City

Barnum

$2,410 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($28.67 per $1,000 of taxable value)¹

$840 a yearof that goes to the city ($9.96 per $1,000)

$45,943property taxes the city levies, FY27

$127,250city 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.

Cassandra DillonBarnum Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
Duane PatersonBarnum City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
Harry AndersonBarnum City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
Stacy BergrenBarnum City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
Eric DillonBarnum City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
Joel ArnoldBarnum 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 Barnum

Homes and businesses in most of Barnum pay a combined $28.67 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Webster County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $9.96. Estimate your bill.

Manson Northwest Webster schools$9.9935%
City of Barnum$9.9635%
Webster County$6.6623%
Iowa Central Community College$1.575%
Webster County Assessor$0.331%
Webster County Extension (ISU Extension and Outreach)$0.15<1%

Rates over time

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

CombinedCity’s own

Year	Combined	City’s own
FY20	$28.62	$10.58
FY21	$28.66	$10.58
FY22	$27.22	$9.38
FY23	$27.87	$10.01
FY24	$28.48	$10.13
FY25	$28.67	$10.29
FY26	$29.90	$10.24
FY27	$28.67	$9.96

Show the numbers

Year	Combined	City’s own
FY20	$28.62	$10.58
FY21	$28.66	$10.58
FY22	$27.22	$9.38
FY23	$27.87	$10.01
FY24	$28.48	$10.13
FY25	$28.67	$10.29
FY26	$29.90	$10.24
FY27	$28.67	$9.96

Compared with places this size³

Barnum’s city property tax rate of $9.96 per $1,000 is the 70th lowest of 203 Iowa cities with 120–280 people. The middle of the group is $11.37.

