Display
Language
About accessibility
Language
Display
Sign in

Local taxes › Taylor County › Gravity

City

Gravity

Taylor County · How cities work

$2,390 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($28.34 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$520 a yearof that goes to the city ($6.18 per $1,000)
$12,130property taxes the city levies, FY27
$117,410city 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.

  • Charles AmbroseGravity Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Curt AmbroseGravity City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jeremiah AmbroseGravity City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Kile ColemanGravity City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Linda JoynesGravity City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Terry JoynesGravity City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jerimiah AmbroseGravity City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Karen WallaceGravity 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 Gravity

Homes and businesses in most of Gravity pay a combined $28.34 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Taylor County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $6.18. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$37.29$13.13
FY21$37.60$13.29
FY22$37.89$13.66
FY23$36.96$14.20
FY24$36.30$13.45
FY25$33.57$11.13
FY26$31.53$9.66
FY27$28.34$6.18
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$37.29$13.13
FY21$37.60$13.29
FY22$37.89$13.66
FY23$36.96$14.20
FY24$36.30$13.45
FY25$33.57$11.13
FY26$31.53$9.66
FY27$28.34$6.18

Compared with places this size3

Gravity’s city property tax rate of $6.18 per $1,000 is the 14th lowest of 178 Iowa cities with 100–220 people. The middle of the group is $10.71.

Castana: $34.13Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Coin: $19.59Rowan: $19.53Chester: $19.30Bouton: $19.25Ricketts: $19.22Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Jamaica: $18.24Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Prescott: $16.53Monmouth: $16.41Blockton: $16.37Montour: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Waterville: $16.25Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Woodburn: $15.59Kamrar: $15.47Greeley: $15.23Goodell: $15.16Marne: $15.03Marathon: $14.89Ladora: $14.74Magnolia: $14.68Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Lanesboro: $13.53Meservey: $13.43Calumet: $13.16Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Clemons: $12.69Blencoe: $12.57Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Bridgewater: $12.29Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Webb: $12.10Paton: $12.09Decatur: $12.08Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92East Peru: $11.89Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Ledyard: $11.74Joice: $11.72Toronto: $11.68Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54College Springs: $11.44Melrose: $11.27Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Somers: $10.99Frederika: $10.99Havelock: $10.95Alexander: $10.90Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Woden: $10.68Barnes City: $10.44Stockton: $10.37Randall: $10.35Dedham: $10.28Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24North Washington: $10.23Dawson: $10.19Hancock: $10.13Melvin: $10.05Barnum: $9.96Grafton: $9.83Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Ionia: $9.65Rutland: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Superior: $9.58Martinsburg: $9.49Rippey: $9.42Larrabee: $9.41Hamilton: $9.35Floris: $9.29Mitchell: $9.22Westphalia: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Welton: $8.86Archer: $8.84Luther: $8.83Fraser: $8.81Macksburg: $8.81Washta: $8.65Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Andover: $8.28South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Rome: $8.10Westfield: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Morrison: $7.86Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Cromwell: $7.81Mcclelland: $7.79Luzerne: $7.69Lidderdale: $7.68Bernard: $7.56Braddyville: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Franklin: $7.31Weldon: $7.18Brunsville: $6.95Packwood: $6.77Houghton: $6.73Williamson: $6.72Lincoln: $6.32Ackworth: $5.90Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Harper: $5.29Panorama Park: $4.62Keomah Village: $3.15Mcintire: $2.78Sherrill: $2.66Centralia: $2.41Rickardsville: $2.27New Liberty: $2.27North Buena Vista: $1.78Gravity: $6.18$1.78 lowest$34.13 highestmiddle
See all 178
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Castana$34.13103
2Brayton$25.07138
3Harris$23.13145
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
12Rowan$19.53118
13Chester$19.30134
14Bouton$19.25125
15Ricketts$19.22105
16Garden Grove$19.20173
17Hastings$18.95157
18Swaledale$18.62136
19Jamaica$18.24196
20Hillsboro$17.68158
21Bristow$17.39139
22Woolstock$17.26141
23Prescott$16.53186
24Monmouth$16.41129
25Blockton$16.37123
26Montour$16.37199
27Geneva$16.25137
28Waterville$16.25112
29Little Sioux$15.74170
30Moorhead$15.68186
31Onslow$15.63198
32Linden$15.62206
33Woodburn$15.59133
34Kamrar$15.47178
35Greeley$15.23216
36Goodell$15.16139
37Marne$15.03109
38Marathon$14.89221
39Ladora$14.74223
40Magnolia$14.68194
41Davis City$14.45178
42Lucas$14.40176
43Westgate$14.05190
44Palmer$13.89137
45Ayrshire$13.55128
46Searsboro$13.55129
47Lanesboro$13.53112
48Meservey$13.43212
49Calumet$13.16144
50Portsmouth$13.05187
51Clutier$13.03209
52Delaware$12.86139
53Patterson$12.84176
54Clemons$12.69135
55Blencoe$12.57223
56Millersburg$12.40135
57Aurora$12.40165
58Bridgewater$12.29145
59Hanlontown$12.17200
60Stout$12.14194
61Webb$12.10139
62Paton$12.09217
63Decatur$12.08174
64Rembrandt$12.03199
65Shambaugh$11.98161
66Lone Rock$11.92143
67East Peru$11.89119
68Henderson$11.85140
69Parnell$11.78190
70Reasnor$11.76157
71Ledyard$11.74118
72Joice$11.72206
73Toronto$11.68101
74Wadena$11.65201
75Exline$11.60157
76Beaman$11.54155
77College Springs$11.44172
78Melrose$11.27110
79Linn Grove$11.15155
80Dundee$11.14193
81Randolph$11.08183
82Leighton$11.07153
83Rake$11.05179
84Somers$10.99121
85Frederika$10.99206
86Havelock$10.95127
87Alexander$10.90165
88Lambs Grove$10.78174
89Wallingford$10.75154
90Woden$10.68183
91Barnes City$10.44152
92Stockton$10.37171
93Randall$10.35156
94Dedham$10.28221
95Meriden$10.28175
96Drakesville$10.24170
97North Washington$10.23107
98Dawson$10.19110
99Hancock$10.13199
100Melvin$10.05196
101Barnum$9.96186
102Grafton$9.83212
103Clare$9.81133
104Tingley$9.81146
105Ionia$9.65220
106Rutland$9.65116
107Van Wert$9.62175
108Rock Falls$9.61143
109Kirkville$9.59159
110Superior$9.58127
111Martinsburg$9.49109
112Rippey$9.42217
113Larrabee$9.41116
114Hamilton$9.35125
115Floris$9.29119
116Mitchell$9.22118
117Westphalia$9.18133
118Elberon$9.16178
119Dixon$9.03204
120Blairsburg$8.93175
121Prairieburg$8.91156
122Oakville$8.89198
123Welton$8.86124
124Archer$8.84116
125Luther$8.83147
126Fraser$8.81107
127Macksburg$8.81103
128Washta$8.65206
129Moorland$8.61169
130Pilot Mound$8.54155
131Ollie$8.44196
132Thor$8.38182
133Andover$8.28106
134South English$8.27196
135Thurman$8.26162
136Boxholm$8.11177
137Rome$8.10112
138Westfield$8.10121
139Laurel$8.10214
140Lineville$8.10194
141Vincent$8.09125
142Morrison$7.86101
143Mount Auburn$7.86162
144Haverhill$7.86164
145Grand River$7.86192
146Olds$7.86174
147Castalia$7.86141
148Dickens$7.86146
149Rose Hill$7.86156
150West Chester$7.82147
151Cromwell$7.81104
152Mcclelland$7.79147
153Luzerne$7.69111
154Lidderdale$7.68162
155Bernard$7.56117
156Braddyville$7.49142
157Alvord$7.41216
158Franklin$7.31133
159Weldon$7.18134
160Brunsville$6.95128
161Packwood$6.77186
162Houghton$6.73129
163Williamson$6.72126
164Lincoln$6.32119
165Gravity$6.18149
166Ackworth$5.90117
167Oakland Acres$5.88178
168Springbrook$5.79145
169Maysville$5.77155
170Harper$5.29117
171Panorama Park$4.62142
172Keomah Village$3.15107
173Mcintire$2.78115
174Sherrill$2.66176
175Centralia$2.41117
176Rickardsville$2.27204
177New Liberty$2.27141
178North Buena Vista$1.78107

