337
85Silver City$12.87244
86Martelle$12.83250
87Malcom$12.82257
88Galva$12.68416
89Martensdale$12.63413
90Blencoe$12.57223
91Williams$12.57299
92Maurice$12.56271
93Norway$12.53463
94Clearfield$12.50277
95Kensett$12.47256
96Mccausland$12.45314
97Spillville$12.40371
98Modale$12.34284
99Mingo$12.31314
100Brandon$12.29331
101Blakesburg$12.21273
102Cushing$12.18225
103Bonaparte$12.17357
104Macedonia$12.12266
105Hawkeye$12.11429
106Paton$12.09217
107Kiron$12.03262
108Colesburg$11.97379
109Liscomb$11.96292
110New Providence$11.88233
111Thornton$11.86394
112Runnells$11.79467
113Allerton$11.72432
114Atalissa$11.71287
115Cantril$11.69224
116Kelley$11.69312
117Orient$11.66363
118Cincinnati$11.57280
119Delta$11.52257
120Terril$11.48310
121Westside$11.45283
122Holland$11.37261
123Churdan$11.31359
124Mallard$11.28255
125Miles$11.28400
126Renwick$11.16228
127Milton$10.98395
128New Vienna$10.91384
129Letts$10.91358
130Goose Lake$10.89250
131Birmingham$10.87371
132Charlotte$10.86386
133Yale$10.85265
134Batavia$10.77434
135Hornick$10.74255
136Riverdale$10.67385
137Bode$10.64304
138Union$10.58378
139Cleghorn$10.49235
140Calamus$10.47348
141Lovilia$10.46456
142Danbury$10.43315
143Lytton$10.38274
144Stacyville$10.36436
145Rhodes$10.36269
146Dedham$10.28221
147Deloit$10.28246
148Protivin$10.28264
149Andrew$10.22374
150Royal$10.20379
151Bronson$10.14294
152Rudd$10.13339
153La Motte$10.09235
154Defiance$10.05248
155Floyd$10.02297
156Panama$9.85234
157Grafton$9.83212
158Lynnville$9.68382
159Ionia$9.65220
160Salix$9.63303
161Luxemburg$9.58240
162Rippey$9.42217
163Farnhamville$9.18364
164Middletown$9.16365
165Alleman$9.12439
166Lester$8.94309
167Harvey$8.71242
168Rowley$8.31264
169Bertram$8.10267
170Fostoria$8.10229
171Grandview$8.10431
172Lost Nation$8.10425
173Low Moor$8.10242
174Nichols$8.10317
175Laurel$8.10214
176Luana$7.98303
177Lockridge$7.92245
178Delhi$7.81438
179Klemme$7.74429
180Pulaski$7.58259
181Beacon$7.56434
182Sheldahl$7.56312
183Fredonia$7.55227
184Worthington$7.50374
185Harpers Ferry$7.49273
186Alvord$7.41216
187Marquette$7.08434
188Columbus City$6.94385
189Donahue$6.83336
190Libertyville$6.60278
191Keswick$6.49238
192Crawfordsville$6.44278
193Holy Cross$5.91348
194Conesville$5.86350
195Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
196Wahpeton$3.19337
197West Okoboji$2.92311

The $8.10 limit

Kelley’s general levy is $7.57 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.53 below the limit.4 777 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $7.80 · FY26 $7.72 · FY27 $7.57 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $4.12 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$2.57 · $35,678
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.55 · $21,421

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$104,89665%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$35,67822%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$21,42113%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Kelley’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 60¢ of every dollar60¢Public Works: 13¢ of every dollar13¢General Government: 11¢ of every dollar11¢Culture and Recreation: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Public Safety: 7¢ of every dollarEverything else: 1¢ of every dollar

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 195 Iowa cities closest in size (210–470 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (195)
Business Type / Enterprise60¢38¢
Public Works13¢20¢
General Government11¢16¢
Culture and Recreation9¢8¢
Public Safety7¢9¢
Everything else1¢2¢

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.

  • General Government$84,71035%
  • Public Works$73,26030%
  • Culture and Recreation$44,79018%
  • Public Safety$34,46514%
  • Community and Economic Development$7,5003%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($318,476 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$28,275$21,595
Public Safety$31,562$62,119
Health and Social Services$400$0
General Government$32,750$27,884
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$53,121$50,703
Community and Economic Development$1,450$2,056
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$181,650$216,750

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$735,695
$724,311

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Kelley owes

$357,000 at June 30, 2026: $1,174 per resident. 516th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$597,679
$357,000
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$357,000$1,174
2025$386,000$1,270
2024$414,000$1,362
2023$442,000$1,454
2022$469,000$1,543
2021$515,000$1,694
2020$559,000$1,839
2019$597,679$1,966
2018$422,614$1,390
2017$110,200$363
2016$126,200$415
2015$142,200$468
2014$157,200$517
2013$202,173$665
2012$196,973$648
2011$180,000$592
2010$193,000$635
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$357,000$1,174
2025$386,000$1,270
2024$414,000$1,362
2023$442,000$1,454
2022$469,000$1,543
2021$515,000$1,694
2020$559,000$1,839
2019$597,679$1,966
2018$422,614$1,390
2017$110,200$363
2016$126,200$415
2015$142,200$468
2014$157,200$517
2013$202,173$665
2012$196,973$648
2011$180,000$592
2010$193,000$635

Up 85% since 2010.

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. Kelley’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Thursday, March 31, 2022 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Thursday, March 31, 2022 (PDF), released Monday, November 28, 2022, by a CPA firm.

2 earlier reports for Kelley

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: $28,329 in FY25, up 8% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 14% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$27,320$27,423$28,176$28,329
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)–$966$724–

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.

$22,354
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$1,109
    FY20$0
    FY21$0
    FY22$22,354
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$1,109
    FY20$0
    FY21$0
    FY22$22,354
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−13%$25,875 → $28,329, up 9% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 13% 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 31% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 5% more.

    $53,725

    Federal grants, for comparison: $40,273 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)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 · 3

    2 seats: the top 2 win.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Kelley; 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.

    • Kelley City Council At-Large (3 seats)
      Now held by Kelly Netcott, Brendan Burtnett, Jacqueline Lea Sapp
    • Kelley Mayor
      Now held by Rick Terrones

    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

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

    U.S. House:District 4

    Story CountyBallard schools