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Local taxes › Washington County › Riverside

City

Riverside

Washington County · How cities work

$2,670 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($31.65 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$680 a yearof that goes to the city ($8.02 per $1,000)
$973,085property taxes the city levies, FY27
$9.0Mcity 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.

  • Allen SchneiderRiverside Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Chris GrinsteadRiverside City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Tom L. SextonRiverside City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Kevin KieneRiverside City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Lois SchneiderRiverside City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Ryan RogersonRiverside 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 Riverside

Homes and businesses in most of Riverside pay a combined $31.65 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Washington County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $8.02. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$32.18$8.10
FY21$32.24$8.10
FY22$31.91$8.10
FY23$32.51$8.10
FY24$32.95$8.10
FY25$33.33$7.94
FY26$33.37$8.10
FY27$31.65$8.02
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$32.18$8.10
FY21$32.24$8.10
FY22$31.91$8.10
FY23$32.51$8.10
FY24$32.95$8.10
FY25$33.33$7.94
FY26$33.37$8.10
FY27$31.65$8.02

Compared with places this size3

Riverside’s city property tax rate of $8.02 per $1,000 is the 13th lowest of 170 Iowa cities with 710–1,600 people. The middle of the group is $13.28.

Elkader: $27.11Exira: $24.81Laurens: $24.16Dayton: $22.51Correctionville: $19.84Villisca: $19.74Traer: $19.56Corning: $19.36Allison: $19.06Corydon: $18.22Dysart: $17.95Greene: $17.91Alden: $17.90Lansing: $17.67Strawberry Point: $17.58Rockwell: $17.54Walnut: $17.46Gowrie: $17.17Colo: $17.14Mapleton: $16.90George: $16.89Fayette: $16.85Adair: $16.84Eddyville: $16.82Nashua: $16.81Oxford: $16.70Ackley: $16.63Buffalo Center: $16.58Roland: $16.51Eldon: $16.42Monona: $16.41Aplington: $16.34Panora: $16.14Mechanicsville: $16.12Dike: $15.94Armstrong: $15.87Ruthven: $15.84Holstein: $15.81State Center: $15.80Earlham: $15.55Shell Rock: $15.52Brooklyn: $15.49Newell: $15.49Riceville: $15.31Neola: $15.30Sidney: $15.19Gilbertville: $15.15Logan: $15.05Griswold: $15.01Readlyn: $14.99Tripoli: $14.99Essex: $14.76Bedford: $14.66Lenox: $14.65Manning: $14.62Dunlap: $14.56Garnavillo: $14.52Maxwell: $14.50Coon Rapids: $14.49Nora Springs: $14.25Kingsley: $14.25Mcgregor: $14.20Primghar: $14.18Sheffield: $14.16Hartley: $14.11Woodward: $14.05Guthrie Center: $14.04Ossian: $13.88Alton: $13.87Montezuma: $13.79Redfield: $13.73Victor: $13.72Gilbert: $13.71Edgewood: $13.64Sioux Rapids: $13.63Donnellson: $13.63Gladbrook: $13.58Clarksville: $13.53Rockford: $13.52Janesville: $13.43Glidden: $13.43Calmar: $13.39Baxter: $13.32Manly: $13.29Anita: $13.28Van Horne: $13.27Conrad: $13.23Springville: $13.22Keota: $13.21Shellsburg: $13.20De Soto: $13.18Treynor: $13.03Odebolt: $13.00Akron: $12.93Earlville: $12.90Danville: $12.87Underwood: $12.85New Sharon: $12.80Malvern: $12.79Montrose: $12.78Wellsburg: $12.68Buffalo: $12.68Sanborn: $12.62Hazleton: $12.48West Point: $12.39Hinton: $12.38Preston: $12.38Hubbard: $12.30Hedrick: $12.22Carson: $12.22Wheatland: $12.18Winfield: $12.04Elkhart: $12.00Afton: $11.96Lowden: $11.93Tabor: $11.88Wellman: $11.88Aurelia: $11.84Merrill: $11.64Palo: $11.49Wall Lake: $11.43West Bend: $11.42Dakota City: $11.39Marcus: $11.31Dunkerton: $11.30Whiting: $11.21Melcher-Dallas: $11.21Shelby: $11.17University Heights: $11.12Manilla: $11.01Hamburg: $10.95Clarence: $10.94Oakland: $10.85Cambridge: $10.53Swisher: $10.39Schleswig: $10.39Melbourne: $10.38Elk Run Heights: $10.33Walcott: $10.29Fredericksburg: $10.27Lake Park: $10.25Inwood: $10.22Milo: $10.20Hartford: $10.16Central City: $10.01Newhall: $9.99Graettinger: $9.81Long Grove: $9.59Lake View: $9.39Paullina: $9.21Fairbank: $9.00Winthrop: $8.94Walford: $8.72Keosauqua: $8.58Grand Junction: $8.57Princeton: $8.24Lone Tree: $8.13Hills: $7.94Larchwood: $7.52North English: $7.49Sloan: $7.49Sully: $7.41Fruitland: $7.21Lawton: $7.10Wayland: $7.07Raymond: $6.85Shueyville: $6.79Arnolds Park: $4.95Okoboji: $3.83Riverside: $8.02$3.83 lowest$27.11 highestmiddle
