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Local taxes › Van Buren County › Milton

City

Milton

Van Buren County · How cities work

$2,550 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($30.24 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$920 a yearof that goes to the city ($10.98 per $1,000)
$111,413property taxes the city levies, FY27
$217,938city 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.

  • Erica PilcherMilton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Gary E. CooperMilton City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Randy WoodruffMilton Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Angela WileyMilton City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Elizabeth GarrettMilton City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Woody WileyMilton 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 Milton

Homes and businesses in most of Milton pay a combined $30.24 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, $10.98. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.28$11.85
FY21$32.80$11.82
FY22$31.77$11.66
FY23$31.07$11.35
FY24$32.24$12.69
FY25$32.13$12.74
FY26$31.19$11.53
FY27$30.24$10.98
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.28$11.85
FY21$32.80$11.82
FY22$31.77$11.66
FY23$31.07$11.35
FY24$32.24$12.69
FY25$32.13$12.74
FY26$31.19$11.53
FY27$30.24$10.98

Compared with places this size3

Milton’s city property tax rate of $10.98 per $1,000 is the 60th lowest of 181 Iowa cities with 260–590 people. The middle of the group is $12.67.

Stanhope: $29.10Rolfe: $22.67Elliott: $21.61Charter Oak: $21.32Oxford Junction: $20.84Earling: $20.47Pomeroy: $19.60Fort Atkinson: $19.19Salem: $19.15Massena: $18.23Swea City: $18.04Elma: $17.82Callender: $17.78Casey: $17.72Dows: $17.70New Hartford: $17.69Vail: $17.66Ringsted: $17.65Emerson: $17.54Thompson: $17.25Ashton: $17.17Pierson: $17.12Burt: $17.10Latimer: $16.96Lohrville: $16.95Mccallsburg: $16.58Whittemore: $16.54Irwin: $16.46Titonka: $16.45Early: $16.35Truro: $16.34Lewis: $16.25Duncombe: $16.10Bayard: $16.05Scranton: $16.01Granville: $16.00Minden: $15.77Minburn: $15.75Peterson: $15.27Russell: $15.18Zearing: $14.99Arlington: $14.98Maynard: $14.85Plainfield: $14.84Ryan: $14.84Otho: $14.82Wyoming: $14.81Humeston: $14.80Gilmore City: $14.60Sabula: $14.38Garrison: $14.38Halbur: $14.37Lorimor: $14.36Collins: $14.32Clermont: $14.30Kimballton: $14.27Ocheyedan: $14.22Garwin: $14.08Farragut: $14.07Mystic: $14.01Lime Springs: $13.95Dow City: $13.94Wesley: $13.91Diagonal: $13.91Bussey: $13.83Mondamin: $13.82Livermore: $13.78Fertile: $13.70Stockport: $13.68Albion: $13.58Lamont: $13.57New Albin: $13.55Persia: $13.41Lawler: $13.39Lacona: $13.38Ute: $13.26New Market: $13.25Plymouth: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Anthon: $13.05Little Rock: $13.03Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Brighton: $12.88Delmar: $12.68Galva: $12.68Badger: $12.67Martensdale: $12.63Williams: $12.57Maurice: $12.56Norway: $12.53Everly: $12.51Clearfield: $12.50Mccausland: $12.45Spillville: $12.40Modale: $12.34Mingo: $12.31Brandon: $12.29Blakesburg: $12.21Bonaparte: $12.17Macedonia: $12.12Hawkeye: $12.11Colesburg: $11.97Liscomb: $11.96Thornton: $11.86Runnells: $11.79Allerton: $11.72Atalissa: $11.71Kelley: $11.69Orient: $11.66Ellsworth: $11.57Cincinnati: $11.57Terril: $11.48Westside: $11.45Churdan: $11.31Miles: $11.28Arcadia: $11.23Ireton: $10.93New Vienna: $10.91Letts: $10.91Birmingham: $10.87Charlotte: $10.86Yale: $10.85Richland: $10.82Batavia: $10.77Riverdale: $10.67Bode: $10.64Union: $10.58Calamus: $10.47Lovilia: $10.46Danbury: $10.43Lytton: $10.38Radcliffe: $10.37Stacyville: $10.36Rhodes: $10.36Protivin: $10.28Andrew: $10.22Royal: $10.20Bronson: $10.14Rudd: $10.13Floyd: $10.02Cumming: $9.85Breda: $9.80Lynnville: $9.68Salix: $9.63Farnhamville: $9.18Middletown: $9.16Alleman: $9.12Lester: $8.94Ainsworth: $8.62Rowley: $8.31Gilman: $8.10Bertram: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Nichols: $8.10Luana: $7.98Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Beacon: $7.56Sheldahl: $7.56Worthington: $7.50Harpers Ferry: $7.49Marquette: $7.08Columbus City: $6.94Donahue: $6.83Libertyville: $6.60Crawfordsville: $6.44New Virginia: $5.97Holy Cross: $5.91Conesville: $5.86University Park: $5.27Orleans: $4.13Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87Wahpeton: $3.19West Okoboji: $2.92Milton: $10.98$2.92 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 181
