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Local taxes › Webster County › Clare

City

Clare

Webster County · How cities work

$2,400 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($28.52 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$830 a yearof that goes to the city ($9.81 per $1,000)
$113,581property taxes the city levies, FY27
$227,775city 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.

  • Barb PassowClare Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Dennis StuhrenbergClare City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Doug YetmarClare City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Gary Thomas FitzgeraldClare City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Matthew McCubbinClare City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Michael McFarlandClare City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Gary FitzgeraldClare 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 Clare

Homes and businesses in most of Clare pay a combined $28.52 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, $9.81. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.27$15.22
FY21$28.73$10.65
FY22$28.32$10.49
FY23$28.11$10.25
FY24$28.63$10.27
FY25$28.53$10.15
FY26$29.81$10.16
FY27$28.52$9.81
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.27$15.22
FY21$28.73$10.65
FY22$28.32$10.49
FY23$28.11$10.25
FY24$28.63$10.27
FY25$28.53$10.15
FY26$29.81$10.16
FY27$28.52$9.81

Compared with places this size3

Clare’s city property tax rate of $9.81 per $1,000 is the 75th lowest of 168 Iowa cities with 90–200 people. The middle of the group is $10.36.

Castana: $34.13Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Whitten: $22.65Soldier: $21.92Smithland: $21.12Coin: $19.59Rowan: $19.53Chester: $19.30Bouton: $19.25Ricketts: $19.22Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Jamaica: $18.24Derby: $18.13Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Prescott: $16.53Monmouth: $16.41Blockton: $16.37Montour: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Waterville: $16.25Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Woodburn: $15.59Kamrar: $15.47Goodell: $15.16Marne: $15.03Baldwin: $14.91Magnolia: $14.68Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Ferguson: $13.53Lanesboro: $13.53Calumet: $13.16Portsmouth: $13.05Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Clemons: $12.69Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Bridgewater: $12.29Stout: $12.14Arion: $12.14Webb: $12.10Decatur: $12.08Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92East Peru: $11.89Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Morley: $11.74Ledyard: $11.74Toronto: $11.68Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54College Springs: $11.44Melrose: $11.27Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Promise City: $11.13Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Rake: $11.05Masonville: $11.00Somers: $10.99Havelock: $10.95Alexander: $10.90Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Woden: $10.68Pacific Junction: $10.56Barnes City: $10.44Stockton: $10.37Randall: $10.35Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24North Washington: $10.23Dawson: $10.19Hancock: $10.13Melvin: $10.05Barnum: $9.96Hartwick: $9.90Tingley: $9.81Rutland: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Superior: $9.58Webster: $9.55Martinsburg: $9.49Larrabee: $9.41Hamilton: $9.35Wiota: $9.32Floris: $9.29Mitchell: $9.22Westphalia: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Welton: $8.86Archer: $8.84Luther: $8.83Fraser: $8.81Macksburg: $8.81Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Andover: $8.28South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Carpenter: $8.10Rome: $8.10Westfield: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Morrison: $7.86Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Cromwell: $7.81Mcclelland: $7.79Arispe: $7.71Luzerne: $7.69Lidderdale: $7.68Westwood: $7.67Bernard: $7.56Braddyville: $7.49Franklin: $7.31Spragueville: $7.20Weldon: $7.18Brunsville: $6.95Packwood: $6.77Houghton: $6.73Williamson: $6.72Lincoln: $6.32Gravity: $6.18Ackworth: $5.90Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Harper: $5.29Panorama Park: $4.62Keomah Village: $3.15Mcintire: $2.78Sherrill: $2.66Centralia: $2.41New Liberty: $2.27North Buena Vista: $1.78Clare: $9.81$1.78 lowest$34.13 highestmiddle
