Who runs it
The city council passes ordinances, adopts the budget and sets the city’s property tax.
- Brent HighfillCumming Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
- Charlie OchanpaughCumming City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Larry 'Dino' GoodeCumming City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
- Kathie HungerfordCumming City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Martin SquierCumming City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
- Thomas CacklerCumming 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 Cumming
Homes and businesses in most of Cumming pay a combined $33.41 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Warren County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $9.85. Estimate your bill.
- Norwalk schools$16.5650%
- City of Cumming$9.8529%
- Warren County$5.6517%
- Des Moines Area Community College$0.812%
- Warren County Assessor$0.351%
- Warren County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.12<1%
- Linn-Cumming Cemetery$0.07<1%
Rates over time
Per $1,000 of taxable value: the typical combined rate people in Cumming pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $38.09 | $11.11 |
| FY21 | $38.32 | $11.25 |
| FY22 | $37.97 | $11.18 |
| FY23 | $37.26 | $11.18 |
| FY24 | $31.60 | $11.19 |
| FY25 | $36.90 | $11.17 |
| FY26 | $28.93 | $8.24 |
| FY27 | $28.45 | $9.85 |
Show the numbers
| Year | Combined | City’s own |
|---|---|---|
| FY20 | $38.09 | $11.11 |
| FY21 | $38.32 | $11.25 |
| FY22 | $37.97 | $11.18 |
| FY23 | $37.26 | $11.18 |
| FY24 | $31.60 | $11.19 |
| FY25 | $36.90 | $11.17 |
| FY26 | $28.93 | $8.24 |
| FY27 | $28.45 | $9.85 |
Compared with places this size3
Cumming’s city property tax rate of $9.85 per $1,000 is the 30th lowest of 194 Iowa cities with 350–790 people. The middle of the group is $12.94.
See all 194
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanhope | $29.10 | 354 |
| 2 | Exira | $24.81 | 766 |
| 3 | Rolfe | $22.67 | 505 |
| 4 | Dayton | $22.51 | 766 |
| 5 | Charter Oak | $21.32 | 521 |
| 6 | Oxford Junction | $20.84 | 424 |
| 7 | Earling | $20.47 | 394 |
| 8 | Correctionville | $19.84 | 759 |
| 9 | Pomeroy | $19.60 | 511 |
| 10 | Salem | $19.15 | 380 |
| 11 | Dumont | $19.04 | 614 |
| 12 | Seymour | $18.78 | 646 |
| 13 | Dexter | $18.69 | 631 |
| 14 | Fonda | $18.52 | 636 |
| 15 | Massena | $18.23 | 352 |
| 16 | Kanawha | $18.11 | 638 |
| 17 | Swea City | $18.04 | 545 |
| 18 | Alden | $17.90 | 738 |
| 19 | Elma | $17.82 | 493 |
| 20 | Callender | $17.78 | 361 |
| 21 | Casey | $17.72 | 387 |
| 22 | Dows | $17.70 | 509 |
| 23 | New Hartford | $17.69 | 555 |
| 24 | Vail | $17.66 | 383 |
| 25 | Emerson | $17.54 | 401 |
| 26 | Walnut | $17.46 | 728 |
| 27 | Murray | $17.44 | 609 |
| 28 | Thompson | $17.25 | 478 |
| 29 | Ashton | $17.17 | 434 |
