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Fort Dodge

Webster County · How cities work

$3,820 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($45.39 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,760 a yearof that goes to the city ($20.89 per $1,000)
$16.1Mproperty taxes the city levies, FY27
$63.6Mcity 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.

  • Cameron NelsonFort Dodge City Council Ward 2 · elected November 4, 2025
  • David M. FlatteryFort Dodge Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Jennifer CrimminsFort Dodge City Council Ward 1 · elected November 4, 2025
  • Kim AlstottFort Dodge City Council Ward 4 · elected November 4, 2025
  • Scott DavisFort Dodge City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Terry MoehnkeFort Dodge City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Todd R. McCubbinFort Dodge City Council Ward 3 · elected November 4, 2025
  • Megan SecorFort Dodge 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 Fort Dodge

Homes and businesses in most of Fort Dodge pay a combined $44.83 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, $20.89. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$44.55$20.42
FY21$44.32$20.17
FY22$44.22$20.42
FY23$43.76$20.10
FY24$45.25$20.74
FY25$44.47$20.95
FY26$46.53$20.75
FY27$45.83$20.89
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$44.55$20.42
FY21$44.32$20.17
FY22$44.22$20.42
FY23$43.76$20.10
FY24$45.25$20.74
FY25$44.47$20.95
FY26$46.53$20.75
FY27$45.83$20.89

Compared with places this size3

Fort Dodge’s city property tax rate of $20.89 per $1,000 is the 2nd highest of 14 Iowa cities with 17,000–34,000 people. The middle of the group is $14.59.

Ottumwa: $21.01Clinton: $16.80Marshalltown: $16.25Muscatine: $16.17Burlington: $15.94Coralville: $14.70Mason City: $14.47Waukee: $12.80North Liberty: $11.84Johnston: $11.39Altoona: $10.75Grimes: $10.70Clive: $9.92Fort Dodge: $20.89$9.92 lowest$21.01 highestmiddle
See all 14
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Ottumwa$21.0125,648
2Fort Dodge$20.8924,886
3Clinton$16.8024,118
4Marshalltown$16.2527,886
5Muscatine$16.1723,298
6Burlington$15.9423,637
7Coralville$14.7023,959
8Mason City$14.4726,948
9Waukee$12.8034,420
10North Liberty$11.8421,904
11Johnston$11.3925,022
12Altoona$10.7522,598
13Grimes$10.7017,266
14Clive$9.9219,508

The $8.10 limit

Fort Dodge’s general levy is $8.54 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.44 above the limit; it has to come down in steps.4 19 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.54 · FY26 $8.54 · FY27 $8.54 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $12.36 more5

  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$6.53 · $4.8M
  • Debt Service Levy$4.50 · $3.8M
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$0.77 · $568,946
  • Opr & Maint publicly owned Transit$0.47 · $352,077
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$0.08 · $60,875

Tax increment financing (TIF)

$108.6M of taxable value in Fort Dodge is in TIF districts’ increment (13% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.6 It budgeted $3.9M in TIF revenue for FY25.

$3.2M

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 $1.8M of the city’s own.

  • Fort Dodge schools$1.1M
  • Webster County$687,583
YearTIF revenue
FY16$1.6M
FY17$2.0M
FY18$2.0M
FY19$2.4M
FY20$2.4M
FY21$2.8M
FY22$2.7M
FY23$3.2M
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$1.6M
FY17$2.0M
FY18$2.0M
FY19$2.4M
FY20$2.4M
FY21$2.8M
FY22$2.7M
FY23$3.2M

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$6.3M40%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$4.8M30%
  • Debt Service Levy$3.8M24%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$568,9464%
  • Opr & Maint publicly owned Transit$352,0772%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$60,8750%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Fort Dodge’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 35¢ of every dollar35¢Capital Projects: 21¢ of every dollar21¢Public Safety: 13¢ of every dollar13¢Community and Economic Development: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Debt Service: 8¢ of every dollar8¢Everything else: 14¢ of every dollar14¢

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 13 Iowa cities closest in size (17,000–34,000 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (13)
Business Type / Enterprise35¢29¢
Capital Projects21¢26¢
Public Safety13¢13¢
Community and Economic Development9¢4¢
Debt Service8¢11¢
Everything else14¢17¢

