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Local taxes › Story County › Story City

City

Story City

Story County · How cities work

$2,660 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($31.53 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$880 a yearof that goes to the city ($10.39 per $1,000)
$2.2Mproperty taxes the city levies, FY27
$6.5Mcity 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.

  • Eric AbramsStory City City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Mary Kay SolbergStory City City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Mike JensenStory City Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Connie PhillipsStory City City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Jim O'ConnorStory City City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Rhonda OstremStory City 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.3

City Council · Monday, November 2, 2026Agenda (PDF)

AI summary

The agenda’s first 132 pages are scanned images Iowa Funnel can’t read yet, so this covers only the documents attached to it. Open the agenda for the full list.

  • The city paid $63,994.30 to Absolute Group Co. for the Broad Street reconstruction phase IV.
  • Large payments were made to Bok Financial for various debt services, bonds, and projects, including $35,051.25 for Ritland Land and $26,710.00 for Sewer Utility.
  • The Sewer Utility department paid $12,375.00 to Act Insurance Agency for wastewater treatment plant updates and $11,440.58 to Hill's Backhoe & Tiling for sewer repairs on Broad Street.
  • The Library department spent $7,358.40 on items including a new copier from MMIT Business Solutions, books, and roof leak repairs by Right Roofing & Siding, Inc.
  • The Water Utility department paid $14,078.05 to Bok Financial and $839.40 to National Industrial & Safety for supplies.
  • Other significant expenses include $11,500.00 to Denman & Company LLP for an annual audit, $11,000.00 to Van Wall for a mower, and $5,250.00 to the Story City Historical Society for special event funding.
City Council · Monday, October 19, 2026Agenda (PDF)

AI summary

The agenda’s first 49 pages are scanned images Iowa Funnel can’t read yet, so this covers only the documents attached to it. Open the agenda for the full list.

  • The city processed $84,804.09 in total payments between October 5 and October 16, 2026.
  • Major expenses included $18,951.67 for the Water Utility, $15,819.82 for Street/Roadway Maintenance (including $4,980.00 for street patching on Broad St. by Wirth Concrete Const.), and $13,865.48 for Sewer Utility.
  • Other significant payments included $13,169.92 for the Police Department, $6,558.26 for Financial Administration, and $4,123.33 for Parks.
  • Various departments paid for health insurance, utilities, office supplies, and equipment, including $6,092.29 to the Story County Treasurer for police dispatch services and $2,080.00 to Hill's Backhoe & Tiling for a water leak repair.
City Council · Monday, October 19, 2026Agenda (PDF)

Iowa Funnel couldn’t read this agenda’s text (no text (a scanned PDF?)).

Show 5 more meetings
City Council · Monday, October 5, 2026Agenda (PDF)

Iowa Funnel couldn’t read this agenda’s text (no text (a scanned PDF?)).

City Council · Wednesday, September 30, 2026Agenda (PDF)

Iowa Funnel couldn’t read this agenda’s text (no text (a scanned PDF?)).

City Council · Monday, September 21, 2026Agenda (PDF)
City Council · Tuesday, September 8, 2026Agenda (PDF)
City Council · Tuesday, August 18, 2026Agenda (PDF)

Property taxes

How the bill is collected · What each levy is for

Who gets a property owner’s tax bill in Story City

Homes and businesses in most of Story City pay a combined $31.53 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, $10.39. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$31.31$10.30
FY21$30.52$9.90
FY22$30.52$10.06
FY23$30.98$10.19
FY24$31.44$10.67
FY25$30.89$10.04
FY26$31.20$10.40
FY27$31.53$10.39
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$31.31$10.30
FY21$30.52$9.90
FY22$30.52$10.06
FY23$30.98$10.19
FY24$31.44$10.67
FY25$30.89$10.04
FY26$31.20$10.40
FY27$31.53$10.39

Compared with places this size4

Story City’s city property tax rate of $10.39 per $1,000 is the 7th lowest of 66 Iowa cities with 2,300–5,100 people. The middle of the group is $14.40.