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Stanhope$29.10354
2Rolfe$22.67505
3Elliott$21.61328
4Charter Oak$21.32521
5Oxford Junction$20.84424
6Earling$20.47394
7Pomeroy$19.60511
8Fort Atkinson$19.19300
9Salem$19.15380
10Massena$18.23352
11Swea City$18.04545
12Elma$17.82493
13Callender$17.78361
14Casey$17.72387
15Dows$17.70509
16New Hartford$17.69555
17Vail$17.66383
18Ringsted$17.65346
19Emerson$17.54401
20Thompson$17.25478
21Ashton$17.17434
22Pierson$17.12335
23Burt$17.10404
24Latimer$16.96477
25Lohrville$16.95366
26Mccallsburg$16.58356
27Whittemore$16.54478
28Irwin$16.46320
29Titonka$16.45491
30Early$16.35571
31Truro$16.34515
32Lewis$16.25358
33Duncombe$16.10374
34Bayard$16.05402
35Scranton$16.01496
36Granville$16.00302
37Minden$15.77581
38Minburn$15.75317
39Peterson$15.27321
40Russell$15.18475
41Zearing$14.99508
42Arlington$14.98415
43Maynard$14.85466
44Plainfield$14.84392
45Ryan$14.84348
46Otho$14.82417
47Wyoming$14.81526
48Humeston$14.80472
49Gilmore City$14.60484
50Sabula$14.38498
51Garrison$14.38345
52Halbur$14.37268
53Lorimor$14.36377
54Collins$14.32503
55Clermont$14.30571
56Kimballton$14.27281
57Ocheyedan$14.22424
58Garwin$14.08469
59Farragut$14.07480
60Mystic$14.01318
61Lime Springs$13.95467
62Dow City$13.94477
63Wesley$13.91382
64Diagonal$13.91331
65Bussey$13.83378
66Mondamin$13.82335
67Livermore$13.78382
68Fertile$13.70300
69Stockport$13.68272
70Albion$13.58444
71Lamont$13.57429
72New Albin$13.55435
73Persia$13.41292
74Lawler$13.39392
75Lacona$13.38336
76Ute$13.26326
77New Market$13.25381
78Plymouth$13.21368
79Bennett$13.16330
80Quasqueton$13.12587
81Farmington$13.10583
82Farmersburg$13.09264
83Anthon$13.05534
84Little Rock$13.03447
85Lehigh$12.97395
86Menlo$12.92347
87Templeton$12.91337
88Brighton$12.88592
89Delmar$12.68541
90Galva$12.68416
91Badger$12.67540
92Martensdale$12.63413
93Williams$12.57299
94Maurice$12.56271
95Norway$12.53463
96Everly$12.51570
97Clearfield$12.50277
98Mccausland$12.45314
99Spillville$12.40371
100Modale$12.34284
101Mingo$12.31314
102Brandon$12.29331
103Blakesburg$12.21273
104Bonaparte$12.17357
105Macedonia$12.12266
106Hawkeye$12.11429
107Colesburg$11.97379
108Liscomb$11.96292
109Thornton$11.86394
110Runnells$11.79467
111Allerton$11.72432
112Atalissa$11.71287
113Kelley$11.69312
114Orient$11.66363
115Ellsworth$11.57495
116Cincinnati$11.57280
117Terril$11.48310
118Westside$11.45283
119Churdan$11.31359
120Miles$11.28400
121Arcadia$11.23588
122Milton$10.98395
123Ireton$10.93571
124New Vienna$10.91384
125Letts$10.91358
126Birmingham$10.87371
127Charlotte$10.86386
128Yale$10.85265
129Richland$10.82532
130Batavia$10.77434
131Riverdale$10.67385
132Bode$10.64304
133Union$10.58378
134Calamus$10.47348
135Lovilia$10.46456
136Danbury$10.43315
137Lytton$10.38274
138Radcliffe$10.37540
139Stacyville$10.36436
140Rhodes$10.36269
141Protivin$10.28264
142Andrew$10.22374
143Royal$10.20379
144Bronson$10.14294
145Rudd$10.13339
146Floyd$10.02297
147Cumming$9.85527
148Breda$9.80492
149Lynnville$9.68382
150Salix$9.63303
151Farnhamville$9.18364
152Middletown$9.16365
153Alleman$9.12439
154Lester$8.94309
155Ainsworth$8.62511
156Rowley$8.31264
157Gilman$8.10530
158Bertram$8.10267
159Grandview$8.10431
160Lost Nation$8.10425
161Nichols$8.10317
162Luana$7.98303
163Delhi$7.81438
164Klemme$7.74429
165Beacon$7.56434
166Sheldahl$7.56312
167Worthington$7.50374
168Harpers Ferry$7.49273
169Marquette$7.08434
170Columbus City$6.94385
171Donahue$6.83336
172Libertyville$6.60278
173Crawfordsville$6.44278
174New Virginia$5.97499
175Holy Cross$5.91348
176Conesville$5.86350
177University Park$5.27476
178Orleans$4.13503
179Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
180Wahpeton$3.19337
181West Okoboji$2.92311

