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Local taxes › Tama County › Elberon

City

Elberon

Tama County · How cities work

$2,500 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($29.63 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$770 a yearof that goes to the city ($9.16 per $1,000)
$49,110property taxes the city levies, FY27
$699,090city 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.

  • Adam GlunzElberon City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Judy UpahElberon City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Rynonda FranzenElberon City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Scott PippertElberon Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Donald CurryElberon City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Nancy K. BraaschElberon 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 Elberon

Homes and businesses in most of Elberon pay a combined $29.63 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, $9.16. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$29.53$9.35
FY21$30.00$10.41
FY22$29.52$10.14
FY23$32.06$13.70
FY24$30.81$12.48
FY25$32.96$12.90
FY26$30.42$9.85
FY27$29.63$9.16
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$29.53$9.35
FY21$30.00$10.41
FY22$29.52$10.14
FY23$32.06$13.70
FY24$30.81$12.48
FY25$32.96$12.90
FY26$30.42$9.85
FY27$29.63$9.16

Compared with places this size3

Elberon’s city property tax rate of $9.16 per $1,000 is the 55th lowest of 199 Iowa cities with 120–270 people. The middle of the group is $11.28.

Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Fenton: $22.05Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Coin: $19.59Chester: $19.30Bouton: $19.25Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Cumberland: $18.42Jamaica: $18.24Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Pisgah: $17.09Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Prescott: $16.53Monmouth: $16.41Blockton: $16.37Montour: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Woodburn: $15.59Kamrar: $15.47Greeley: $15.23Goodell: $15.16Riverton: $14.94Marathon: $14.89Ladora: $14.74Magnolia: $14.68Bagley: $14.63Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Crystal Lake: $14.36Steamboat Rock: $14.19Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Kellerton: $13.60Quimby: $13.58Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Meservey: $13.43Leland: $13.31Harcourt: $13.21Calumet: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Silver City: $12.87Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Clemons: $12.69Blencoe: $12.57Kensett: $12.47Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Bridgewater: $12.29Cushing: $12.18Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Macedonia: $12.12Webb: $12.10Paton: $12.09Decatur: $12.08Kiron: $12.03Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92East Peru: $11.89New Providence: $11.88Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Joice: $11.72Cantril: $11.69Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54Delta: $11.52College Springs: $11.44Holland: $11.37Mallard: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Somers: $10.99Frederika: $10.99Havelock: $10.95Alexander: $10.90Goose Lake: $10.89Yale: $10.85Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Hornick: $10.74Woden: $10.68Cleghorn: $10.49Barnes City: $10.44Stockton: $10.37Randall: $10.35Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $10.28Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24Hancock: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Melvin: $10.05Defiance: $10.05Barnum: $9.96Panama: $9.85Grafton: $9.83Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Ionia: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Luxemburg: $9.58Superior: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Hamilton: $9.35Floris: $9.29Westphalia: $9.18Dixon: $9.03Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Welton: $8.86Luther: $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: $8.10Westfield: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Lockridge: $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: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Franklin: $7.31Weldon: $7.18Brunsville: $6.95Packwood: $6.77Houghton: $6.73Williamson: $6.72Keswick: $6.49Lincoln: $6.32Gravity: $6.18Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Panorama Park: $4.62Sherrill: $2.66Rickardsville: $2.27New Liberty: $2.27Elberon: $9.16$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