See all 170
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Elkader$27.111,192
2Exira$24.81766
3Laurens$24.161,253
4Dayton$22.51766
5Correctionville$19.84759
6Villisca$19.741,106
7Traer$19.561,547
8Corning$19.361,509
9Allison$19.06937
10Corydon$18.221,563
11Dysart$17.951,266
12Greene$17.91971
13Alden$17.90738
14Lansing$17.67959
15Strawberry Point$17.581,141
16Rockwell$17.541,044
17Walnut$17.46728
18Gowrie$17.17943
19Colo$17.14856
20Mapleton$16.901,114
21George$16.891,106
22Fayette$16.851,193
23Adair$16.84792
24Eddyville$16.82965
25Nashua$16.811,515
26Oxford$16.70715
27Ackley$16.631,538
28Buffalo Center$16.58839
29Roland$16.511,376
30Eldon$16.42788
31Monona$16.411,462
32Aplington$16.341,088
33Panora$16.141,096
34Mechanicsville$16.12974
35Dike$15.941,293
36Armstrong$15.87847
37Ruthven$15.84710
38Holstein$15.811,475
39State Center$15.801,403
40Earlham$15.551,411
41Shell Rock$15.521,265
42Brooklyn$15.491,474
43Newell$15.49850
44Riceville$15.31807
45Neola$15.30917
46Sidney$15.191,048
47Gilbertville$15.15792
48Logan$15.051,351
49Griswold$15.01975
50Readlyn$14.99857
51Tripoli$14.991,208
52Essex$14.76721
53Bedford$14.661,474
54Lenox$14.651,355
55Manning$14.621,390
56Dunlap$14.561,030
57Garnavillo$14.52751
58Maxwell$14.50862
59Coon Rapids$14.491,258
60Nora Springs$14.251,330
61Kingsley$14.251,394
62Mcgregor$14.20725
63Primghar$14.18893
64Sheffield$14.161,123
65Hartley$14.111,584
66Woodward$14.051,383
67Guthrie Center$14.041,579
68Ossian$13.88777
69Alton$13.871,248
70Montezuma$13.791,421
71Redfield$13.73719
72Victor$13.72852
73Gilbert$13.711,397
74Edgewood$13.64908
75Sioux Rapids$13.63722
76Donnellson$13.63859
77Gladbrook$13.58775
78Clarksville$13.531,238
79Rockford$13.52722
80Janesville$13.431,052
81Glidden$13.431,140
82Calmar$13.391,100
83Baxter$13.32983
84Manly$13.291,233
85Anita$13.28953
86Van Horne$13.27768
87Conrad$13.231,098
88Springville$13.221,161
89Keota$13.21888
90Shellsburg$13.20987
91De Soto$13.18937
92Treynor$13.031,104
93Odebolt$13.00967
94Akron$12.931,545
95Earlville$12.90713
96Danville$12.87910
97Underwood$12.85973
98New Sharon$12.801,249
99Malvern$12.791,056
100Montrose$12.78734
101Wellsburg$12.68709
102Buffalo$12.681,163
103Sanborn$12.621,463
104Hazleton$12.48711
105West Point$12.39903
106Hinton$12.38959
107Preston$12.38940
108Hubbard$12.30837
109Hedrick$12.22717
110Carson$12.22772
111Wheatland$12.18765
112Winfield$12.041,006
113Elkhart$12.001,079
114Afton$11.96864
115Lowden$11.93767
116Tabor$11.88983
117Wellman$11.881,531
118Aurelia$11.84970
119Merrill$11.64713
120Palo$11.491,554
121Wall Lake$11.43739
122West Bend$11.42770
123Dakota City$11.39764
124Marcus$11.311,069
125Dunkerton$11.30840
126Whiting$11.21725
127Melcher-Dallas$11.211,193
128Shelby$11.17730
129University Heights$11.121,188
130Manilla$11.01756
131Hamburg$10.95863
132Clarence$10.94991
133Oakland$10.851,519
134Cambridge$10.53844
135Swisher$10.39909
136Schleswig$10.39820
137Melbourne$10.38771
138Elk Run Heights$10.331,061
139Walcott$10.291,556
140Fredericksburg$10.27983
141Lake Park$10.251,155
142Inwood$10.22962
143Milo$10.20762
144Hartford$10.16729
145Central City$10.011,254
146Newhall$9.99887
147Graettinger$9.81810
148Long Grove$9.59849
149Lake View$9.391,120
150Paullina$9.21979
151Fairbank$9.001,133
152Winthrop$8.94814
153Walford$8.721,357
154Keosauqua$8.58944
155Grand Junction$8.57715
156Princeton$8.24917
157Lone Tree$8.131,341
158Riverside$8.021,063
159Hills$7.94911
160Larchwood$7.52954
161North English$7.491,030
162Sloan$7.491,078
163Sully$7.41891
164Fruitland$7.21928
165Lawton$7.10949
166Wayland$7.07935
167Raymond$6.85754
168Shueyville$6.79725
169Arnolds Park$4.951,214
170Okoboji$3.83729

