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Local taxes › Tama County › Chelsea

City

Chelsea

Tama County · How cities work

$3,960 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($46.97 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,820 a yearof that goes to the city ($21.61 per $1,000)
$75,449property taxes the city levies, FY27
$505,258city 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.

  • Amy WaltersChelsea City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Aaron BalvinChelsea City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Dixie ForchtChelsea City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Steve Van De WalleChelsea 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 Chelsea

Homes and businesses in most of Chelsea pay a combined $46.97 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Tama County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $21.61. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$37.40$12.88
FY21$38.44$13.78
FY22$39.12$14.75
FY23$39.32$15.81
FY24$40.32$16.91
FY25$43.84$19.29
FY26$45.84$20.42
FY27$46.97$21.61
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$37.40$12.88
FY21$38.44$13.78
FY22$39.12$14.75
FY23$39.32$15.81
FY24$40.32$16.91
FY25$43.84$19.29
FY26$45.84$20.42
FY27$46.97$21.61

Compared with places this size3

Chelsea’s city property tax rate of $21.61 per $1,000 is the 6th highest of 199 Iowa cities with 140–310 people. The middle of the group is $11.48.

Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Fenton: $22.05Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Coin: $19.59Garden Grove: $19.20Fort Atkinson: $19.19Hastings: $18.95Cumberland: $18.42Jamaica: $18.24Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Pisgah: $17.09Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Prescott: $16.53Montour: $16.37Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Granville: $16.00Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Kamrar: $15.47Greeley: $15.23Goodell: $15.16Riverton: $14.94Marathon: $14.89Ladora: $14.74Magnolia: $14.68Bagley: $14.63Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Halbur: $14.37Crystal Lake: $14.36Kimballton: $14.27Steamboat Rock: $14.19Westgate: $14.05Fertile: $13.70Stockport: $13.68Kellerton: $13.60Quimby: $13.58Meservey: $13.43Persia: $13.41Leland: $13.31Harcourt: $13.21Calumet: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Silver City: $12.87Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Blencoe: $12.57Williams: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Clearfield: $12.50Kensett: $12.47Aurora: $12.40Modale: $12.34Bridgewater: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Cushing: $12.18Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Macedonia: $12.12Webb: $12.10Paton: $12.09Decatur: $12.08Kiron: $12.03Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Liscomb: $11.96Lone Rock: $11.92New Providence: $11.88Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Joice: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Cantril: $11.69Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Cincinnati: $11.57Beaman: $11.54Delta: $11.52Terril: $11.48Westside: $11.45College Springs: $11.44Holland: $11.37Mallard: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Frederika: $10.99Alexander: $10.90Goose Lake: $10.89Yale: $10.85Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Hornick: $10.74Woden: $10.68Bode: $10.64Cleghorn: $10.49Barnes City: $10.44Lytton: $10.38Stockton: $10.37Rhodes: $10.36Randall: $10.35Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $10.28Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24Bronson: $10.14Hancock: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Melvin: $10.05Defiance: $10.05Floyd: $10.02Barnum: $9.96Panama: $9.85Grafton: $9.83Tingley: $9.81Ionia: $9.65Salix: $9.63Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Luxemburg: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Elberon: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Lester: $8.94Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Luther: $8.83Harvey: $8.71Washta: $8.65Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Rowley: $8.31South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Bertram: $8.10Fostoria: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Luana: $7.98Lockridge: $7.92Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Mcclelland: $7.79Lidderdale: $7.68Pulaski: $7.58Fredonia: $7.55Braddyville: $7.49Harpers Ferry: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Packwood: $6.77Libertyville: $6.60Keswick: $6.49Crawfordsville: $6.44Gravity: $6.18Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Panorama Park: $4.62Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87Sherrill: $2.66Rickardsville: $2.27New Liberty: $2.27Chelsea: $21.61$2.27 lowest$25.07 highestmiddle