See all 168
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Castana$34.13103
2Brayton$25.07138
3Harris$23.13145
4Whitten$22.6598
5Soldier$21.92176
6Smithland$21.12184
7Coin$19.59171
8Rowan$19.53118
9Chester$19.30134
10Bouton$19.25125
11Ricketts$19.22105
12Garden Grove$19.20173
13Hastings$18.95157
14Swaledale$18.62136
15Jamaica$18.24196
16Derby$18.1389
17Hillsboro$17.68158
18Bristow$17.39139
19Woolstock$17.26141
20Prescott$16.53186
21Monmouth$16.41129
22Blockton$16.37123
23Montour$16.37199
24Geneva$16.25137
25Waterville$16.25112
26Little Sioux$15.74170
27Moorhead$15.68186
28Onslow$15.63198
29Woodburn$15.59133
30Kamrar$15.47178
31Goodell$15.16139
32Marne$15.03109
33Baldwin$14.9199
34Magnolia$14.68194
35Davis City$14.45178
36Lucas$14.40176
37Westgate$14.05190
38Palmer$13.89137
39Ayrshire$13.55128
40Searsboro$13.55129
41Ferguson$13.5398
42Lanesboro$13.53112
43Calumet$13.16144
44Portsmouth$13.05187
45Delaware$12.86139
46Patterson$12.84176
47Clemons$12.69135
48Millersburg$12.40135
49Aurora$12.40165
50Bridgewater$12.29145
51Stout$12.14194
52Arion$12.1499
53Webb$12.10139
54Decatur$12.08174
55Rembrandt$12.03199
56Shambaugh$11.98161
57Lone Rock$11.92143
58East Peru$11.89119
59Henderson$11.85140
60Parnell$11.78190
61Reasnor$11.76157
62Morley$11.7494
63Ledyard$11.74118
64Toronto$11.68101
65Exline$11.60157
66Beaman$11.54155
67College Springs$11.44172
68Melrose$11.27110
69Linn Grove$11.15155
70Dundee$11.14193
71Promise City$11.1391
72Randolph$11.08183
73Leighton$11.07153
74Rake$11.05179
75Masonville$11.0098
76Somers$10.99121
77Havelock$10.95127
78Alexander$10.90165
79Lambs Grove$10.78174
80Wallingford$10.75154
81Woden$10.68183
82Pacific Junction$10.5699
83Barnes City$10.44152
84Stockton$10.37171
85Randall$10.35156
86Meriden$10.28175
87Drakesville$10.24170
88North Washington$10.23107
89Dawson$10.19110
90Hancock$10.13199
91Melvin$10.05196
92Barnum$9.96186
93Hartwick$9.9091
94Clare$9.81133
95Tingley$9.81146
96Rutland$9.65116
97Van Wert$9.62175
98Rock Falls$9.61143
99Kirkville$9.59159
100Superior$9.58127
101Webster$9.5594
102Martinsburg$9.49109
103Larrabee$9.41116
104Hamilton$9.35125
105Wiota$9.3291
106Floris$9.29119
107Mitchell$9.22118
108Westphalia$9.18133
109Elberon$9.16178
110Blairsburg$8.93175
111Prairieburg$8.91156
112Oakville$8.89198
113Welton$8.86124
114Archer$8.84116
115Luther$8.83147
116Fraser$8.81107
117Macksburg$8.81103
118Moorland$8.61169
119Pilot Mound$8.54155
120Ollie$8.44196
121Thor$8.38182
122Andover$8.28106
123South English$8.27196
124Thurman$8.26162
125Boxholm$8.11177
126Carpenter$8.1092
127Rome$8.10112
128Westfield$8.10121
129Lineville$8.10194
130Vincent$8.09125
131Morrison$7.86101
132Mount Auburn$7.86162
133Haverhill$7.86164
134Grand River$7.86192
135Olds$7.86174
136Castalia$7.86141
137Dickens$7.86146
138Rose Hill$7.86156
139West Chester$7.82147
140Cromwell$7.81104
141Mcclelland$7.79147
142Arispe$7.7195
143Luzerne$7.69111
144Lidderdale$7.68162
145Westwood$7.6796
146Bernard$7.56117
147Braddyville$7.49142
148Franklin$7.31133
149Spragueville$7.2092
150Weldon$7.18134
151Brunsville$6.95128
152Packwood$6.77186
153Houghton$6.73129
154Williamson$6.72126
155Lincoln$6.32119
156Gravity$6.18149
157Ackworth$5.90117
158Oakland Acres$5.88178
159Springbrook$5.79145
160Maysville$5.77155
161Harper$5.29117
162Panorama Park$4.62142
163Keomah Village$3.15107
164Mcintire$2.78115
165Sherrill$2.66176
166Centralia$2.41117
167New Liberty$2.27141
168North Buena Vista$1.78107