See all 203

#	Place	Rate per $1,000	People
1	Brayton	$25.07	138
2	Harris	$23.13	145
3	Fenton	$22.05	250
4	Soldier	$21.92	176
5	Coulter	$21.80	220
6	Chelsea	$21.61	207
7	Smithland	$21.12	184
8	Volga	$20.23	200
9	Alta Vista	$19.88	219
10	Arthur	$19.86	218
11	Coin	$19.59	171
12	Chester	$19.30	134
13	Bouton	$19.25	125
14	Garden Grove	$19.20	173
15	Hastings	$18.95	157
16	Swaledale	$18.62	136
17	Cumberland	$18.42	248
18	Jamaica	$18.24	196
19	Hillsboro	$17.68	158
20	Bristow	$17.39	139
21	Woolstock	$17.26	141
22	Pisgah	$17.09	248
23	Lakota	$16.84	261
24	Marble Rock	$16.78	258
25	Auburn	$16.65	253
26	Prescott	$16.53	186
27	Monmouth	$16.41	129
28	Montour	$16.37	199
29	Geneva	$16.25	137
30	Corwith	$16.22	259
31	Deep River	$16.18	243
32	Waucoma	$16.17	235
33	Little Sioux	$15.74	170
34	Moorhead	$15.68	186
35	Onslow	$15.63	198
36	Linden	$15.62	206
37	Woodburn	$15.59	133
38	Kamrar	$15.47	178
39	Greeley	$15.23	216
40	Goodell	$15.16	139
41	Riverton	$14.94	243
42	Marathon	$14.89	221
43	Ladora	$14.74	223
44	Magnolia	$14.68	194
45	Bagley	$14.63	230
46	Davis City	$14.45	178
47	Lucas	$14.40	176
48	Halbur	$14.37	268
49	Crystal Lake	$14.36	243
50	Steamboat Rock	$14.19	261
51	Westgate	$14.05	190
52	Palmer	$13.89	137
53	Stockport	$13.68	272
54	Kellerton	$13.60	241
55	Quimby	$13.58	245
56	Ayrshire	$13.55	128
57	Searsboro	$13.55	129
58	Meservey	$13.43	212
59	Leland	$13.31	240
60	Harcourt	$13.21	257
61	Calumet	$13.16	144
62	Ridgeway	$13.10	261
63	Farmersburg	$13.09	264
64	Portsmouth	$13.05	187
65	Clutier	$13.03	209
66	Silver City	$12.87	244
67	Delaware	$12.86	139
68	Patterson	$12.84	176
69	Martelle	$12.83	250
70	Malcom	$12.82	257
71	Clemons	$12.69	135
72	Blencoe	$12.57	223
73	Maurice	$12.56	271
74	Clearfield	$12.50	277
75	Kensett	$12.47	256
76	Millersburg	$12.40	135
77	Aurora	$12.40	165
78	Bridgewater	$12.29	145
79	Blakesburg	$12.21	273
80	Cushing	$12.18	225
81	Hanlontown	$12.17	200
82	Stout	$12.14	194
83	Macedonia	$12.12	266
84	Webb	$12.10	139
85	Paton	$12.09	217
86	Decatur	$12.08	174
87	Kiron	$12.03	262
88	Rembrandt	$12.03	199
89	Shambaugh	$11.98	161
90	Lone Rock	$11.92	143
91	New Providence	$11.88	233
92	Henderson	$11.85	140
93	Parnell	$11.78	190
94	Reasnor	$11.76	157
95	Joice	$11.72	206
96	Cantril	$11.69	224
97	Wadena	$11.65	201
98	Exline	$11.60	157
99	Beaman	$11.54	155
100	Delta	$11.52	257
101	College Springs	$11.44	172
102	Holland	$11.37	261
103	Mallard	$11.28	255
104	Renwick	$11.16	228
105	Linn Grove	$11.15	155
106	Dundee	$11.14	193
107	Randolph	$11.08	183
108	Leighton	$11.07	153
109	Rake	$11.05	179
110	Frederika	$10.99	206
111	Havelock	$10.95	127
112	Alexander	$10.90	165
113	Goose Lake	$10.89	250
114	Yale	$10.85	265
115	Lambs Grove	$10.78	174
116	Wallingford	$10.75	154
117	Hornick	$10.74	255
118	Woden	$10.68	183
119	Cleghorn	$10.49	235
120	Barnes City	$10.44	152
121	Lytton	$10.38	274
122	Stockton	$10.37	171
123	Rhodes	$10.36	269
124	Randall	$10.35	156
125	Dedham	$10.28	221
126	Deloit	$10.28	246
127	Protivin	$10.28	264
128	Meriden	$10.28	175
129	Drakesville	$10.24	170
130	Hancock	$10.13	199
131	La Motte	$10.09	235
132	Melvin	$10.05	196
133	Defiance	$10.05	248
134	Barnum	$9.96	186
135	Panama	$9.85	234
136	Grafton	$9.83	212
137	Clare	$9.81	133
138	Tingley	$9.81	146
139	Ionia	$9.65	220
140	Van Wert	$9.62	175
141	Rock Falls	$9.61	143
142	Kirkville	$9.59	159
143	Luxemburg	$9.58	240
144	Superior	$9.58	127
145	Rippey	$9.42	217
146	Hamilton	$9.35	125
147	Westphalia	$9.18	133
148	Elberon	$9.16	178
149	Dixon	$9.03	204
150	Blairsburg	$8.93	175
151	Prairieburg	$8.91	156
152	Oakville	$8.89	198
153	Welton	$8.86	124
154	Luther	$8.83	147
155	Harvey	$8.71	242
156	Washta	$8.65	206
157	Moorland	$8.61	169
158	Pilot Mound	$8.54	155
159	Ollie	$8.44	196
160	Thor	$8.38	182
161	Rowley	$8.31	264
162	South English	$8.27	196
163	Thurman	$8.26	162
164	Boxholm	$8.11	177
165	Fostoria	$8.10	229
166	Low Moor	$8.10	242
167	Bertram	$8.10	267
168	Laurel	$8.10	214
169	Lineville	$8.10	194
170	Vincent	$8.09	125
171	Lockridge	$7.92	245
172	Mount Auburn	$7.86	162
173	Haverhill	$7.86	164
174	Grand River	$7.86	192
175	Olds	$7.86	174
176	Dickens	$7.86	146
177	Castalia	$7.86	141
178	Rose Hill	$7.86	156
179	West Chester	$7.82	147
180	Mcclelland	$7.79	147
181	Lidderdale	$7.68	162
182	Pulaski	$7.58	259
183	Fredonia	$7.55	227
184	Braddyville	$7.49	142
185	Harpers Ferry	$7.49	273
186	Alvord	$7.41	216
187	Franklin	$7.31	133
188	Weldon	$7.18	134
189	Brunsville	$6.95	128
190	Packwood	$6.77	186
191	Houghton	$6.73	129
192	Williamson	$6.72	126
193	Libertyville	$6.60	278
194	Keswick	$6.49	238
195	Crawfordsville	$6.44	278
196	Gravity	$6.18	149
197	Oakland Acres	$5.88	178
198	Springbrook	$5.79	145
199	Maysville	$5.77	155
200	Panorama Park	$4.62	142
201	Sherrill	$2.66	176
202	Rickardsville	$2.27	204
203	New Liberty	$2.27	141