12Chester$19.30134
13Bouton$19.25125
14Garden Grove$19.20173
15Hastings$18.95157
16Swaledale$18.62136
17Cumberland$18.42248
18Jamaica$18.24196
19Hillsboro$17.68158
20Bristow$17.39139
21Woolstock$17.26141
22Pisgah$17.09248
23Lakota$16.84261
24Marble Rock$16.78258
25Auburn$16.65253
26Prescott$16.53186
27Monmouth$16.41129
28Blockton$16.37123
29Montour$16.37199
30Geneva$16.25137
31Corwith$16.22259
32Deep River$16.18243
33Waucoma$16.17235
34Little Sioux$15.74170
35Moorhead$15.68186
36Onslow$15.63198
37Linden$15.62206
38Woodburn$15.59133
39Kamrar$15.47178
40Greeley$15.23216
41Goodell$15.16139
42Riverton$14.94243
43Marathon$14.89221
44Ladora$14.74223
45Magnolia$14.68194
46Bagley$14.63230
47Davis City$14.45178
48Lucas$14.40176
49Crystal Lake$14.36243
50Steamboat Rock$14.19261
51Westgate$14.05190
52Palmer$13.89137
53Kellerton$13.60241
54Quimby$13.58245
55Ayrshire$13.55128
56Searsboro$13.55129
57Meservey$13.43212
58Leland$13.31240
59Harcourt$13.21257
60Calumet$13.16144
61Ridgeway$13.10261
62Farmersburg$13.09264
63Portsmouth$13.05187
64Clutier$13.03209
65Silver City$12.87244
66Delaware$12.86139
67Patterson$12.84176
68Martelle$12.83250
69Malcom$12.82257
70Clemons$12.69135
71Blencoe$12.57223
72Kensett$12.47256
73Millersburg$12.40135
74Aurora$12.40165
75Bridgewater$12.29145
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
86Lone Rock$11.92143
87East Peru$11.89119
88New Providence$11.88233
89Henderson$11.85140
90Parnell$11.78190
91Reasnor$11.76157
92Joice$11.72206
93Cantril$11.69224
94Wadena$11.65201
95Exline$11.60157
96Beaman$11.54155
97Delta$11.52257
98College Springs$11.44172
99Holland$11.37261
100Mallard$11.28255
101Renwick$11.16228
102Linn Grove$11.15155
103Dundee$11.14193
104Randolph$11.08183
105Leighton$11.07153
106Rake$11.05179
107Somers$10.99121
108Frederika$10.99206
109Havelock$10.95127
110Alexander$10.90165
111Goose Lake$10.89250
112Yale$10.85265
113Lambs Grove$10.78174
114Wallingford$10.75154
115Hornick$10.74255
116Woden$10.68183
117Cleghorn$10.49235
118Barnes City$10.44152
119Stockton$10.37171
120Randall$10.35156
121Dedham$10.28221
122Deloit$10.28246
123Protivin$10.28264
124Meriden$10.28175
125Drakesville$10.24170
126Hancock$10.13199
127La Motte$10.09235
128Melvin$10.05196
129Defiance$10.05248
130Barnum$9.96186
131Panama$9.85234
132Grafton$9.83212
133Clare$9.81133
134Tingley$9.81146
135Ionia$9.65220
136Van Wert$9.62175
137Rock Falls$9.61143
138Kirkville$9.59159
139Luxemburg$9.58240
140Superior$9.58127
141Rippey$9.42217
142Hamilton$9.35125
143Floris$9.29119
144Westphalia$9.18133
145Elberon$9.16178
146Dixon$9.03204
147Blairsburg$8.93175
148Prairieburg$8.91156
149Oakville$8.89198
150Welton$8.86124
151Luther$8.83147
152Harvey$8.71242
153Washta$8.65206
154Moorland$8.61169
155Pilot Mound$8.54155
156Ollie$8.44196
157Thor$8.38182
158Rowley$8.31264
159South English$8.27196
160Thurman$8.26162
161Boxholm$8.11177
162Bertram$8.10267
163Fostoria$8.10229
164Low Moor$8.10242
165Westfield$8.10121
166Laurel$8.10214
167Lineville$8.10194
168Vincent$8.09125
169Lockridge$7.92245
170Mount Auburn$7.86162
171Haverhill$7.86164
172Grand River$7.86192
173Olds$7.86174
174Castalia$7.86141
175Dickens$7.86146
176Rose Hill$7.86156
177West Chester$7.82147
178Mcclelland$7.79147
179Lidderdale$7.68162
180Pulaski$7.58259
181Fredonia$7.55227
182Braddyville$7.49142
183Alvord$7.41216
184Franklin$7.31133
185Weldon$7.18134
186Brunsville$6.95128
187Packwood$6.77186
188Houghton$6.73129
189Williamson$6.72126
190Keswick$6.49238
191Lincoln$6.32119
192Gravity$6.18149
193Oakland Acres$5.88178
194Springbrook$5.79145
195Maysville$5.77155
196Panorama Park$4.62142
197Sherrill$2.66176
198Rickardsville$2.27204
199New Liberty$2.27141

