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Local taxes › Washington County › Washington

City

Washington

Washington County · How cities work

$3,020 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($35.85 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,280 a yearof that goes to the city ($15.21 per $1,000)
$4.5Mproperty taxes the city levies, FY27
$10.0Mcity 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.

  • Elaine C. MooreWashington City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jennine WolfWashington City Council Ward 2 · elected November 4, 2025
  • Millie YoungquistWashington Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Susan CarrollWashington City Council Ward 4 · elected November 4, 2025
  • Illa EarnestWashington City Council Ward 3 · elected November 7, 2023
  • Millie YoungquistWashington City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Patrick MorganWashington City Council Ward 1 · 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 Washington

Homes and businesses in most of Washington pay a combined $43.46 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, $15.21. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$42.06$15.22
FY21$42.25$15.22
FY22$42.14$15.22
FY23$43.09$15.64
FY24$35.99$16.26
FY25$44.70$16.14
FY26$36.65$16.07
FY27$35.85$15.21
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$42.06$15.22
FY21$42.25$15.22
FY22$42.14$15.22
FY23$43.09$15.64
FY24$35.99$16.26
FY25$44.70$16.14
FY26$36.65$16.07
FY27$35.85$15.21

Compared with places this size3

Washington’s city property tax rate of $15.21 per $1,000 is the 25th highest of 50 Iowa cities with 4,900–11,000 people. The middle of the group is $15.14.

Red Oak: $20.65Oelwein: $20.16Keokuk: $19.68Independence: $19.01Iowa Falls: $18.86Fort Madison: $18.84Denison: $18.69Perry: $17.91Waverly: $17.53Atlantic: $17.48Knoxville: $17.46Clarinda: $17.25Centerville: $16.85Algona: $16.75Fairfield: $16.69Webster City: $16.51Vinton: $16.25Winterset: $16.15Anamosa: $15.95Charles City: $15.95Grinnell: $15.60Decorah: $15.52Sheldon: $15.33Estherville: $15.27Harlan: $15.07Shenandoah: $15.02Creston: $14.99Manchester: $14.96Cherokee: $14.82Glenwood: $14.77Nevada: $14.58Osceola: $14.37Windsor Heights: $14.30Orange City: $14.01Hiawatha: $13.78Sergeant Bluff: $13.70Adel: $13.43Maquoketa: $12.85Mount Pleasant: $11.94Tiffin: $11.80Carroll: $11.25Le Mars: $11.18Sioux Center: $11.05Polk City: $11.00Bondurant: $10.82Spirit Lake: $10.17Clear Lake: $9.85Asbury: $8.32Eldridge: $8.13Washington: $15.21$8.13 lowest$20.65 highestmiddle
See all 50
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Red Oak$20.655,420
2Oelwein$20.165,788
3Keokuk$19.689,462
4Independence$19.016,266
5Iowa Falls$18.864,993
6Fort Madison$18.849,983
7Denison$18.698,302
8Perry$17.918,046
9Waverly$17.5310,576
10Atlantic$17.486,717
11Knoxville$17.467,440
12Clarinda$17.255,334
13Centerville$16.855,345
14Algona$16.755,341
15Fairfield$16.699,511
16Webster City$16.517,763
17Vinton$16.254,962
18Winterset$16.155,421
19Anamosa$15.955,845
20Charles City$15.957,081
21Grinnell$15.609,495
22Decorah$15.527,454
23Sheldon$15.335,584
24Estherville$15.275,796
25Washington$15.217,281
26Harlan$15.074,898
27Shenandoah$15.024,878
28Creston$14.997,421
29Manchester$14.965,283
30Cherokee$14.825,186
31Glenwood$14.775,250
32Nevada$14.587,082
33Osceola$14.375,585
34Windsor Heights$14.305,106
35Orange City$14.016,547
36Hiawatha$13.787,347
37Sergeant Bluff$13.705,335
38Adel$13.436,763
39Maquoketa$12.856,064
40Mount Pleasant$11.948,509
41Tiffin$11.806,695
42Carroll$11.2510,125
43Le Mars$11.1810,674
44Sioux Center$11.058,675
45Polk City$11.006,430
46Bondurant$10.829,511
47Spirit Lake$10.175,548
48Clear Lake$9.857,602
49Asbury$8.326,051
50Eldridge$8.136,967

The $8.10 limit

Washington’s general levy is $7.89 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.21 below the limit.4 559 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

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

Outside the limit: $7.32 more5

  • Debt Service Levy$3.37 · $1.0M
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$3.23 · $951,640
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$0.73 · $214,901

Tax increment financing (TIF)

$10.7M of taxable value in Washington is in TIF districts’ increment (3% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.6 It budgeted $512,925 in TIF revenue for FY25.

$509,877
$484,981

What that value would raise at each government’s rate, FY277

Taxes on TIF value go to the city’s TIF fund instead of the governments that levy them, including about $126,296 of the city’s own.