The $8.10 limit

Gravity’s general levy is $4.04 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $4.06 below the limit.4 913 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.03 · FY25 $6.76 · FY26 $6.31 · FY27 $4.04 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $2.14 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$2.14 · $4,203

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$7,92765%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$4,20335%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Gravity’s budget goes, FY26

Public Works: 53¢ of every dollar53¢General Government: 20¢ of every dollar20¢Business Type / Enterprise: 15¢ of every dollar15¢Public Safety: 5¢ of every dollarCulture and Recreation: 5¢ of every dollarEverything else: 2¢ 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 178 Iowa cities closest in size (100–220 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (178)
Public Works53¢25¢
General Government20¢23¢
Business Type / Enterprise15¢29¢
Public Safety5¢9¢
Culture and Recreation5¢8¢
Everything else2¢1¢

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$67,00057%
  • General Government$26,75023%
  • Culture and Recreation$14,30012%
  • Public Safety$6,3605%
  • Community and Economic Development$3,0003%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($19,200 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$30,000$9,927
Public Safety$6,360$2,323
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$17,250$21,267
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$8,550$12,080
Community and Economic Development$3,000$1,398
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$0$18,168

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$88,083

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Gravity owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.7

$0
$0
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$0$0
2016$0$0
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
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$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$0$0
2016$0$0
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$0$0
2011$0$0
2010$0$0

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $150,917 (5% of $3.0M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. Gravity’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Friday, June 30, 2023 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Friday, June 30, 2023 (PDF), released Friday, April 5, 2024, by a CPA firm.

1 earlier report for Gravity

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: $17,011 in FY25, down 13% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 31% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$20,471$16,527$16,919$17,011

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−31%$19,542 → $17,011, down 13% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 31% 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 12% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 11% less.

$15,988

Federal grants, for comparison: $13,532 in FY23.

Business awards

Every award 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)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

5 seats: the top 5 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Gravity; 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.

  • Gravity City Council At-Large (5 seats)
    Now held by Karen Wallace, Jerimiah Ambrose, Kile Coleman, Terry Joynes, Linda Joynes
  • Gravity Mayor
    Now held by Charles Ambrose

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

Tom Shipley (Sen. 9)Devon Wood (Rep. 17)

U.S. House:District 3

Taylor CountyBedford schools