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Local taxes › Warren County › Martensdale

City

Martensdale

Warren County · How cities work

$2,970 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($35.31 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,060 a yearof that goes to the city ($12.63 per $1,000)
$182,475property taxes the city levies, FY27
$705,000city 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.

  • Brad PrichardMartensdale City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Matt GideonMartensdale Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Scott HensonMartensdale City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Travis BergerMartensdale City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Deb HutchinsonMartensdale City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Peggy HaltermanMartensdale 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 Martensdale

Homes and businesses in most of Martensdale pay a combined $35.31 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, $12.63. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$35.53$11.92
FY21$35.28$11.49
FY22$35.00$11.40
FY23$34.45$11.33
FY24$35.67$12.54
FY25$35.24$12.36
FY26$35.59$12.57
FY27$35.31$12.63
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$35.53$11.92
FY21$35.28$11.49
FY22$35.00$11.40
FY23$34.45$11.33
FY24$35.67$12.54
FY25$35.24$12.36
FY26$35.59$12.57
FY27$35.31$12.63

Compared with places this size3

Martensdale’s city property tax rate of $12.63 per $1,000 is the 84th lowest of 177 Iowa cities with 280–620 people. The middle of the group is $12.88.

Stanhope: $29.10Rolfe: $22.67Elliott: $21.61Charter Oak: $21.32Oxford Junction: $20.84Earling: $20.47Pomeroy: $19.60Fort Atkinson: $19.19Salem: $19.15Dumont: $19.04Massena: $18.23Swea City: $18.04Elma: $17.82Callender: $17.78Casey: $17.72Dows: $17.70New Hartford: $17.69Vail: $17.66Ringsted: $17.65Emerson: $17.54Murray: $17.44Thompson: $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: $15.18Stanwood: $15.12Zearing: $14.99Arlington: $14.98Maynard: $14.85Plainfield: $14.84Ryan: $14.84Otho: $14.82Wyoming: $14.81Humeston: $14.80Gilmore City: $14.60Sabula: $14.38Garrison: $14.38Lorimor: $14.36Collins: $14.32Clermont: $14.30Kimballton: $14.27Moulton: $14.25Ocheyedan: $14.22Garwin: $14.08Farragut: $14.07Mystic: $14.01Lime Springs: $13.95Dow City: $13.94Wesley: $13.91Diagonal: $13.91Bussey: $13.83Mondamin: $13.82Livermore: $13.78Fertile: $13.70Albion: $13.58Lamont: $13.57New Albin: $13.55Persia: $13.41Lawler: $13.39Lacona: $13.38Ute: $13.26New Market: $13.25Plymouth: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Anthon: $13.05Little Rock: $13.03Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Brighton: $12.88Goldfield: $12.73Delmar: $12.68Galva: $12.68Badger: $12.67Williams: $12.57Norway: $12.53Everly: $12.51Clearfield: $12.50Mccausland: $12.45Spillville: $12.40Modale: $12.34Mingo: $12.31Brandon: $12.29Bonaparte: $12.17Hawkeye: $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: $11.23Milton: $10.98Ireton: $10.93New Vienna: $10.91Letts: $10.91Birmingham: $10.87Charlotte: $10.86Richland: $10.82Grand Mound: $10.78Batavia: $10.77Riverdale: $10.67Bode: $10.64Union: $10.58Calamus: $10.47Lovilia: $10.46Danbury: $10.43Radcliffe: $10.37Stacyville: $10.36Andrew: $10.22Royal: $10.20Bronson: $10.14Rudd: $10.13Floyd: $10.02What Cheer: $10.01Cumming: $9.85Breda: $9.80Lynnville: $9.68Salix: $9.63Farnhamville: $9.18Middletown: $9.16Alleman: $9.12Lester: $8.94Ainsworth: $8.62Gilman: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Kellogg: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Nichols: $8.10Luana: $7.98Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Beacon: $7.56Sheldahl: $7.56Worthington: $7.50Marquette: $7.08Columbus City: $6.94Donahue: $6.83Keystone: $6.80Libertyville: $6.60Crawfordsville: $6.44New Virginia: $5.97Holy Cross: $5.91Conesville: $5.86University Park: $5.27Orleans: $4.13Maharishi Vedic City: $3.87Wahpeton: $3.19West Okoboji: $2.92Martensdale: $12.63$2.92 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 177