Eldora: $26.87Bloomfield: $20.41Belmond: $19.86Sibley: $19.77Albia: $19.70Eagle Grove: $19.32Iowa Falls: $18.86West Liberty: $18.68Chariton: $18.37Toledo: $18.21Tama: $17.74Clarion: $17.74Missouri Valley: $17.68Madrid: $16.93West Union: $16.60Grundy Center: $16.36Belle Plaine: $16.34Vinton: $16.25Colfax: $16.25Cresco: $16.13Marengo: $16.10Humboldt: $16.00Forest City: $15.77Postville: $15.68Tipton: $15.54Harlan: $15.07Shenandoah: $15.02Jefferson: $14.88Hampton: $14.86Carlisle: $14.82Waukon: $14.76Rock Rapids: $14.57Monticello: $14.49Jesup: $14.31Windsor Heights: $14.30Osage: $14.29Rock Valley: $13.76Emmetsburg: $13.70Wilton: $13.62Mount Vernon: $13.50New Hampton: $13.44Hudson: $13.19Center Point: $13.19Hawarden: $13.02Garner: $12.86Camanche: $12.75Bellevue: $12.67Le Claire: $12.64Milford: $12.57Onawa: $12.32Hull: $11.79Huxley: $11.68Cascade: $11.64West Branch: $11.63Mitchellville: $11.54Solon: $11.53Williamsburg: $11.11Ely: $11.08Carter Lake: $10.67Kalona: $10.37Dyersville: $10.27West Burlington: $10.15Robins: $9.68Fairfax: $8.10Evansdale: $8.00Story City: $10.39$8.00 lowest$26.87 highestmiddle
See all 66
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Eldora$26.872,595
2Bloomfield$20.412,773
3Belmond$19.862,405
4Sibley$19.772,787
5Albia$19.703,579
6Eagle Grove$19.323,615
7Iowa Falls$18.864,993
8West Liberty$18.683,724
9Chariton$18.374,278
10Toledo$18.212,372
11Tama$17.742,997
12Clarion$17.742,751
13Missouri Valley$17.682,638
14Madrid$16.932,824
15West Union$16.602,435
16Grundy Center$16.362,821
17Belle Plaine$16.342,335
18Vinton$16.254,962
19Colfax$16.252,305
20Cresco$16.133,890
21Marengo$16.102,415
22Humboldt$16.004,774
23Forest City$15.774,199
24Postville$15.682,418
25Tipton$15.543,059
26Harlan$15.074,898
27Shenandoah$15.024,878
28Jefferson$14.884,148
29Hampton$14.864,340
30Carlisle$14.824,381
31Waukon$14.763,799
32Rock Rapids$14.572,709
33Monticello$14.494,095
34Jesup$14.312,541
35Windsor Heights$14.305,106
36Osage$14.293,559
37Rock Valley$13.764,024
38Emmetsburg$13.703,632
39Wilton$13.622,914
40Mount Vernon$13.504,518
41New Hampton$13.443,433
42Hudson$13.192,916
43Center Point$13.192,578
44Hawarden$13.022,630
45Garner$12.863,049
46Camanche$12.754,536
47Bellevue$12.672,321
48Le Claire$12.644,776
49Milford$12.573,258
50Onawa$12.322,795
51Hull$11.792,459
52Huxley$11.684,737
53Cascade$11.642,396
54West Branch$11.632,876
55Mitchellville$11.542,686
56Solon$11.533,284
57Williamsburg$11.113,380
58Ely$11.082,371
59Carter Lake$10.673,752
60Story City$10.393,439
61Kalona$10.372,762
62Dyersville$10.274,559
63West Burlington$10.153,249
64Robins$9.683,362
65Fairfax$8.102,937
66Evansdale$8.004,515

The $8.10 limit

Story City’s general levy is $7.74 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.36 below the limit.5 716 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $7.32 · FY24 $7.71 · FY25 $7.32 · FY26 $7.97 · FY27 $7.74 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $2.65 more6

  • Debt Service Levy$2.14 · $544,025
  • Capital Projects (Capital Improv. Reserve)$0.29 · $57,791
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$0.21 · $42,346

Tax increment financing (TIF)

$56.1M of taxable value in Story City is in TIF districts’ increment (22% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.7 It budgeted $949,369 in TIF revenue for FY25.

$820,837

What that value would raise at each government’s rate, FY278

Taxes on TIF value go to the city’s TIF fund instead of the governments that levy them, including about $462,631 of the city’s own.

  • Roland-Story schools$596,570
  • Story County$236,485
YearTIF revenue
FY16$815,134
FY17$802,380
FY18$814,180
FY19$704,393
FY20$748,822
FY21$768,896
FY22$781,406
FY23$820,837
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$815,134
FY17$802,380
FY18$814,180
FY19$704,393
FY20$748,822
FY21$768,896
FY22$781,406
FY23$820,837

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$1.5M70%
  • Debt Service Levy$544,02525%
  • Capital Projects (Capital Improv. Reserve)$57,7913%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$42,3462%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Story City’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 52¢ of every dollar52¢Debt Service: 13¢ of every dollar13¢Capital Projects: 12¢ of every dollar12¢Culture and Recreation: 8¢ of every dollar8¢Public Safety: 7¢ of every dollarEverything else: 9¢ of every dollar9¢

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 65 Iowa cities closest in size (2,300–5,100 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (65)
Business Type / Enterprise52¢38¢
Debt Service13¢8¢
Capital Projects12¢17¢
Culture and Recreation8¢8¢
Public Safety7¢13¢
Everything else9¢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.