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$20.4M32%
  • Public Safety$13.2M21%
  • Debt Service$10.2M16%
  • Community and Economic Development$6.9M11%
  • Public Works$6.8M11%
  • Culture and Recreation$4.6M7%
  • General Government$1.5M2%
  • Health and Social Services$21,0000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($34.2M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$6.6M$7.0M
Public Safety$12.3M$11.6M
Health and Social Services$346,235$181,151
General Government$1.4M$1.2M
Debt Service$6.3M$6.2M
Culture and Recreation$3.9M$3.9M
Community and Economic Development$3.0M$1.9M
Capital Projects$24.0M$23.4M
Business Type / Enterprise$58.2M$28.5M

What it spent each year

FY24 left out8

$140.2M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Fort Dodge owes

$210.0M at June 30, 2026: $8,442 per resident. 31st most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).9

$211.0M
$210.0M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$210.0M$8,442
2025$211.0M$8,482
2024$197.2M$7,930
2023$169.5M$6,816
2022$161.4M$6,488
2021$172.0M$6,916
2020$149.9M$6,028
2019$154.9M$6,228
2018$127.5M$5,126
2017$114.9M$4,620
2016$123.3M$4,956
2015$108.1M$4,347
2014$107.2M$4,309
2013$107.8M$4,333
2012$75.0M$3,016
2011$74.1M$2,979
2010$74.8M$3,006
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$210.0M$8,442
2025$211.0M$8,482
2024$197.2M$7,930
2023$169.5M$6,816
2022$161.4M$6,488
2021$172.0M$6,916
2020$149.9M$6,028
2019$154.9M$6,228
2018$127.5M$5,126
2017$114.9M$4,620
2016$123.3M$4,956
2015$108.1M$4,347
2014$107.2M$4,309
2013$107.8M$4,333
2012$75.0M$3,016
2011$74.1M$2,979
2010$74.8M$3,006

Up 181% since 2010.

The 5% limit10

General obligation debt is $62.4M, 82% of the limit of about $75.9M (5% of $1.52B, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

29 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue BondsFiber Utility capital infrastructure loan2037$31.9M
Revenue BondsWater SRF Series 2019B - upgrades to water plant2040$21.5M
Revenue BondsSewer SRF Series 2015 Consumer Sewer Initiative Projects2046$15.0M
Revenue BondsSewer SRF series 2020 - Consumer Sewer Initiative projects - Phase 22051$14.8M
Revenue BondsSewer SRF Series 2007 - plant and main expansion.2036$14.4M
General ObligationGO Series 2025A - Downtown storm sewer, City Hall, airport, fire station, fire aerial, Harlan Rogers, water plant, trails, Central River District2045$10.1M
Revenue BondsSewer SRF Series 2012 - AG Park2033$10.0M
General ObligationGO Series 2023A - Bridge repair, Storm sewer, airport projects, Fire engine, parks infrastructure, City Hall renovation, art museum classroom2043$9.6M
General ObligationGO Corporate Series 2025B -M&M, LLC Pavillion project subject to annual appropriation2044$9.5M
Revenue BondsSewer SRF series 2017 - Consumer Sewer Initiative projects (2)2048$8.7M
General ObligationGO Series 2021B - Mall area redevelopment,acquiring slum and blighted properties, facade IEDA match.2040$7.6M
LoansWebster County Power Center Bonds Series 2025 Support Agreement - Power Center Mall area project.2036$6.5M
Revenue BondsWater SRF Series 2012 - AG Park2033$6.0M
General ObligationGO Corporate Series 2024 - M&M, LLC urban renewal Pavillion grant2043$5.8M
General ObligationGO Corporate Series 2019A - 15th St, storm improvements, demolition, trails, city hall, parks & rec, radio upgrades, fire station improvements2030$4.9M
General ObligationGO Series 2021A - Various City needs such as Parks, Fire Station improvements, Trails, City Hall, Library, Museum, and infrastructure2040$4.7M
Revenue BondsSewer SRF Series 2023 - Waste Water Lab and odor control project2043$4.5M
Revenue BondsSewer SRF Series 2014 -Immediate needs sanitary sewer projects.2035$4.1M
Revenue BondsFiber Utility operating loan2037$3.2M
General ObligationGO Corporate Purpose Series 2018B - dam removal2038$3.1M
General ObligationGO Series 2023B -Mall area redevelopment2043$3.1M
Revenue BondsWater SRF Series 2026 - Various CWI water projects.2046$2.7M
General ObligationGO Corporate Series 2019B - Development of former Crossroads Mall area.2033$2.4M
Revenue BondsWater SRF Series 2021 - Northwest water loop2041$2.0M
General ObligationGO Corporate Series 2018A - 15th Ave Storm, Street repair, Oleson Park, fire station, city hall, new trails, repair of old trails, library roof.2029$1.7M
Revenue BondsWater SRF Series 2025 - Manson Connection2045$1.6M
Revenue BondsWater SRF Series 2022 - Various water projects2042$401,475
Revenue BondsWater SRF Series 2017 - water meter replacement project2028$268,000
Revenue BondsP&D Loan - AG Park -to be repaid in FY272026$81,038