| 30 | Burt | $17.10 | 404 |
| 31 | Latimer | $16.96 | 477 |
| 32 | Lohrville | $16.95 | 366 |
| 33 | Elk Horn | $16.78 | 631 |
| 34 | Oxford | $16.70 | 715 |
| 35 | Mccallsburg | $16.58 | 356 |
| 36 | Whittemore | $16.54 | 478 |
| 37 | Bancroft | $16.52 | 677 |
| 38 | Titonka | $16.45 | 491 |
| 39 | Eldon | $16.42 | 788 |
| 40 | Early | $16.35 | 571 |
| 41 | Truro | $16.34 | 515 |
| 42 | Lewis | $16.25 | 358 |
| 43 | Duncombe | $16.10 | 374 |
| 44 | Bayard | $16.05 | 402 |
| 45 | Scranton | $16.01 | 496 |
| 46 | Ruthven | $15.84 | 710 |
| 47 | Minden | $15.77 | 581 |
| 48 | Walker | $15.74 | 671 |
| 49 | Russell | $15.18 | 475 |
| 50 | Stanwood | $15.12 | 612 |
| 51 | Stratford | $15.03 | 688 |
| 52 | Zearing | $14.99 | 508 |
| 53 | Arlington | $14.98 | 415 |
| 54 | Maynard | $14.85 | 466 |
| 55 | Plainfield | $14.84 | 392 |
| 56 | Otho | $14.82 | 417 |
| 57 | Wyoming | $14.81 | 526 |
| 58 | Humeston | $14.80 | 472 |
| 59 | Hopkinton | $14.79 | 622 |
| 60 | Essex | $14.76 | 721 |
| 61 | Gilmore City | $14.60 | 484 |
| 62 | Garnavillo | $14.52 | 751 |
| 63 | Sabula | $14.38 | 498 |
| 64 | Lorimor | $14.36 | 377 |
| 65 | Collins | $14.32 | 503 |
| 66 | Clermont | $14.30 | 571 |
| 67 | Moulton | $14.25 | 596 |
| 68 | Ocheyedan | $14.22 | 424 |
| 69 | Mcgregor | $14.20 | 725 |
| 70 | Olin | $14.19 | 652 |
| 71 | Garwin | $14.08 | 469 |
| 72 | Farragut | $14.07 | 480 |
| 73 | Elgin | $14.05 | 676 |
| 74 | Lime Springs | $13.95 | 467 |
| 75 | Dow City | $13.94 | 477 |
| 76 | Wesley | $13.91 | 382 |
| 77 | Ossian | $13.88 | 777 |
| 78 | Bussey | $13.83 | 378 |
| 79 | Livermore | $13.78 | 382 |
| 80 | Redfield | $13.73 | 719 |
| 81 | Sioux Rapids | $13.63 | 722 |
| 82 | Albion | $13.58 | 444 |
| 83 | Gladbrook | $13.58 | 775 |
| 84 | Lamont | $13.57 | 429 |
| 85 | New Albin | $13.55 | 435 |
| 86 | Rockford | $13.52 | 722 |
| 87 | Boyden | $13.39 | 694 |
| 88 | Lawler | $13.39 | 392 |
| 89 | Van Horne | $13.27 | 768 |
| 90 | New Market | $13.25 | 381 |
| 91 | Plymouth | $13.21 | 368 |
| 92 | Quasqueton | $13.12 | 587 |
| 93 | Farmington | $13.10 | 583 |
| 94 | Anthon | $13.05 | 534 |
| 95 | Little Rock | $13.03 | 447 |
| 96 | Coggon | $12.99 | 691 |
| 97 | Lehigh | $12.97 | 395 |
| 98 | Earlville | $12.90 | 713 |
| 99 | Brighton | $12.88 | 592 |
| 100 | Montrose | $12.78 | 734 |
| 101 | Goldfield | $12.73 | 617 |
| 102 | Wellsburg | $12.68 | 709 |
| 103 | Delmar | $12.68 | 541 |
| 104 | Galva | $12.68 | 416 |
| 105 | Badger | $12.67 | 540 |
| 106 | Martensdale | $12.63 | 413 |
| 107 | Stanton | $12.62 | 664 |
| 108 | Hospers | $12.58 | 703 |
| 109 | Norway | $12.53 | 463 |
| 110 | Everly | $12.51 | 570 |
| 111 | Hazleton | $12.48 | 711 |
| 112 | Spillville | $12.40 | 371 |
| 113 | Alburnett | $12.30 | 672 |
| 114 | Moravia | $12.27 | 625 |
| 115 | Hedrick | $12.22 | 717 |