  • Debt Service$1.9M28%
  • Capital Projects$1.2M18%
  • Culture and Recreation$1.1M17%
  • Public Safety$1.1M17%
  • General Government$589,1209%
  • Public Works$524,0508%
  • Community and Economic Development$87,8781%
  • Health and Social Services$25,0000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($7.1M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$466,550$648,606
Public Safety$814,640$764,370
Health and Social Services$23,000$18,350
General Government$520,175$756,983
Debt Service$1.3M$1.3M
Culture and Recreation$848,425$1.5M
Community and Economic Development$151,800$369,287
Capital Projects$2.9M$1.2M
Business Type / Enterprise$1.4M$380,002

What it spent each year

FY24 left out9

$20.1M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Story City owes

$29.0M at June 30, 2026: $8,649 per resident. 26th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).10

$29.0M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$29.0M$8,649
2025$27.9M$8,328
2024$11.4M$3,389
2023$12.7M$3,794
2022$13.7M$4,094
2021$12.6M$3,756
2020$11.0M$3,278
2019$12.1M$3,597
2018$11.1M$3,297
2017$12.1M$3,615
2016$9.9M$2,958
2015$7.6M$2,271
2014$7.9M$2,352
2013$8.6M$2,562
2012$5.4M$1,599
2011$5.7M$1,706
2010$4.3M$1,271
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$29.0M$8,649
2025$27.9M$8,328
2024$11.4M$3,389
2023$12.7M$3,794
2022$13.7M$4,094
2021$12.6M$3,756
2020$11.0M$3,278
2019$12.1M$3,597
2018$11.1M$3,297
2017$12.1M$3,615
2016$9.9M$2,958
2015$7.6M$2,271
2014$7.9M$2,352
2013$8.6M$2,562
2012$5.4M$1,599
2011$5.7M$1,706
2010$4.3M$1,271

Up 581% since 2010.

The 5% limit11

General obligation debt is $14.2M, 68% of the limit of about $20.9M (5% of $418.2M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

15 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsConstruction of new wastewater treatment plant2054$11.9M
General ObligationConstruction of new wastewater treatment plant2044$4.8M
General ObligationConstruction of new wastewater treatment plant2046$2.7M
General ObligationAquatic Center2035$1.5M
Revenue BondsWastewater Treatment Plant Improvements2044$1.4M
Revenue BondsWater Treatment Plant Project2035$1.4M
General ObligationPurchase of Ritland property for economic development purposes2035$1.3M
General ObligationStreets, Water Mains, and Trail2032$1.3M
General ObligationWater Treatment Plant Project, Timberland Dr/Timberland Ridge, and Larson Ave Water Main2032$860,000
General ObligationEconomic Grant for Fareway Project2035$800,000
General ObligationFire Truck Acquisition2036$375,467
General ObligationVarious Projects: 1) Broad Street Reconstruction, 2) Extension of Holm Avenue, 3) Sanitary and storm sewer improvements, 4) North/South Parks Improv.2027$350,000
General ObligationStreet Sweeper Acquisition2031$144,808
General ObligationExtension of Auestad Avenue and Economic Grant related to Larson Heights2027$100,000
General ObligationSouth Storm Water Drainage Improvements2027$30,000

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 balances12. Story City’s latest audit has them: Financial Statement, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).

Audits13

The latest: Financial Statement for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Tuesday, January 27, 2026, by a CPA firm.

16 earlier reports for Story City

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? 14

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: $489,183 in FY25, down 5% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 24% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$465,329$461,273$473,479$476,049
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$68,995$19,175$16,407$13,134

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.

$345,152
$226,471
  • Rail road Crossing$196,47287%
  • State grants$29,99913%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$5,410
FY20$172,161
FY21$78,905
FY22$0
FY23$302,085
FY24$345,152
FY25$226,471
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$5,410
FY20$172,161
FY21$78,905
FY22$0
FY23$302,085
FY24$345,152
FY25$226,471

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−15%$446,236 → $476,049, up 7% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 15% less
  • Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)−84%$67,455 → $13,134, down 81% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 84% 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 4% more.

$613,121
$607,730

Federal grants, for comparison: $2,618 in FY25.

Business awards

Every award statewide

State economic development awards

3 businesses have state awards in STORY CITY: $1.5M in grants, loans and tax benefits, for 194 jobs. Closed projects promised 64 jobs; 42 were there at the end.15

  • M.H. Eby, Inc.
    High Quality Jobs Program · FY24 · Under contract: Building · 120 jobs required
    $800K
  • Dose Steelworks, Inc. and Dose Holdings LLC
    High Quality Jobs Program · FY21 · Under contract: Keeping the jobs · 10 jobs required, 10 reported
    $172K
  • M.H. Eby, Inc.
    High Quality Jobs Program · FY19 · Closed: Met its contract · 64 jobs required, 42 at the end
    $499K

Community college new jobs training: 12 contracts since 2005 worth $2.2M, for 413 pledged jobs.

Awards statewide

Elections

Running for mayor and city council

Filing opens Monday, August 23, 2027: in 284 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)16.

In a city that can hold a primary, filing runs Monday, August 9, 2027 to Thursday, August 26, 2027.

Most recent: November 4, 2025

Ballot measures · 1

Passed Yes 92.4% (219) · No 7.6% (18)

Passes with more yes votes than no.

City · 2

2 seats: the top 2 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Story City; 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.

  • Story City City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Rhonda Ostrem, Jim O'Connor, Connie Phillips

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here17.

Past ballot measures

  • City Public Measure CNovember 4, 2025

    Passed Yes 92.4% (219) · No 7.6% (18)

    Passes with more yes votes than no.

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 ballot18.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress19

Dennis Guth (Sen. 28)Shannon Latham (Rep. 55)

U.S. House:District 4

Story CountyRoland-Story schools