The $8.10 limit

Milton’s general levy is $7.66 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.44 below the limit.4 756 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.13 · FY26 $7.89 · FY27 $7.66 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $3.32 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$2.81 · $27,794
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$0.41 · $4,013
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$0.10 · $1,006

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$75,70570%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$27,79426%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$4,0134%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$1,0061%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Milton’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 37¢ of every dollar37¢Public Works: 27¢ of every dollar27¢General Government: 19¢ of every dollar19¢Public Safety: 12¢ of every dollar12¢Culture and Recreation: 5¢ of every dollarEverything 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 180 Iowa cities closest in size (260–590 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (180)
Business Type / Enterprise37¢39¢
Public Works27¢19¢
General Government19¢15¢
Public Safety12¢9¢
Culture and Recreation5¢8¢
Everything else<1¢2¢

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$84,00039%
  • General Government$80,68437%
  • Public Safety$37,05417%
  • Culture and Recreation$15,0007%
  • Community and Economic Development$1,2001%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($127,920 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$89,400$142,259
Public Safety$35,015$31,822
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$51,300$50,330
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$13,075$13,061
Community and Economic Development$300$258
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$120,560$126,025

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$398,235

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Milton owes

$157,605 at June 30, 2026: $415 per resident. 652nd most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$449,841
$157,605
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$157,605$415
2025$51,000$134
2024$60,000$158
2023$69,000$182
2022$78,000$205
2021$86,000$226
2020$94,000$247
2019$102,000$268
2018$110,000$289
2017$117,000$308
2016$134,562$354
2015$165,447$435
2014$184,383$485
2013$192,918$508
2012$234,287$617
2011$449,841$1,184
2010$267,800$705
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$157,605$415
2025$51,000$134
2024$60,000$158
2023$69,000$182
2022$78,000$205
2021$86,000$226
2020$94,000$247
2019$102,000$268
2018$110,000$289
2017$117,000$308
2016$134,562$354
2015$165,447$435
2014$184,383$485
2013$192,918$508
2012$234,287$617
2011$449,841$1,184
2010$267,800$705

Down 41% since 2010.

Money in reserve

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

Audits9

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021 (PDF), released Thursday, March 31, 2022, by a CPA firm.

2 earlier reports for Milton

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: $47,092 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)$42,936$41,501$42,599$42,831
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)––$7,153$4,261

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−25%$45,419 → $42,831, 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 36% since FY19 while prices rose 22%, so it buys 11% more.

$44,271
$39,698

Federal grants, for comparison: $9,473 in FY24.

Business awards

Every award statewide

State economic development awards

Community college new jobs training: 1 contract since 2005 worth $215K, for 35 pledged jobs.

Awards 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

2 seats: the top 2 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Milton; 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.

  • Milton City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Elizabeth Garrett, Angela Wiley, Woody Wiley
  • Milton Mayor
    Now held by Randy Woodruff

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 CountyVan Buren schools