See all 199
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Brayton$25.07138
2Harris$23.13145
3Fenton$22.05250
4Soldier$21.92176
5Coulter$21.80220
6Chelsea$21.61207
7Smithland$21.12184
8Volga$20.23200
9Alta Vista$19.88219
10Arthur$19.86218
11Coin$19.59171
12Garden Grove$19.20173
13Fort Atkinson$19.19300
14Hastings$18.95157
15Cumberland$18.42248
16Jamaica$18.24196
17Hillsboro$17.68158
18Bristow$17.39139
19Woolstock$17.26141
20Pisgah$17.09248
21Lakota$16.84261
22Marble Rock$16.78258
23Auburn$16.65253
24Prescott$16.53186
25Montour$16.37199
26Corwith$16.22259
27Deep River$16.18243
28Waucoma$16.17235
29Granville$16.00302
30Little Sioux$15.74170
31Moorhead$15.68186
32Onslow$15.63198
33Linden$15.62206
34Kamrar$15.47178
35Greeley$15.23216
36Goodell$15.16139
37Riverton$14.94243
38Marathon$14.89221
39Ladora$14.74223
40Magnolia$14.68194
41Bagley$14.63230
42Davis City$14.45178
43Lucas$14.40176
44Halbur$14.37268
45Crystal Lake$14.36243
46Kimballton$14.27281
47Steamboat Rock$14.19261
48Westgate$14.05190
49Fertile$13.70300
50Stockport$13.68272
51Kellerton$13.60241
52Quimby$13.58245
53Meservey$13.43212
54Persia$13.41292
55Leland$13.31240
56Harcourt$13.21257
57Calumet$13.16144
58Ridgeway$13.10261
59Farmersburg$13.09264
60Portsmouth$13.05187
61Clutier$13.03209
62Silver City$12.87244
63Delaware$12.86139
64Patterson$12.84176
65Martelle$12.83250
66Malcom$12.82257
67Blencoe$12.57223
68Williams$12.57299
69Maurice$12.56271
70Clearfield$12.50277
71Kensett$12.47256
72Aurora$12.40165
73Modale$12.34284
74Bridgewater$12.29145
75Blakesburg$12.21273
76Cushing$12.18225
77Hanlontown$12.17200
78Stout$12.14194
79Macedonia$12.12266
80Webb$12.10139
81Paton$12.09217
82Decatur$12.08174
83Kiron$12.03262
84Rembrandt$12.03199
85Shambaugh$11.98161
86Liscomb$11.96292
87Lone Rock$11.92143
88New Providence$11.88233
89Henderson$11.85140
90Parnell$11.78190
91Reasnor$11.76157
92Joice$11.72206
93Atalissa$11.71287
94Cantril$11.69224
95Wadena$11.65201
96Exline$11.60157
97Cincinnati$11.57280
98Beaman$11.54155
99Delta$11.52257
100Terril$11.48310
101Westside$11.45283
102College Springs$11.44172
103Holland$11.37261
104Mallard$11.28255
105Renwick$11.16228
106Linn Grove$11.15155
107Dundee$11.14193
108Randolph$11.08183
109Leighton$11.07153
110Rake$11.05179
111Frederika$10.99206
112Alexander$10.90165
113Goose Lake$10.89250
114Yale$10.85265
115Lambs Grove$10.78174
116Wallingford$10.75154
117Hornick$10.74255
118Woden$10.68183
119Bode$10.64304
120Cleghorn$10.49235
121Barnes City$10.44152
122Lytton$10.38274
123Stockton$10.37171
124Rhodes$10.36269
125Randall$10.35156
126Dedham$10.28221
127Deloit$10.28246
128Protivin$10.28264
129Meriden$10.28175
130Drakesville$10.24170
131Bronson$10.14294
132Hancock$10.13199
133La Motte$10.09235
134Melvin$10.05196
135Defiance$10.05248
136Floyd$10.02297
137Barnum$9.96186
138Panama$9.85234
139Grafton$9.83212
140Tingley$9.81146
141Ionia$9.65220
142Salix$9.63303
143Van Wert$9.62175
144Rock Falls$9.61143
145Kirkville$9.59159
146Luxemburg$9.58240
147Rippey$9.42217
148Elberon$9.16178
149Dixon$9.03204
150Lester$8.94309
151Blairsburg$8.93175
152Prairieburg$8.91156
153Oakville$8.89198
154Luther$8.83147
155Harvey$8.71242
156Washta$8.65206
157Moorland$8.61169
158Pilot Mound$8.54155
159Ollie$8.44196
160Thor$8.38182
161Rowley$8.31264
162South English$8.27196
163Thurman$8.26162
164Boxholm$8.11177
165Bertram$8.10267
166Fostoria$8.10229
167Low Moor$8.10242
168Laurel$8.10214
169Lineville$8.10194
170Luana$7.98303
171Lockridge$7.92245
172Mount Auburn$7.86162
173Haverhill$7.86164
174Grand River$7.86192
175Olds$7.86174
176Castalia$7.86141
177Dickens$7.86146
178Rose Hill$7.86156
179West Chester$7.82147
180Mcclelland$7.79147
181Lidderdale$7.68162
182Pulaski$7.58259
183Fredonia$7.55227
184Braddyville$7.49142
185Harpers Ferry$7.49273
186Alvord$7.41216
187Packwood$6.77186
188Libertyville$6.60278
189Keswick$6.49238
190Crawfordsville$6.44278
191Gravity$6.18149
192Oakland Acres$5.88178
193Springbrook$5.79145
194Maysville$5.77155
195Panorama Park$4.62142
196Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
197Sherrill$2.66176
198Rickardsville$2.27204
199New Liberty$2.27141

