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Local taxes › Van Buren County › Farmington

City

Farmington

Van Buren County · How cities work

$2,730 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($32.36 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,100 a yearof that goes to the city ($13.10 per $1,000)
$159,784property taxes the city levies, FY27
$643,230city 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.

  • David LudwigFarmington City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jerod Andrew WoolvertonFarmington City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Stephen D. GobushFarmington City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Janet BrowningFarmington Mayor · elected November 7, 2023
  • Kerby FryFarmington City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Timothy J. HalbrookFarmington 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 Farmington

Homes and businesses in most of Farmington pay a combined $32.36 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Van Buren County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $13.10. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.81$12.93
FY21$33.62$12.92
FY22$32.87$12.90
FY23$32.54$12.81
FY24$32.84$13.28
FY25$32.50$13.11
FY26$32.64$12.98
FY27$32.36$13.10
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.81$12.93
FY21$33.62$12.92
FY22$32.87$12.90
FY23$32.54$12.81
FY24$32.84$13.28
FY25$32.50$13.11
FY26$32.64$12.98
FY27$32.36$13.10

Compared with places this size3

Farmington’s city property tax rate of $13.10 per $1,000 is the 88th highest of 180 Iowa cities with 390–860 people. The middle of the group is $13.01.

Exira: $24.81Rolfe: $22.67Dayton: $22.51Charter Oak: $21.32Oxford Junction: $20.84Earling: $20.47Correctionville: $19.84Pomeroy: $19.60Dumont: $19.04Seymour: $18.78Dexter: $18.69Fonda: $18.52Kanawha: $18.11Swea City: $18.04Alden: $17.90Elma: $17.82Dows: $17.70New Hartford: $17.69Emerson: $17.54Walnut: $17.46Murray: $17.44Thompson: $17.25Ashton: $17.17Colo: $17.14Burt: $17.10Latimer: $16.96Adair: $16.84Elk Horn: $16.78Oxford: $16.70Buffalo Center: $16.58Whittemore: $16.54Bancroft: $16.52Titonka: $16.45Eldon: $16.42Early: $16.35Truro: $16.34Bayard: $16.05Scranton: $16.01Armstrong: $15.87Ruthven: $15.84Minden: $15.77Walker: $15.74Newell: $15.49Riceville: $15.31Russell: $15.18Gilbertville: $15.15Stanwood: $15.12Stratford: $15.03Zearing: $14.99Readlyn: $14.99Arlington: $14.98Maynard: $14.85Plainfield: $14.84Otho: $14.82Wyoming: $14.81Humeston: $14.80Hopkinton: $14.79Essex: $14.76Gilmore City: $14.60Garnavillo: $14.52Maxwell: $14.50Sabula: $14.38Collins: $14.32Clermont: $14.30Moulton: $14.25Ocheyedan: $14.22Mcgregor: $14.20Olin: $14.19Garwin: $14.08Farragut: $14.07Elgin: $14.05Lime Springs: $13.95Dow City: $13.94Ossian: $13.88Redfield: $13.73Victor: $13.72Sioux Rapids: $13.63Donnellson: $13.63Albion: $13.58Gladbrook: $13.58Lamont: $13.57New Albin: $13.55Rockford: $13.52Boyden: $13.39Lawler: $13.39Van Horne: $13.27Quasqueton: $13.12Anthon: $13.05Little Rock: $13.03Coggon: $12.99Lehigh: $12.97Earlville: $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: $12.48Alburnett: $12.30Hubbard: $12.30Moravia: $12.27Hedrick: $12.22Carson: $12.22Wheatland: $12.18Schaller: $12.14Hawkeye: $12.11Afton: $11.96Lowden: $11.93Albert City: $11.88Thornton: $11.86Runnells: $11.79Allerton: $11.72Merrill: $11.64Ellsworth: $11.57Morning Sun: $11.50Battle Creek: $11.49Wall Lake: $11.43West Bend: $11.42Dakota City: $11.39Dunkerton: $11.30Miles: $11.28Sutherland: $11.25Arcadia: $11.23Whiting: $11.21Shelby: $11.17Blairstown: $11.04Manilla: $11.01Milton: $10.98Hamburg: $10.95Ireton: $10.93Fontanelle: $10.88Richland: $10.82Grand Mound: $10.78Batavia: $10.77Cambridge: $10.53Lovilia: $10.46Schleswig: $10.39Melbourne: $10.38Radcliffe: $10.37Stacyville: $10.36Ventura: $10.22Milo: $10.20Hartford: $10.16What Cheer: $10.01Cumming: $9.85Graettinger: $9.81Breda: $9.80Doon: $9.78Long Grove: $9.59Alleman: $9.12Winthrop: $8.94Crescent: $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: $7.56Marquette: $7.08Raymond: $6.85Keystone: $6.80Shueyville: $6.79New Virginia: $5.97University Park: $5.27Orleans: $4.13Okoboji: $3.83Farmington: $13.10$3.83 lowest$24.81 highestmiddle