| 116 | Carson | $12.22 | 772 |
| 117 | Wheatland | $12.18 | 765 |
| 118 | Bonaparte | $12.17 | 357 |
| 119 | Schaller | $12.14 | 702 |
| 120 | Hawkeye | $12.11 | 429 |
| 121 | Colesburg | $11.97 | 379 |
| 122 | Lowden | $11.93 | 767 |
| 123 | Albert City | $11.88 | 627 |
| 124 | Thornton | $11.86 | 394 |
| 125 | Runnells | $11.79 | 467 |
| 126 | Allerton | $11.72 | 432 |
| 127 | Orient | $11.66 | 363 |
| 128 | Merrill | $11.64 | 713 |
| 129 | Ellsworth | $11.57 | 495 |
| 130 | Morning Sun | $11.50 | 702 |
| 131 | Battle Creek | $11.49 | 683 |
| 132 | Wall Lake | $11.43 | 739 |
| 133 | West Bend | $11.42 | 770 |
| 134 | Dakota City | $11.39 | 764 |
| 135 | Churdan | $11.31 | 359 |
| 136 | Miles | $11.28 | 400 |
| 137 | Sutherland | $11.25 | 628 |
| 138 | Arcadia | $11.23 | 588 |
| 139 | Whiting | $11.21 | 725 |
| 140 | Shelby | $11.17 | 730 |
| 141 | Blairstown | $11.04 | 705 |
| 142 | Manilla | $11.01 | 756 |
| 143 | Milton | $10.98 | 395 |
| 144 | Ireton | $10.93 | 571 |
| 145 | New Vienna | $10.91 | 384 |
| 146 | Letts | $10.91 | 358 |
| 147 | Fontanelle | $10.88 | 684 |
| 148 | Birmingham | $10.87 | 371 |
| 149 | Charlotte | $10.86 | 386 |
| 150 | Richland | $10.82 | 532 |
| 151 | Grand Mound | $10.78 | 608 |
| 152 | Batavia | $10.77 | 434 |
| 153 | Riverdale | $10.67 | 385 |
| 154 | Union | $10.58 | 378 |
| 155 | Lovilia | $10.46 | 456 |
| 156 | Melbourne | $10.38 | 771 |
| 157 | Radcliffe | $10.37 | 540 |
| 158 | Stacyville | $10.36 | 436 |
| 159 | Ventura | $10.22 | 701 |
| 160 | Andrew | $10.22 | 374 |
| 161 | Milo | $10.20 | 762 |
| 162 | Royal | $10.20 | 379 |
| 163 | Hartford | $10.16 | 729 |
| 164 | What Cheer | $10.01 | 595 |
| 165 | Cumming | $9.85 | 527 |
| 166 | Breda | $9.80 | 492 |
| 167 | Doon | $9.78 | 640 |
| 168 | Lynnville | $9.68 | 382 |
| 169 | Farnhamville | $9.18 | 364 |
| 170 | Middletown | $9.16 | 365 |
| 171 | Alleman | $9.12 | 439 |
| 172 | Crescent | $8.72 | 626 |
| 173 | Ainsworth | $8.62 | 511 |
| 174 | Grand Junction | $8.57 | 715 |
| 175 | Gilman | $8.10 | 530 |
| 176 | Lakeside | $8.10 | 695 |
| 177 | Lost Nation | $8.10 | 425 |
| 178 | Kellogg | $8.10 | 597 |
| 179 | Grandview | $8.10 | 431 |
| 180 | Agency | $7.94 | 623 |
| 181 | Fremont | $7.86 | 688 |
| 182 | Delhi | $7.81 | 438 |
| 183 | Klemme | $7.74 | 429 |
| 184 | Beacon | $7.56 | 434 |
| 185 | Worthington | $7.50 | 374 |
| 186 | Marquette | $7.08 | 434 |
| 187 | Columbus City | $6.94 | 385 |
| 188 | Raymond | $6.85 | 754 |
| 189 | Keystone | $6.80 | 616 |
| 190 | Shueyville | $6.79 | 725 |
| 191 | New Virginia | $5.97 | 499 |
| 192 | University Park | $5.27 | 476 |
| 193 | Orleans | $4.13 | 503 |
| 194 | Okoboji | $3.83 | 729 |
The $8.10 limit
Cumming’s general levy is $7.49 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.61 below the limit.4 807 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.
FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $7.86 · FY26 $7.64 · FY27 $7.49 (before FY25, the general levy alone)
Outside the limit: $2.37 more5
- Debt Service Levy$1.73 · $260,815
- Total Employee Benefit Levies$0.49 · $38,064
- Liability, property & self insurance costs$0.15 · $11,981
Tax increment financing (TIF)
$73.5M of taxable value in Cumming is in TIF districts’ increment (48% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.6 It budgeted $244,245 in TIF revenue for FY25.
| Year | TIF revenue |
|---|---|
| FY17 | $104,978 |
| FY18 | $101,739 |
| FY19 | $448,877 |
| FY20 | $96,772 |
| FY21 | $180,108 |
| FY22 | $228,666 |
| FY23 | $170,585 |
Show the numbers
| Year | TIF revenue |
|---|---|
| FY17 | $104,978 |
| FY18 | $101,739 |
| FY19 | $448,877 |
| FY20 | $96,772 |
| FY21 | $180,108 |
| FY22 | $228,666 |
| FY23 | $170,585 |
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.
Budget and spending
Where each dollar of Cumming’s budget goes, FY26
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 193 Iowa cities closest in size (350–790 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (193) |
|---|---|---|
| Debt Service | 56¢ | 5¢ |
| General Government | 26¢ | 12¢ |
| Public Works | 10¢ | 18¢ |
| Public Safety | 5¢ | 9¢ |
| Culture and Recreation | 3¢ | 9¢ |
| 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.
Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works | $114,711 | $302,136 |
| Public Safety | $174,298 | $55,113 |
| Health and Social Services | $2,200 | $0 |
| General Government | $227,155 | $228,066 |
| Debt Service | $246,020 | $284,287 |
| Culture and Recreation | $47,000 | $36,577 |
| Community and Economic Development | $93,000 | $403,919 |
| Capital Projects | $1.6M | $6,484 |
| Business Type / Enterprise | $345,100 | $28,419 |
What it spent each year
FY24 left out7
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? 8
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: $42,164 in FY25, up 46% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 16% more. Grants are below.
Show the numbers
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Use Tax (streets) | $33,146 | $35,902 | $39,180 | $39,494 |
| Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”) | – | – | $855 | $2,670 |
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.
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $0 |
| FY20 | $0 |
| FY21 | $0 |
| FY22 | $30,503 |
| FY23 | $1,000 |
| FY24 | $0 |
| FY25 | $1.3M |
Show the numbers
| Year | Grants and projects |
|---|---|
| FY19 | $0 |
| FY20 | $0 |
| FY21 | $0 |
| FY22 | $30,503 |
| FY23 | $1,000 |
| FY24 | $0 |
| FY25 | $1.3M |
Has it kept up with prices?
Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.
- Road Use Tax (streets)+22%$25,846 → $39,494, up 53% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 22% more
- Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)−32%$3,114 → $2,670, down 14% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 32% 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 64% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 31% more.
Federal grants, for comparison: $2,349 in FY24.
Elections
Most recent: November 4, 2025
City · 2
2 seats: the top 2 win.
- Larry 'Dino' Goode Winner5651.4%
- Charlie Ochanpaugh Winner5348.6%
- Brent Highfill Unopposed56100.0%
Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Cumming; official results are on each county auditor’s site.
Related places
At the Statehouse and in Congress9
Senate District 11 (vacant)Samantha Fett (Rep. 22)
U.S. House:District 1