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Local taxes › Story County › Zearing

City

Zearing

Story County · How cities work

$3,010 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($35.78 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,260 a yearof that goes to the city ($14.99 per $1,000)
$263,160property taxes the city levies, FY27
$510,877city 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.

  • Aundray HillZearing City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Coltin AdamsZearing City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Marlin BeardZearing Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Sandy PerishoZearing City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Diane PascuzziZearing City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Robin JohnsonZearing 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 Zearing

Homes and businesses in most of Zearing pay a combined $35.78 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, $14.99. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$30.90$12.87
FY21$32.84$13.02
FY22$32.95$12.73
FY23$19.80$0.00
FY24$34.10$13.46
FY25$35.67$15.13
FY26$34.14$13.51
FY27$35.78$14.99
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$30.90$12.87
FY21$32.84$13.02
FY22$32.95$12.73
FY23$19.80$0.00
FY24$34.10$13.46
FY25$35.67$15.13
FY26$34.14$13.51
FY27$35.78$14.99

Compared with places this size3

Zearing’s city property tax rate of $14.99 per $1,000 is the 50th highest of 190 Iowa cities with 340–760 people. The middle of the group is $12.91.

Stanhope: $29.10Rolfe: $22.67Charter Oak: $21.32Oxford Junction: $20.84Earling: $20.47Correctionville: $19.84Pomeroy: $19.60Salem: $19.15Dumont: $19.04Seymour: $18.78Dexter: $18.69Fonda: $18.52Massena: $18.23Kanawha: $18.11Swea City: $18.04Alden: $17.90Elma: $17.82Callender: $17.78Casey: $17.72Dows: $17.70New Hartford: $17.69Vail: $17.66Ringsted: $17.65Emerson: $17.54Walnut: $17.46Murray: $17.44Thompson: $17.25Ashton: $17.17Burt: $17.10Latimer: $16.96Lohrville: $16.95Elk Horn: $16.78Oxford: $16.70Mccallsburg: $16.58Whittemore: $16.54Bancroft: $16.52Titonka: $16.45Early: $16.35Truro: $16.34Lewis: $16.25Duncombe: $16.10Bayard: $16.05Scranton: $16.01Ruthven: $15.84Minden: $15.77Walker: $15.74Russell: $15.18Stanwood: $15.12Stratford: $15.03Arlington: $14.98Maynard: $14.85Plainfield: $14.84Ryan: $14.84Otho: $14.82Wyoming: $14.81Humeston: $14.80Hopkinton: $14.79Essex: $14.76Gilmore City: $14.60Garnavillo: $14.52Sabula: $14.38Garrison: $14.38Lorimor: $14.36Collins: $14.32Clermont: $14.30Moulton: $14.25Ocheyedan: $14.22Mcgregor: $14.20Olin: $14.19Garwin: $14.08Farragut: $14.07Elgin: $14.05Lime Springs: $13.95Dow City: $13.94Wesley: $13.91Bussey: $13.83Livermore: $13.78Redfield: $13.73Sioux Rapids: $13.63Albion: $13.58Lamont: $13.57New Albin: $13.55Rockford: $13.52Boyden: $13.39Lawler: $13.39New Market: $13.25Plymouth: $13.21Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Anthon: $13.05Little Rock: $13.03Coggon: $12.99Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Earlville: $12.90Brighton: $12.88Montrose: $12.78Goldfield: $12.73Wellsburg: $12.68Delmar: $12.68Galva: $12.68Badger: $12.67Martensdale: $12.63Stanton: $12.62Hospers: $12.58Norway: $12.53Everly: $12.51Hazleton: $12.48Spillville: $12.40Alburnett: $12.30Moravia: $12.27Hedrick: $12.22Bonaparte: $12.17Schaller: $12.14Hawkeye: $12.11Colesburg: $11.97Albert City: $11.88Thornton: $11.86Runnells: $11.79Allerton: $11.72Orient: $11.66Merrill: $11.64Ellsworth: $11.57Morning Sun: $11.50Battle Creek: $11.49Wall Lake: $11.43Churdan: $11.31Miles: $11.28Sutherland: $11.25Arcadia: $11.23Whiting: $11.21Shelby: $11.17Blairstown: $11.04Manilla: $11.01Milton: $10.98Ireton: $10.93New Vienna: $10.91Letts: $10.91Fontanelle: $10.88Birmingham: $10.87Charlotte: $10.86Richland: $10.82Grand Mound: $10.78Batavia: $10.77Riverdale: $10.67Union: $10.58Calamus: $10.47Lovilia: $10.46Radcliffe: $10.37Stacyville: $10.36Ventura: $10.22Andrew: $10.22Milo: $10.20Royal: $10.20Hartford: $10.16Rudd: $10.13What Cheer: $10.01Cumming: $9.85Breda: $9.80Doon: $9.78Lynnville: $9.68Farnhamville: $9.18Middletown: $9.16Alleman: $9.12Crescent: $8.72Ainsworth: $8.62Grand Junction: $8.57Gilman: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Kellogg: $8.10Lakeside: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Agency: $7.94Fremont: $7.86Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Beacon: $7.56Worthington: $7.50Marquette: $7.08Columbus City: $6.94Raymond: $6.85Keystone: $6.80Shueyville: $6.79New Virginia: $5.97Holy Cross: $5.91Conesville: $5.86University Park: $5.27Orleans: $4.13Okoboji: $3.83Zearing: $14.99$3.83 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 190