See all 180
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Exira$24.81766
2Rolfe$22.67505
3Dayton$22.51766
4Charter Oak$21.32521
5Oxford Junction$20.84424
6Earling$20.47394
7Correctionville$19.84759
8Pomeroy$19.60511
9Dumont$19.04614
10Seymour$18.78646
11Dexter$18.69631
12Fonda$18.52636
13Kanawha$18.11638
14Swea City$18.04545
15Alden$17.90738
16Elma$17.82493
17Dows$17.70509
18New Hartford$17.69555
19Emerson$17.54401
20Walnut$17.46728
21Murray$17.44609
22Thompson$17.25478
23Ashton$17.17434
24Colo$17.14856
25Burt$17.10404
26Latimer$16.96477
27Adair$16.84792
28Elk Horn$16.78631
29Oxford$16.70715
30Buffalo Center$16.58839
31Whittemore$16.54478
32Bancroft$16.52677
33Titonka$16.45491
34Eldon$16.42788
35Early$16.35571
36Truro$16.34515
37Bayard$16.05402
38Scranton$16.01496
39Armstrong$15.87847
40Ruthven$15.84710
41Minden$15.77581
42Walker$15.74671
43Newell$15.49850
44Riceville$15.31807
45Russell$15.18475
46Gilbertville$15.15792
47Stanwood$15.12612
48Stratford$15.03688
49Zearing$14.99508
50Readlyn$14.99857
51Arlington$14.98415
52Maynard$14.85466
53Plainfield$14.84392
54Otho$14.82417
55Wyoming$14.81526
56Humeston$14.80472
57Hopkinton$14.79622
58Essex$14.76721
59Gilmore City$14.60484
60Garnavillo$14.52751
61Maxwell$14.50862
62Sabula$14.38498
63Collins$14.32503
64Clermont$14.30571
65Moulton$14.25596
66Ocheyedan$14.22424
67Mcgregor$14.20725
68Olin$14.19652
69Garwin$14.08469
70Farragut$14.07480
71Elgin$14.05676
72Lime Springs$13.95467
73Dow City$13.94477
74Ossian$13.88777
75Redfield$13.73719
76Victor$13.72852
77Sioux Rapids$13.63722
78Donnellson$13.63859
79Albion$13.58444
80Gladbrook$13.58775
81Lamont$13.57429
82New Albin$13.55435
83Rockford$13.52722
84Boyden$13.39694
85Lawler$13.39392
86Van Horne$13.27768
87Quasqueton$13.12587
88Farmington$13.10583
89Anthon$13.05534
90Little Rock$13.03447
91Coggon$12.99691
92Lehigh$12.97395
93Earlville$12.90713
94Brighton$12.88592
95Montrose$12.78734
96Goldfield$12.73617
97Wellsburg$12.68709
98Delmar$12.68541
99Galva$12.68416
100Badger$12.67540
101Martensdale$12.63413
102Stanton$12.62664
103Hospers$12.58703
104Norway$12.53463
105Everly$12.51570
106Hazleton$12.48711
107Alburnett$12.30672
108Hubbard$12.30837
109Moravia$12.27625
110Hedrick$12.22717
111Carson$12.22772
112Wheatland$12.18765
113Schaller$12.14702
114Hawkeye$12.11429
115Afton$11.96864
116Lowden$11.93767
117Albert City$11.88627
118Thornton$11.86394
119Runnells$11.79467
120Allerton$11.72432
121Merrill$11.64713
122Ellsworth$11.57495
123Morning Sun$11.50702
124Battle Creek$11.49683
125Wall Lake$11.43739
126West Bend$11.42770
127Dakota City$11.39764
128Dunkerton$11.30840
129Miles$11.28400
130Sutherland$11.25628
131Arcadia$11.23588
132Whiting$11.21725
133Shelby$11.17730
134Blairstown$11.04705
135Manilla$11.01756
136Milton$10.98395
137Hamburg$10.95863
138Ireton$10.93571
139Fontanelle$10.88684
140Richland$10.82532
141Grand Mound$10.78608
142Batavia$10.77434
143Cambridge$10.53844
144Lovilia$10.46456
145Schleswig$10.39820
146Melbourne$10.38771
147Radcliffe$10.37540
148Stacyville$10.36436
149Ventura$10.22701
150Milo$10.20762
151Hartford$10.16729
152What Cheer$10.01595
153Cumming$9.85527
154Graettinger$9.81810
155Breda$9.80492
156Doon$9.78640
157Long Grove$9.59849
158Alleman$9.12439
159Winthrop$8.94814
160Crescent$8.72626
161Ainsworth$8.62511
162Grand Junction$8.57715
163Gilman$8.10530
164Grandview$8.10431
165Kellogg$8.10597
166Lakeside$8.10695
167Lost Nation$8.10425
168Agency$7.94623
169Fremont$7.86688
170Delhi$7.81438
171Klemme$7.74429
172Beacon$7.56434
173Marquette$7.08434
174Raymond$6.85754
175Keystone$6.80616
176Shueyville$6.79725
177New Virginia$5.97499
178University Park$5.27476
179Orleans$4.13503
180Okoboji$3.83729