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. Fort Dodge’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 Thursday, June 11, 2026, by a CPA firm.

AI summary13

  • The city had large deficit balances in several funds, including $7,886,091 in the broadband utility fund, $2,282,115 in the local option sales tax fund, and $2,155,257 in the tax increment financing fund.
  • The broadband utility violated its loan agreement by not meeting required net revenue levels and failing to set up a required sinking fund.
  • The city spent more money than was allowed by the budget in the culture and recreation and business type activities programs.
  • The broadband utility plans to refinance its notes to meet revenue requirements and set up a sinking fund, and city officials are planning how to eliminate the fund deficits.
  • The city amended the budget, noting that unanticipated depreciation adjustments occurred during the first year of using accrual-basis budgeting.
The findings, as the report states them
Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs Year ended June 30,2025INSTANCES OF NON-COMPLIANCENo matters were noted.Part III: Findings and Questioned Costs For Federal Awards:INSTANCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE:No matters were noted.SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES:No material weaknesses in internal control over the major programs were noted.Part IV: Other Findings Related to Statutory Reporting:2025-A 2025-B Certified Budget- Disbursements during the year ended June 30, 2025 exceeded the amounts budgeted in the culture and recreation and business type activities programs. Chapter 354.20 of the Code oflowa states, in part, "Public monies may not be expended or encumbered except under an annual or continuingappropriation."Recommendation- The budget should have been amended in accordance with Chapter 384.18 of the Code of Iowa before disbursements were allowed to exceed the budget. Response - The budget was amended, but as this was the initial year of budgeting on the accrual basis, there was some unanticipated adjustments for depreciation that were not properly budgeted. Conclusion- Response accepted. Questionable Disbursements - No expenditures we believe may not meet the requirements of public purpose as defined in an Attorney General's opinion dated April 25, 1979 were noted. 138 ### Page 146 2025-C2025-DCity of Fort Dodge, Iowa Schedule of Findings and Questioned CostsYear ended June 30, 2025Travel Expense - No disbursements of City money for travel expenses of spouses of City officials or employees were noted. Business Transactions- Business transactions between the City and City officials or employees are detailed as follows: Name, Title and Business Connection Dan Summers, FiremanPart owner, Mudjacking Solutions Rachael Maehl, Spouseof assistant city manager Transaction Description Repairs Contract services Amount$2.200$1 125 The above transactions do not appear to represent conflicts of interest as transactions with each individual were less than $6,000 during the fiscal year. 2025-E Restricted Donor Activity - No transactions were noted between the City, City officials, City employees ad restricted donors in compliance with Chapter 68B of the Code of Iowa. 2025-F Bond Coverage - Sure bond coverage of City officials and employees is in accordance with statutory provisions. The amount of coverage is reviewed annually to ensure that the coverage is adequate for current operations. 2025-G Council Minutes - No transactions were found that we believe should have been approved in the City Council minutes but were not. 139 ### Page 147 City of Fort Dodge, Iowa Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs Year ended June 30, 2025Part IV: Other Findings Related to Statutory Reporting:2025-H Deposits and Investments - No instances of non-compliance with the deposit and investment provisions of Chapters 12B and 12C of the Code oflowa and the City's investment policy were noted. 2025-I Revenue Bonds and Notes -No instances of non-compliance with the water and wastewater revenue note provisions were noted. However, the broadband utility was in violation of their revenue note provisions. The broadband utility did not meet the net revenue provisions of where the net revenues should be at least 11 0% of the annual installment of interest and principle due on the debt. In addition, a sinking fund has not been set up as required by the loan agreement.IRecommendation- The City should review the broadband utility to insure that this fund meets it's revenue note debt provisions. Response- City officials are planning on refinancing these notes to meet the revenue provisions. In addition, City officials plan on setting up a sinking fund. Conclusion- Response accepted. 2025-J Financial Condition - The Special Revenue Funds, Tax Increment Financing, had a deficit balance of $2,155,257 the Local Option Sales Tax Fund had a deficit balance of$2,282, 115, and the Enterprise Fund, Broadband Utility Fund had a deficit balance of$7,886,091 at June 30,2025.Recommendation- The City should investigate alternatives to eliminate these deficits. Response - See note 12 to the financial statements to see how City officials plan to eliminate these deficits. Conclusion- Response accepted. 2024-K Urban Renewal Annual Report - The urban renewal annual report was properly approved and certified to the Iowa Department of Management on or before December 1 and no exceptions were noted.140 ### Page 148 Comment Reference2024-001'F6ir ,,OobGEf'Municlpai ''B~ilding -~ '''fng 1st 'Avenue South • Fort Dodge,Q;City of Fort Dodge Summary Schedule of Prior Audit Findings Year ended June 30, 2025Comment Status If not corrected, provide reason for finding's recurrence and planned correction action or other explanation Title Preparation of Not corrected. financial statements 141 See explanation and corrective action plan at 2024-001www.fortdodgeiowa.org ### Page 149 "'.",<,;:s; ','0)",Comment Comment Reference Title2025-001 Preparation of financial statements City of Fort Dodge Corrective Action Plan Year Ended June 30, 2025AnticiQated Corrective Action Plan Contact Person, Title, Date of Phone Number ComQletion See response and corrective Jeff Nemmers NIAaction plan at 2025-001 Finance Director 142www.fortdodgeiowa.org
18 earlier reports for Fort Dodge