#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
10Dumont$19.04614
11Massena$18.23352
12Swea City$18.04545
13Elma$17.82493
14Callender$17.78361
15Casey$17.72387
16Dows$17.70509
17New Hartford$17.69555
18Vail$17.66383
19Ringsted$17.65346
20Emerson$17.54401
21Murray$17.44609
22Thompson$17.25478
23Ashton$17.17434
24Pierson$17.12335
25Burt$17.10404
26Latimer$16.96477
27Lohrville$16.95366
28Mccallsburg$16.58356
29Whittemore$16.54478
30Irwin$16.46320
31Titonka$16.45491
32Early$16.35571
33Truro$16.34515
34Lewis$16.25358
35Duncombe$16.10374
36Bayard$16.05402
37Scranton$16.01496
38Granville$16.00302
39Minden$15.77581
40Minburn$15.75317
41Peterson$15.27321
42Russell$15.18475
43Stanwood$15.12612
44Zearing$14.99508
45Arlington$14.98415
46Maynard$14.85466
47Plainfield$14.84392
48Ryan$14.84348
49Otho$14.82417
50Wyoming$14.81526
51Humeston$14.80472
52Gilmore City$14.60484
53Sabula$14.38498
54Garrison$14.38345
55Lorimor$14.36377
56Collins$14.32503
57Clermont$14.30571
58Kimballton$14.27281
59Moulton$14.25596
60Ocheyedan$14.22424
61Garwin$14.08469
62Farragut$14.07480
63Mystic$14.01318
64Lime Springs$13.95467
65Dow City$13.94477
66Wesley$13.91382
67Diagonal$13.91331
68Bussey$13.83378
69Mondamin$13.82335
70Livermore$13.78382
71Fertile$13.70300
72Albion$13.58444
73Lamont$13.57429
74New Albin$13.55435
75Persia$13.41292
76Lawler$13.39392
77Lacona$13.38336
78Ute$13.26326
79New Market$13.25381
80Plymouth$13.21368
81Bennett$13.16330
82Quasqueton$13.12587
83Farmington$13.10583
84Anthon$13.05534
85Little Rock$13.03447
86Lehigh$12.97395
87Menlo$12.92347
88Templeton$12.91337
89Brighton$12.88592
90Goldfield$12.73617
91Delmar$12.68541
92Galva$12.68416
93Badger$12.67540
94Martensdale$12.63413
95Williams$12.57299
96Norway$12.53463
97Everly$12.51570
98Clearfield$12.50277
99Mccausland$12.45314
100Spillville$12.40371
101Modale$12.34284
102Mingo$12.31314
103Brandon$12.29331
104Bonaparte$12.17357
105Hawkeye$12.11429
106Colesburg$11.97379
107Liscomb$11.96292
108Thornton$11.86394
109Runnells$11.79467
110Allerton$11.72432
111Atalissa$11.71287
112Kelley$11.69312
113Orient$11.66363
114Ellsworth$11.57495
115Cincinnati$11.57280
116Terril$11.48310
117Westside$11.45283
118Churdan$11.31359
119Miles$11.28400
120Arcadia$11.23588
121Milton$10.98395
122Ireton$10.93571
123New Vienna$10.91384
124Letts$10.91358
125Birmingham$10.87371
126Charlotte$10.86386
127Richland$10.82532
128Grand Mound$10.78608
129Batavia$10.77434
130Riverdale$10.67385
131Bode$10.64304
132Union$10.58378
133Calamus$10.47348
134Lovilia$10.46456
135Danbury$10.43315
136Radcliffe$10.37540
137Stacyville$10.36436
138Andrew$10.22374
139Royal$10.20379
140Bronson$10.14294
141Rudd$10.13339
142Floyd$10.02297
143What Cheer$10.01595
144Cumming$9.85527
145Breda$9.80492
146Lynnville$9.68382
147Salix$9.63303
148Farnhamville$9.18364
149Middletown$9.16365
150Alleman$9.12439
151Lester$8.94309
152Ainsworth$8.62511
153Gilman$8.10530
154Grandview$8.10431
155Kellogg$8.10597
156Lost Nation$8.10425
157Nichols$8.10317
158Luana$7.98303
159Delhi$7.81438
160Klemme$7.74429
161Beacon$7.56434
162Sheldahl$7.56312
163Worthington$7.50374
164Marquette$7.08434
165Columbus City$6.94385
166Donahue$6.83336
167Keystone$6.80616
168Libertyville$6.60278
169Crawfordsville$6.44278
170New Virginia$5.97499
171Holy Cross$5.91348
172Conesville$5.86350
173University Park$5.27476
174Orleans$4.13503
175Maharishi Vedic City$3.87290
176Wahpeton$3.19337
177West Okoboji$2.92311