The $8.10 limit

Farmington’s general levy is $8.10 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, at the limit.4 374 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.26 · FY26 $8.26 · FY27 $8.10 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $5.00 more5

  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$2.89 · $35,204
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.93 · $23,469
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$0.19 · $2,305

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$98,63262%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$35,20422%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$23,46915%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$2,3051%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Farmington’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 41¢ of every dollar41¢Culture and Recreation: 18¢ of every dollar18¢General Government: 17¢ of every dollar17¢Public Works: 16¢ of every dollar16¢Public Safety: 8¢ of every dollar8¢Everything else: <1¢ 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 179 Iowa cities closest in size (390–860 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (179)
Business Type / Enterprise41¢40¢
Culture and Recreation18¢9¢
General Government17¢12¢
Public Works16¢17¢
Public Safety8¢10¢
Everything else<1¢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.

  • Culture and Recreation$232,07936%
  • Public Works$187,86029%
  • General Government$128,29420%
  • Public Safety$93,79715%
  • Community and Economic Development$1,2000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($472,130 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$175,650$161,226
Public Safety$82,100$73,405
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$159,750$131,217
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$224,250$193,717
Community and Economic Development$0$0
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$239,510$284,932

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$1.2M
$1.2M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Farmington owes

$728,000 at June 30, 2026: $1,257 per resident. 500th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$898,000
$728,000
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$728,000$1,257
2025$765,000$1,321
2024$824,000$1,423
2023$883,000$1,525
2022$794,800$1,373
2021$898,000$1,551
2020$534,735$924
2019$563,235$973
2018$525,000$907
2017$587,000$1,014
2016$636,898$1,100
2015$0$0
2014$812,914$1,404
2013$498,217$860
2012$257,000$444
2011$289,000$499
2010$289,000$499
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$728,000$1,257
2025$765,000$1,321
2024$824,000$1,423
2023$883,000$1,525
2022$794,800$1,373
2021$898,000$1,551
2020$534,735$924
2019$563,235$973
2018$525,000$907
2017$587,000$1,014
2016$636,898$1,100
2015$0$0
2014$812,914$1,404
2013$498,217$860
2012$257,000$444
2011$289,000$499
2010$289,000$499

Up 152% since 2010.

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. Farmington’s latest audit has them: Annual Examination, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Annual Examination for the period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021 (PDF), released Wednesday, June 29, 2022, by the Auditor of State.

3 earlier reports for Farmington

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: $89,635 in FY25, up 4% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 17% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$82,157$79,677$81,785$82,229
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$11,735$7,452$12,701$7,406

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.

$52,549
$17,910
  • State grants$17,910100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$3,640
FY20$1,412
FY21$2,975
FY22$52,549
FY23$52,076
FY24$5,038
FY25$17,910
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$3,640
FY20$1,412
FY21$2,975
FY22$52,549
FY23$52,076
FY24$5,038
FY25$17,910

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−24%$85,779 → $82,229, down 4% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 24% 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 46% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 16% more.

$70,970
$65,840

Federal grants, for comparison: $74,777 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)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 · 1

3 seats: the top 3 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Farmington; 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.

  • Farmington City Council At-Large (2 seats)
    Now held by Timothy J. Halbrook, Kerby Fry
  • Farmington Mayor
    Now held by Janet Browning

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

Adrian Dickey (Sen. 44)Jeff Shipley (Rep. 87)

U.S. House:District 1

Van Buren CountyHarmony schools