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Stanhope$29.10354
2Rolfe$22.67505
3Charter Oak$21.32521
4Oxford Junction$20.84424
5Earling$20.47394
6Correctionville$19.84759
7Pomeroy$19.60511
8Salem$19.15380
9Dumont$19.04614
10Seymour$18.78646
11Dexter$18.69631
12Fonda$18.52636
13Massena$18.23352
14Kanawha$18.11638
15Swea City$18.04545
16Alden$17.90738
17Elma$17.82493
18Callender$17.78361
19Casey$17.72387
20Dows$17.70509
21New Hartford$17.69555
22Vail$17.66383
23Ringsted$17.65346
24Emerson$17.54401
25Walnut$17.46728
26Murray$17.44609
27Thompson$17.25478
28Ashton$17.17434
29Burt$17.10404
30Latimer$16.96477
31Lohrville$16.95366
32Elk Horn$16.78631
33Oxford$16.70715
34Mccallsburg$16.58356
35Whittemore$16.54478
36Bancroft$16.52677
37Titonka$16.45491
38Early$16.35571
39Truro$16.34515
40Lewis$16.25358
41Duncombe$16.10374
42Bayard$16.05402
43Scranton$16.01496
44Ruthven$15.84710
45Minden$15.77581
46Walker$15.74671
47Russell$15.18475
48Stanwood$15.12612
49Stratford$15.03688
50Zearing$14.99508
51Arlington$14.98415
52Maynard$14.85466
53Plainfield$14.84392
54Ryan$14.84348
55Otho$14.82417
56Wyoming$14.81526
57Humeston$14.80472
58Hopkinton$14.79622
59Essex$14.76721
60Gilmore City$14.60484
61Garnavillo$14.52751
62Sabula$14.38498
63Garrison$14.38345
64Lorimor$14.36377
65Collins$14.32503
66Clermont$14.30571
67Moulton$14.25596
68Ocheyedan$14.22424
69Mcgregor$14.20725
70Olin$14.19652
71Garwin$14.08469
72Farragut$14.07480
73Elgin$14.05676
74Lime Springs$13.95467
75Dow City$13.94477
76Wesley$13.91382
77Bussey$13.83378
78Livermore$13.78382
79Redfield$13.73719
80Sioux Rapids$13.63722
81Albion$13.58444
82Lamont$13.57429
83New Albin$13.55435
84Rockford$13.52722
85Boyden$13.39694
86Lawler$13.39392
87New Market$13.25381
88Plymouth$13.21368
89Quasqueton$13.12587
90Farmington$13.10583
91Anthon$13.05534
92Little Rock$13.03447
93Coggon$12.99691
94Lehigh$12.97395
95Menlo$12.92347
96Earlville$12.90713
97Brighton$12.88592
98Montrose$12.78734
99Goldfield$12.73617
100Wellsburg$12.68709
101Delmar$12.68541
102Galva$12.68416
103Badger$12.67540
104Martensdale$12.63413
105Stanton$12.62664
106Hospers$12.58703
107Norway$12.53463
108Everly$12.51570
109Hazleton$12.48711
110Spillville$12.40371
111Alburnett$12.30672
112Moravia$12.27625
113Hedrick$12.22717
114Bonaparte$12.17357
115Schaller$12.14702
116Hawkeye$12.11429
117Colesburg$11.97379
118Albert City$11.88627
119Thornton$11.86394
120Runnells$11.79467
121Allerton$11.72432
122Orient$11.66363
123Merrill$11.64713
124Ellsworth$11.57495
125Morning Sun$11.50702
126Battle Creek$11.49683
127Wall Lake$11.43739
128Churdan$11.31359
129Miles$11.28400
130Sutherland$11.25628
131Arcadia$11.23588
132Whiting$11.21725
133Shelby$11.17730
134Blairstown$11.04705
135Manilla$11.01756
136Milton$10.98395
137Ireton$10.93571
138New Vienna$10.91384
139Letts$10.91358
140Fontanelle$10.88684
141Birmingham$10.87371
142Charlotte$10.86386
143Richland$10.82532
144Grand Mound$10.78608
145Batavia$10.77434
146Riverdale$10.67385
147Union$10.58378
148Calamus$10.47348
149Lovilia$10.46456
150Radcliffe$10.37540
151Stacyville$10.36436
152Ventura$10.22701
153Andrew$10.22374
154Milo$10.20762
155Royal$10.20379
156Hartford$10.16729
157Rudd$10.13339
158What Cheer$10.01595
159Cumming$9.85527
160Breda$9.80492
161Doon$9.78640
162Lynnville$9.68382
163Farnhamville$9.18364
164Middletown$9.16365
165Alleman$9.12439
166Crescent$8.72626
167Ainsworth$8.62511
168Grand Junction$8.57715
169Gilman$8.10530
170Grandview$8.10431
171Kellogg$8.10597
172Lakeside$8.10695
173Lost Nation$8.10425
174Agency$7.94623
175Fremont$7.86688
176Delhi$7.81438
177Klemme$7.74429
178Beacon$7.56434
179Worthington$7.50374
180Marquette$7.08434
181Columbus City$6.94385
182Raymond$6.85754
183Keystone$6.80616
184Shueyville$6.79725
185New Virginia$5.97499
186Holy Cross$5.91348
187Conesville$5.86350
188University Park$5.27476
189Orleans$4.13503
190Okoboji$3.83729