The $8.10 limit

Elberon’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.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.00 · FY26 $8.10 · FY27 $8.10 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $1.06 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.06 · $5,529

Tax increment financing (TIF)

$9.8M of taxable value in Elberon is in TIF districts’ increment (63% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.6 It budgeted $302,000 in TIF revenue for FY25.

$23,506

What that value would raise at each government’s rate, FY277

Taxes on TIF value go to the city’s TIF fund instead of the governments that levy them, including about $89,507 of the city’s own.

  • Benton schools$84,042
  • Tama County$76,696
YearTIF revenue
FY20$8,996
FY21$10,751
FY22$21,686
FY23$23,506
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY20$8,996
FY21$10,751
FY22$21,686
FY23$23,506

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$42,10788%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$5,52912%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Elberon’s budget goes, FY26

Community and Economic Development: 35¢ of every dollar35¢Public Works: 20¢ of every dollar20¢Business Type / Enterprise: 20¢ of every dollar20¢Capital Projects: 11¢ of every dollar11¢General Government: 6¢ of every dollarEverything else: 7¢ of every dollar7¢

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 (120–270 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (197)
Community and Economic Development35¢1¢
Public Works20¢24¢
Business Type / Enterprise20¢32¢
Capital Projects11¢2¢
General Government6¢21¢
Everything else7¢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.

  • Capital Projects$295,00042%
  • Community and Economic Development$181,59026%
  • Public Works$118,00017%
  • General Government$45,0006%
  • Public Safety$35,0005%
  • Culture and Recreation$20,5003%
  • Health and Social Services$4,0001%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($86,000 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$89,000$7,129
Public Safety$23,873$23,507
Health and Social Services$2,700$0
General Government$32,200$43,861
Debt Service$5,726$47,800
Culture and Recreation$26,400$23,997
Community and Economic Development$35,000$21,789
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$110,000$0

What it spent each year

FY24 left out8

$324,117

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Elberon owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.9

$46,000
$0
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$46,000$250
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$7,487$41
2017$13,707$74
2016$19,699$107
2015$20,991$114
2014$20,991$114
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$46,000$250
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$7,487$41
2017$13,707$74
2016$19,699$107
2015$20,991$114
2014$20,991$114
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0

Down 100% since 2014.

The 5% limit10

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $982,340 (5% of $19.6M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances11. Elberon’s latest audit has them: Annual Examination, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2020 (PDF).

Audits12

The latest: Annual Examination for the period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2020 (PDF), released Thursday, October 13, 2022, by the Auditor of State.

1 earlier report for Elberon

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? 13

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: $22,066 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)$20,257$19,855$25,346$22,066
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)––––

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.

$5,565
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$1,161
    FY20$0
    FY21$5,565
    FY22$0
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$1,161
    FY20$0
    FY21$5,565
    FY22$0
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−14%$20,390 → $22,066, up 8% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 14% 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 42% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 13% more.

    $16,899

    Federal grants, for comparison: $14,055 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)14.

    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 Elberon; 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.

    • Elberon City Council At-Large (2 seats)
      Now held by Nancy K. Braasch, Donald Curry
    • Elberon Mayor
      Now held by Scott Pippert

    Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here15.

    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 ballot16.

    Related places

    At the Statehouse and in Congress17

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

    U.S. House:District 2

    Tama CountyBenton schools