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? 14

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: $5.2M in FY25, up 35% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 8% more. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$3.4M$3.4M$3.5M$3.5M
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$509,049$445,417$1.1M$1.7M

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.

$6.3M
$969,770
  • Iowa DOT projects$606,16263%
  • State grants$363,60837%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$691,351
FY20$561,289
FY21$1.3M
FY22$1.7M
FY23$644,997
FY24$6.3M
FY25$969,770
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$691,351
FY20$561,289
FY21$1.3M
FY22$1.7M
FY23$644,997
FY24$6.3M
FY25$969,770

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−14%$3.3M → $3.5M, up 8% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 14% less
  • Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)+130%$575,566 → $1.7M, up 189% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 130% more

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 63% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 30% more.

$6.1M

Federal grants, for comparison: $2.4M in FY25.

Business awards

Every award statewide

State economic development awards

4 businesses have state awards in FORT DODGE: $2.5M in grants, loans and tax benefits, for 24 jobs. Closed projects promised 18 jobs; 18 were there at the end.15

  • AML Riverside LLC
    High Quality Jobs Program · FY23 · Not going ahead: Declined or withdrawn · 16 jobs required
    $410K
  • Cargill, Incorporated
    High Quality Jobs Program · FY22 · Under contract: Keeping the jobs · 0 jobs required, 0 reported
    $700K
  • Calcium Products
    High Quality Jobs Program · FY22 · Under contract: Keeping the jobs · 2 jobs required, 2 reported
    $225K
  • Elanco US Inc.
    High Quality Jobs Program · FY22 · Not going ahead: Declined or withdrawn · 26 jobs required
    $6.0M
  • CJ Bio America Inc.
    High Quality Jobs Program · FY21 · Under contract: Keeping the jobs · 4 jobs required, 4 reported
    $676K
  • CJ Bio America Inc.
    High Quality Jobs Program · FY18 · Closed: Met its contract · 18 jobs required, 18 at the end
    $901K

Community college new jobs training: 19 contracts since 1996 worth $13.9M, for 1,276 pledged jobs.

Awards 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)16.

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 · 6

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Fort Dodge; 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.

  • Fort Dodge City Council At-Large
    Now held by Megan Secor
  • Fort Dodge City Council Ward 1
    Now held by Jen Crimmins
  • Fort Dodge City Council Ward 2
    Now held by Cameron Nelson
  • Fort Dodge City Council Ward 3
    Now held by David Flattery
  • Fort Dodge City Council Ward 4
    Now held by Kim Alstott

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here17.

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 ballot18.

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