The $8.10 limit

Clare’s general levy is $7.89 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.21 below the limit.4 527 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: $1.92 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$1.55 · $17,794
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$0.30 · $3,460
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$0.07 · $791

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$90,50580%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$17,79416%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$3,4603%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$7911%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Clare’s budget goes, FY26

General Government: 39¢ of every dollar39¢Business Type / Enterprise: 24¢ of every dollar24¢Public Works: 24¢ of every dollar24¢Public Safety: 6¢ of every dollarCulture and Recreation: 6¢ 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 168 Iowa cities closest in size (90–200 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (168)
General Government39¢24¢
Business Type / Enterprise24¢26¢
Public Works24¢26¢
Public Safety6¢10¢
Culture and Recreation6¢8¢
Everything else1¢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.

  • General Government$108,65048%
  • Public Works$73,82532%
  • Culture and Recreation$29,50013%
  • Public Safety$13,7006%
  • Health and Social Services$2,0001%
  • Community and Economic Development$1000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($65,600 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$24,300$23,720
Public Safety$17,540$9,740
Health and Social Services$2,500$760
General Government$82,497$61,899
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$28,193$19,584
Community and Economic Development$100$0
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$78,800$37,746

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$412,203
$175,363

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Clare owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.7

$295,000
$0
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$36,540$269
2018$65,000$478
2017$95,000$699
2016$125,000$919
2015$155,000$1,140
2014$185,000$1,360
2013$210,000$1,544
2012$235,000$1,728
2011$260,000$1,912
2010$295,000$2,169
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$0$0
2025$0$0
2024$0$0
2023$0$0
2022$0$0
2021$0$0
2020$0$0
2019$36,540$269
2018$65,000$478
2017$95,000$699
2016$125,000$919
2015$155,000$1,140
2014$185,000$1,360
2013$210,000$1,544
2012$235,000$1,728
2011$260,000$1,912
2010$295,000$2,169

Down 100% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $784,585 (5% of $15.7M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. Clare’s latest audit has them: Periodic Examination, period ending Monday, March 31, 2025 (PDF).

Audits10

The latest: Periodic Examination for the period ending Monday, March 31, 2025 (PDF), released Wednesday, November 5, 2025, by the Auditor of State.

1 earlier report for Clare

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? 11

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: $8,267 in FY25, down 7% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 26% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$8,185$8,013$8,222$8,267
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$4,905–––

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.

$10,059
$0
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$0
    FY21$0
    FY22$10,059
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0
    Show the numbers
    YearGrants and projects
    FY19$0
    FY20$0
    FY21$0
    FY22$10,059
    FY23$0
    FY24$0
    FY25$0

    Has it kept up with prices?

    Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

    • Road Use Tax (streets)−26%$8,869 → $8,267, down 7% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 26% 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 31% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 5% more.

    $28,623
    $27,892

    Federal grants, for comparison: $10,093 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)12.

    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

    5 seats: the top 5 win.

    Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Clare; 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.

    • Clare City Council At-Large (5 seats)
      Now held by Gary Fitzgerald, Matthew McCubbin, Michael McFarland, Dennis Stuhrenberg, Doug Yetmar
    • Clare Mayor
      Now held by Barb Passow

    Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here13.

    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 ballot14.

    Related places

    At the Statehouse and in Congress15

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

    U.S. House:District 4

    Webster CountyManson Northwest Webster schools