The $8.10 limit

Zearing’s general levy is $8.10 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, at the limit.4 247 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $7.86 · FY26 $7.64 · FY27 $8.10 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $6.89 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$4.69 · $81,896
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$2.21 · $38,531

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$141,48754%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$81,89631%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$38,53115%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Zearing’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 38¢ of every dollar38¢Public Works: 25¢ of every dollar25¢Culture and Recreation: 10¢ of every dollar10¢General Government: 10¢ of every dollar10¢Public Safety: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Everything else: 8¢ of every dollar8¢

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 189 Iowa cities closest in size (340–760 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (189)
Business Type / Enterprise38¢40¢
Public Works25¢18¢
Culture and Recreation10¢9¢
General Government10¢13¢
Public Safety9¢9¢
Everything else8¢7¢

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.

  • Public Works$215,91042%
  • Culture and Recreation$92,65518%
  • General Government$90,35418%
  • Public Safety$84,53217%
  • Debt Service$13,1263%
  • Community and Economic Development$7,8002%
  • Health and Social Services$6,5001%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($355,500 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$202,950$161,077
Public Safety$82,160$69,220
Health and Social Services$6,500$0
General Government$97,600$90,485
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$107,666$103,799
Community and Economic Development$179,300$282,654
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$330,770$343,732

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$1.4M
$821,491

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Zearing owes

$1.1M at June 30, 2026: $2,156 per resident. 367th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$2.0M
$1.1M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$1.1M$2,156
2025$1.3M$2,453
2024$1.3M$2,412
2023$1.3M$2,550
2022$1.5M$2,811
2021$1.5M$2,820
2020$1.6M$3,090
2019$1.6M$3,101
2018$1.7M$3,197
2017$1.7M$3,197
2016$1.8M$3,405
2015$1.8M$3,405
2014$1.9M$3,504
2013$1.9M$3,598
2012$1.9M$3,691
2011$2.0M$3,712
2010$2.0M$3,793
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$1.1M$2,156
2025$1.3M$2,453
2024$1.3M$2,412
2023$1.3M$2,550
2022$1.5M$2,811
2021$1.5M$2,820
2020$1.6M$3,090
2019$1.6M$3,101
2018$1.7M$3,197
2017$1.7M$3,197
2016$1.8M$3,405
2015$1.8M$3,405
2014$1.9M$3,504
2013$1.9M$3,598
2012$1.9M$3,691
2011$2.0M$3,712
2010$2.0M$3,793

Down 43% since 2010.

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. Zearing’s latest audit has them: Annual Examination, period ending Friday, June 30, 2023 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Annual Examination for the period ending Friday, June 30, 2023 (PDF), released Tuesday, August 20, 2024, by the Auditor of State.

2 earlier reports for Zearing

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: $74,986 in FY25, up 0% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 20% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$73,765$80,128$74,581$74,986
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)––$2,032–

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.

$565,998
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$76,618
    FY20$75,943
    FY21$42
    FY22$565,998
    FY23$8,841
    FY24$528
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$76,618
    FY20$75,943
    FY21$42
    FY22$565,998
    FY23$8,841
    FY24$528
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−20%$74,714 → $74,986, up 0% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 20% 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 33% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 6% more.

    $94,844
    $94,010

    Federal grants, for comparison: $60,670 in FY21.

    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 · 2

    3 seats: the top 3 win.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Zearing; 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.

    • Zearing City Council At-Large (2 seats)
      Now held by Robin Johnson, Diane Pascuzzi
    • Zearing Mayor
      Now held by Marlin Beard

    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 CountyColo-Nesco schools