  • Washington schools$123,103
  • Washington County$90,791
YearTIF revenue
FY16$219,550
FY17$199,134
FY18$261,063
FY19$270,672
FY20$313,217
FY21$375,505
FY22$509,877
FY23$484,981
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$219,550
FY17$199,134
FY18$261,063
FY19$270,672
FY20$313,217
FY21$375,505
FY22$509,877
FY23$484,981

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$2.3M51%
  • Debt Service Levy$1.0M23%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$951,64021%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$214,9015%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Washington’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 31¢ of every dollar31¢Public Safety: 16¢ of every dollar16¢Capital Projects: 13¢ of every dollar13¢Culture and Recreation: 11¢ of every dollar11¢Debt Service: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Everything else: 19¢ of every dollar19¢

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 49 Iowa cities closest in size (4,900–11,000 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (49)
Business Type / Enterprise31¢38¢
Public Safety16¢13¢
Capital Projects13¢20¢
Culture and Recreation11¢7¢
Debt Service9¢7¢
Everything else19¢15¢

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$2.8M28%
  • Culture and Recreation$1.8M18%
  • Debt Service$1.6M16%
  • Public Works$1.5M15%
  • General Government$1.5M15%
  • Capital Projects$722,8507%
  • Community and Economic Development$80,1001%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($5.3M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$1.3M$1.2M
Public Safety$2.1M$2.4M
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$1.2M$1.8M
Debt Service$1.4M$1.5M
Culture and Recreation$1.1M$1.2M
Community and Economic Development$190,806$111,090
Capital Projects$2.4M$4.8M
Business Type / Enterprise$5.4M$4.9M

What it spent each year

FY24 left out8

$22.1M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Washington owes

$23.8M at June 30, 2026: $3,232 per resident. 258th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).9

$30.3M
$23.8M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$23.8M$3,232
2025$27.4M$3,721
2024$27.6M$3,751
2023$29.4M$4,005
2022$27.6M$3,751
2021$29.4M$4,002
2020$30.3M$4,124
2019$26.7M$3,628
2018$25.1M$3,414
2017$23.5M$3,197
2016$24.5M$3,331
2015$20.3M$2,763
2014$21.8M$2,961
2013$22.2M$3,021
2012$20.3M$2,754
2011$6.4M$871
2010$7.0M$949
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$23.8M$3,232
2025$27.4M$3,721
2024$27.6M$3,751
2023$29.4M$4,005
2022$27.6M$3,751
2021$29.4M$4,002
2020$30.3M$4,124
2019$26.7M$3,628
2018$25.1M$3,414
2017$23.5M$3,197
2016$24.5M$3,331
2015$20.3M$2,763
2014$21.8M$2,961
2013$22.2M$3,021
2012$20.3M$2,754
2011$6.4M$871
2010$7.0M$949

Up 241% since 2010.

The 5% limit10

General obligation debt is $8.9M, 31% of the limit of about $28.3M (5% of $565.7M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

10 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsConstruction of new waste water treatment plant2042$9.1M
General ObligationI&I, Streets/Sewer/Water/Refuse Bins/Equipment2037$3.5M
General ObligationPolice/fire equipment, residential development, water main project2037$3.0M
Revenue Bondswater treatment plant upgrade2038$3.0M
Revenue BondsWest Side gravity sewer2042$1.9M
Revenue BondsConstruction of new fire station2033$945,000
General ObligationWater tower, fire truck, street issue2034$930,000
General ObligationStreet improvements, sidewalks, storm sewers, sanitary sewers, water line services,wellness park project2031$765,000
General ObligationRefunding of G.O. Series 20092029$485,000
General ObligationAdvance Refunding of G.O. Series 20092029$170,000

General obligation bonds are repaid from property taxes; revenue bonds and loans from the fees or revenue they’re tied to. On the Treasurer’s site

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances11. Washington’s latest audit has them: Financial Statement, period ending Monday, June 30, 2025 (PDF).

Audits12

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

16 earlier reports for Washington

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? 13

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: $1.0M in FY25, up 11% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 11% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$1.0M$1.0M$1.0M$1.0M

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.

$1.5M
$567,527
  • Iowa Economic Development Authority$360,00063%
  • Iowa DOT projects$204,22536%
  • State grants$3,3021%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$132,747
FY20$18,570
FY21$0
FY22$826,135
FY23$1.5M
FY24$167,264
FY25$567,527
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$132,747
FY20$18,570
FY21$0
FY22$826,135
FY23$1.5M
FY24$167,264
FY25$567,527

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−11%$938,663 → $1.0M, up 11% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 11% 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 43% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 14% more.

$1.3M
$1.2M

Federal grants, for comparison: $315,727 in FY25.

Business awards

Every award statewide

State economic development awards

1 business has state awards in WASHINGTON: $390K in grants, loans and tax benefits, for 30 jobs.14

  • Bazooka Farmstar LLC
    High Quality Jobs Program · FY21 · Under contract: Building · 30 jobs required
    $390K

Community college new jobs training: 11 contracts since 2007 worth $2.1M, for 170 pledged jobs.

Awards 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)15.

In a city that can hold a primary, filing runs Monday, August 9, 2027 to Thursday, August 26, 2027.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Washington; 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.

  • Washington City Council At-Large
    Now held by Millie Youngquist
  • Washington City Council Ward 1
    Now held by Patrick Morgan
  • Washington City Council Ward 3
    Now held by Illa Earnest

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here16.

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 ballot17.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress18

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

U.S. House:District 1

Washington CountyWashington schools