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$38,01284%
Liability, property & self insurance costs$4,74510%
Total Employee Benefit Levies$1,9204%
Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$5691%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Barnum’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 201 Iowa cities closest in size (120–280 people).

Where it goes	Of each dollar	Cities this size (201)
Public Works	33¢	24¢
Business Type / Enterprise	26¢	32¢
General Government	22¢	21¢
Culture and Recreation	11¢	8¢
Public Safety	7¢	9¢
Everything else	1¢	<1¢

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$51,40040%
General Government$45,65036%
Public Safety$16,00013%
Culture and Recreation$12,70010%
Health and Social Services$1,5001%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($52,900 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23

Function	Budget	Spent
Public Works	$52,100	$21,817
Public Safety	$10,700	$8,243
Health and Social Services	$1,200	$160
General Government	$29,950	$28,728
Debt Service	$18,271	$0
Culture and Recreation	$4,350	$2,860
Community and Economic Development	$0	$0
Capital Projects	$0	$0
Business Type / Enterprise	$42,700	$49,248

What it spent each year

FY24 left out⁴

$284,150

$156,864

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’25

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? ⁵

What the state pays the city

$24,853 in FY25: down 23% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 38% less. Road Use Tax, the money for streets the state sends every year by formula, is up 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 20% less; grants come and go.

In today's dollarsActual dollars

Source	FY22	FY23	FY24	FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)	$24,590	$24,082	$24,719	$24,853
State grants	–	–	–	–

Show the numbers

Source	FY22	FY23	FY24	FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)	$24,590	$24,082	$24,719	$24,853
State grants	–	–	–	–

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

Road Use Tax (streets)−20%$24,674 → $24,853, up 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 20% 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 29% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 3% more.

$32,495

$31,665

’19’20’21’22’23’24’25

Elections

Most recent: November 4, 2025

City · 2

Barnum City Council At-Large

3 seats: the top 3 win.

Stacy Bergren Winner2731.4%
Duane Paterson Winner2731.4%
Harry Anderson Winner1922.1%
Nicholas Krull 1315.1%

Barnum Mayor

Cassandra Dillon Unopposed25100.0%

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Barnum; official results are on each county auditor’s site.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress⁶

Tim Kraayenbrink (Sen. 4)Wendy Larson (Rep. 7)

U.S. House:District 4

Webster County Manson Northwest Webster schools

Notes

For a $200,000 home with the homestead credit, at the combined rate in most of the city. Some parts of the city pay a different rate (special districts, tax increment financing districts). ↩
Cities adopt their budgets each spring for the year starting July 1. ↩
FY27 rates from the Department of Management. A higher rate isn’t always a bigger bill: it depends on how much property there is to tax. Sizes: Census Bureau 2024 estimates. ↩
The state’s FY24 spending file repeats the year before for nearly every Iowa city, so that year isn’t shown. ↩
From the city’s annual financial reports to the state (Iowa Data Hub, city actual revenues). “Today’s dollars” adjusts each year by the consumer price index for the Midwest, so a flat line in today’s dollars means the money buys the same as before. ↩
Legislative and congressional districts that cover Barnum; percentages are rough shares of its area. These lawmakers write the state laws and budget Barnum works within. ↩

Sources: City budgets and levies from the Department of Management; tax rates from the Iowa Data Hub; state payments from the Department of Revenue; prices from the consumer price index; legislative districts from Census Bureau maps.