The $8.10 limit

Martensdale’s general levy is $7.94 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.16 below the limit.4 481 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $7.94 · FY26 $8.10 · FY27 $7.94 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $4.69 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$3.07 · $44,280
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.62 · $23,419

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$114,59663%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$44,28024%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$23,41913%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Martensdale’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 43¢ of every dollar43¢Public Works: 24¢ of every dollar24¢General Government: 17¢ of every dollar17¢Public Safety: 13¢ of every dollar13¢Debt Service: 3¢ 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 176 Iowa cities closest in size (280–620 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (176)
Business Type / Enterprise43¢39¢
Public Works24¢19¢
General Government17¢15¢
Public Safety13¢9¢
Debt Service3¢4¢
Everything else<1¢10¢

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 Safety$307,00044%
  • General Government$201,50029%
  • Public Works$194,00028%
  • Community and Economic Development$1,5000%
  • Culture and Recreation$1,0000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($487,960 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$130,500$85,551
Public Safety$204,000$164,751
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$138,200$92,734
Debt Service$79,955$46,623
Culture and Recreation$2,000$808
Community and Economic Development$0$0
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$369,861$426,870

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$1.8M
$746,190

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Martensdale owes

$874,734 at June 30, 2026: $2,078 per resident. 376th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$960,068
$874,734
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$874,734$2,078
2025$894,809$2,125
2024$914,585$2,172
2023$960,068$2,280
2022$106,000$252
2021$146,000$347
2020$185,000$439
2019$224,000$532
2018$256,000$608
2017$288,000$684
2016$337,391$801
2015$396,973$943
2014$206,701$491
2013$247,701$588
2012$303,789$722
2011$188,907$449
2010$235,845$560
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$874,734$2,078
2025$894,809$2,125
2024$914,585$2,172
2023$960,068$2,280
2022$106,000$252
2021$146,000$347
2020$185,000$439
2019$224,000$532
2018$256,000$608
2017$288,000$684
2016$337,391$801
2015$396,973$943
2014$206,701$491
2013$247,701$588
2012$303,789$722
2011$188,907$449
2010$235,845$560

Up 271% since 2010.

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. Martensdale’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Sunday, March 31, 2024 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Sunday, March 31, 2024 (PDF), released Wednesday, March 19, 2025, by a CPA firm.

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: $59,790 in FY25, down 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 21% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$59,293$57,934$59,467$59,790

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.

$76,461
  • State grants$76,461100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$49,563
FY20$0
FY21$52,645
FY22$34,465
FY23$25,255
FY24$0
FY25$76,461
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$49,563
FY20$0
FY21$52,645
FY22$34,465
FY23$25,255
FY24$0
FY25$76,461

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−21%$60,379 → $59,790, down 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 21% 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 40% since FY20 while prices rose 24%, so it buys 13% more.

$84,616
$64,633

Federal grants, for comparison: $25,255 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)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

3 seats: the top 3 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Martensdale; 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.

  • Martensdale City Council At-Large (2 seats)
    Now held by Peggy Halterman, Deb Hutchinson
  • Martensdale Mayor
    Now held by Matt Gideon

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

Senate District 11 (vacant)Samantha Fett (Rep. 22)

U.S. House:District 1

Warren CountyMartensdale-St Marys schools