The $8.10 limit

Riverside’s general levy is $8.02 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.08 below the limit.4 422 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $7.94 · FY26 $8.10 · FY27 $8.02 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Tax increment financing (TIF)

Riverside’s TIF revenue, from its reports to the state. It budgeted $5,575 in TIF revenue for FY25.

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$972,272100%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Riverside’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 29¢ of every dollar29¢Community and Economic Development: 21¢ of every dollar21¢Capital Projects: 21¢ of every dollar21¢Public Safety: 10¢ of every dollar10¢General Government: 8¢ of every dollar8¢Everything else: 12¢ of every dollar12¢

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 169 Iowa cities closest in size (710–1,600 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (169)
Business Type / Enterprise29¢40¢
Community and Economic Development21¢2¢
Capital Projects21¢10¢
Public Safety10¢10¢
General Government8¢8¢
Everything else12¢24¢

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.

  • Capital Projects$6.1M68%
  • Public Safety$1.6M17%
  • General Government$514,3906%
  • Public Works$435,2455%
  • Culture and Recreation$271,6833%
  • Community and Economic Development$95,5001%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($1.5M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$236,277$206,737
Public Safety$911,358$348,092
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$393,990$363,979
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$224,548$183,430
Community and Economic Development$72,050$73,444
Capital Projects$3.4M$3.9M
Business Type / Enterprise$828,231$760,887

What it spent each year

FY24 left out5

$5.8M
$3.2M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Riverside owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.6

$1.7M
$0
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$224,400$212
2020$435,000$410
2019$650,000$613
2018$860,000$811
2017$1.0M$982
2016$1.3M$1,193
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$825,000$778
2011$1.0M$967
2010$1.7M$1,602
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$224,400$212
2020$435,000$410
2019$650,000$613
2018$860,000$811
2017$1.0M$982
2016$1.3M$1,193
2015$0$0
2014$0$0
2013$0$0
2012$825,000$778
2011$1.0M$967
2010$1.7M$1,602

Down 100% since 2010.

The 5% limit7

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $8.9M (5% of $178.1M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances8. Riverside’s latest audit has them: Financial Statement, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).

Audits9

The latest: Financial Statement for the period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF), released Wednesday, June 24, 2026, by a CPA firm.

The report has no Schedule of Findings Iowa Funnel could read.

14 earlier reports for Riverside

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: $150,540 in FY25, up 17% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 6% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$144,857$145,868$149,728$150,540
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)––$7,710–

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.

$800,000
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$800,000
    FY21$0
    FY22$0
    FY23$0
    FY24$27,801
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$800,000
    FY21$0
    FY22$0
    FY23$0
    FY24$27,801
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−6%$128,281 → $150,540, up 17% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 6% 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 49% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 19% more.

    $166,883
    $162,151

    Federal grants, for comparison: $159,333 in FY25.

    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)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

    Ballot measures · 1

    Passed Yes 74.7% (266) · No 25.3% (90)

    Passes with more yes votes than no.

    City · 2

    2 seats: the top 2 win.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Riverside; 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.

    • Riverside City Council At-Large (3 seats)
      Now held by Ryan Rogerson, Lois Schneider, Kevin Kiene
    • Riverside Mayor
      Now held by Allen Schneider

    Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here12.

    Past ballot measures

    • Public Measure VGNovember 4, 2025

      Passed Yes 74.7% (266) · No 25.3% (90)

      Passes with more yes votes than no.

    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

    Dawn Driscoll (Sen. 46)Heather Hora (Rep. 92)

    U.S. House:District 1

    Washington CountyHighland schools