The $8.10 limit

Chelsea’s general levy is $8.35 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.25 above the limit; it has to come down in steps.4 74 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.35 · FY26 $8.35 · FY27 $8.35 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $13.27 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$10.58 · $36,406
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$2.68 · $9,230

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.

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$36,40649%
  • Consolidate General Fund$28,70939%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$9,23012%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Chelsea’s budget goes, FY26

Capital Projects: 40¢ of every dollar40¢Business Type / Enterprise: 18¢ of every dollar18¢Culture and Recreation: 18¢ of every dollar18¢Public Works: 10¢ of every dollar10¢General Government: 7¢ of every dollar7¢Everything else: 6¢ 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 197 Iowa cities closest in size (140–310 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (197)
Capital Projects40¢2¢
Business Type / Enterprise18¢34¢
Culture and Recreation18¢8¢
Public Works10¢22¢
General Government7¢20¢
Everything else6¢9¢

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$215,00043%
  • Culture and Recreation$99,09220%
  • Public Safety$83,01016%
  • Public Works$65,34113%
  • General Government$42,8158%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($96,501 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$55,999$36,669
Public Safety$27,323$44,915
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$134,986$180,246
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$63,620$84,758
Community and Economic Development$20,280$0
Capital Projects$9,000$7,860
Business Type / Enterprise$0$83,903

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$557,096

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Chelsea owes

$147,250 at June 30, 2026: $643 per resident. 617th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$147,250
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$147,250$643
2025$38,750$169
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$18,136$79
2016$29,561$129
2015$40,986$179
2014$52,360$229
2013$80,980$354
2012$41,980$183
2011$65,459$286
2010$86,165$376
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$147,250$643
2025$38,750$169
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$18,136$79
2016$29,561$129
2015$40,986$179
2014$52,360$229
2013$80,980$354
2012$41,980$183
2011$65,459$286
2010$86,165$376

Up 71% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $350,881 (5% of $7.0M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

1 obligation at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
LoansSewage processing plant upgrade2027$147,250

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. Chelsea’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Wednesday, December 31, 2025 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Wednesday, December 31, 2025 (PDF), released Friday, July 10, 2026, by the Auditor of State.

The report has no Schedule of Findings Iowa Funnel could read.

1 earlier report for Chelsea

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: $20,634 in FY25, up 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 19% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$19,291$18,613$19,103$19,207
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)––$1,168$1,427

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.

$30,330
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$13,910
    FY20$15,084
    FY21$0
    FY22$30,330
    FY23$0
    FY24$26,212
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$13,910
    FY20$15,084
    FY21$0
    FY22$30,330
    FY23$0
    FY24$26,212
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−25%$20,409 → $19,207, down 6% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 25% 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 18% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 6% less.

    $29,586
    $23,233

    Federal grants, for comparison: $38,750 in FY25.

    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

      No candidates listed.

      Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Chelsea; 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.

      • Chelsea City Council At-Large (3 seats)
        Now held by Steve Van De Walle, Dixie Forcht, Aaron Balvin

      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

      Annette Sweeney (Sen. 27)Dean Fisher (Rep. 53)

      U.S. House:District 2

      Tama CountySouth Tama County schools