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.
- City of Fort Dodge$20.8947%
- Fort Dodge schools$15.2234%
- Webster County$6.6615%
- Iowa Central Community College$1.573%
- Webster County Assessor$0.33<1%
- 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 Fort Dodge pay, and the city government’s own piece of it.
| Year | Combined | City’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
| Year | Combined | City’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.
See all 14
| # | Place | Rate per $1,000 | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ottumwa | $21.01 | 25,648 |
| 2 | Fort Dodge | $20.89 | 24,886 |
| 3 | Clinton | $16.80 | 24,118 |
| 4 | Marshalltown | $16.25 | 27,886 |
| 5 | Muscatine | $16.17 | 23,298 |
| 6 | Burlington | $15.94 | 23,637 |
| 7 | Coralville | $14.70 | 23,959 |
| 8 | Mason City | $14.47 | 26,948 |
| 9 | Waukee | $12.80 | 34,420 |
| 10 | North Liberty | $11.84 | 21,904 |
| 11 | Johnston | $11.39 | 25,022 |
| 12 | Altoona | $10.75 | 22,598 |
| 13 | Grimes | $10.70 | 17,266 |
| 14 | Clive | $9.92 | 19,508 |
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.
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.
| Year | TIF 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
| Year | TIF 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.
Budget and spending
Where each dollar of Fort Dodge’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 13 Iowa cities closest in size (17,000–34,000 people).
| Where it goes | Of each dollar | Cities this size (13) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Type / Enterprise | 35¢ | 29¢ |
| Capital Projects | 21¢ | 26¢ |
| Public Safety | 13¢ | 13¢ |
| Community and Economic Development | 9¢ | 4¢ |
| Debt Service | 8¢ | 11¢ |
| Everything else | 14¢ | 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.
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
| Function | Budget | Spent |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
| June 30 | Owed | Per 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 30 | Owed | Per 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
| Kind | For | Paid off by | Owed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue Bonds | Fiber Utility capital infrastructure loan | 2037 | $31.9M |
| Revenue Bonds | Water SRF Series 2019B - upgrades to water plant | 2040 | $21.5M |
| Revenue Bonds | Sewer SRF Series 2015 Consumer Sewer Initiative Projects | 2046 | $15.0M |
| Revenue Bonds | Sewer SRF series 2020 - Consumer Sewer Initiative projects - Phase 2 | 2051 | $14.8M |
| Revenue Bonds | Sewer SRF Series 2007 - plant and main expansion. | 2036 | $14.4M |
| General Obligation | GO Series 2025A - Downtown storm sewer, City Hall, airport, fire station, fire aerial, Harlan Rogers, water plant, trails, Central River District | 2045 | $10.1M |
| Revenue Bonds | Sewer SRF Series 2012 - AG Park | 2033 | $10.0M |
| General Obligation | GO Series 2023A - Bridge repair, Storm sewer, airport projects, Fire engine, parks infrastructure, City Hall renovation, art museum classroom | 2043 | $9.6M |
| General Obligation | GO Corporate Series 2025B -M&M, LLC Pavillion project subject to annual appropriation | 2044 | $9.5M |
| Revenue Bonds | Sewer SRF series 2017 - Consumer Sewer Initiative projects (2) | 2048 | $8.7M |
| General Obligation | GO Series 2021B - Mall area redevelopment,acquiring slum and blighted properties, facade IEDA match. | 2040 | $7.6M |
| Loans | Webster County Power Center Bonds Series 2025 Support Agreement - Power Center Mall area project. | 2036 | $6.5M |
| Revenue Bonds | Water SRF Series 2012 - AG Park | 2033 | $6.0M |
| General Obligation | GO Corporate Series 2024 - M&M, LLC urban renewal Pavillion grant | 2043 | $5.8M |
| General Obligation | GO Corporate Series 2019A - 15th St, storm improvements, demolition, trails, city hall, parks & rec, radio upgrades, fire station improvements | 2030 | $4.9M |
| General Obligation | GO Series 2021A - Various City needs such as Parks, Fire Station improvements, Trails, City Hall, Library, Museum, and infrastructure | 2040 | $4.7M |
| Revenue Bonds | Sewer SRF Series 2023 - Waste Water Lab and odor control project | 2043 | $4.5M |
| Revenue Bonds | Sewer SRF Series 2014 -Immediate needs sanitary sewer projects. | 2035 | $4.1M |
| Revenue Bonds | Fiber Utility operating loan | 2037 | $3.2M |
| General Obligation | GO Corporate Purpose Series 2018B - dam removal | 2038 | $3.1M |
| General Obligation | GO Series 2023B -Mall area redevelopment | 2043 | $3.1M |
| Revenue Bonds | Water SRF Series 2026 - Various CWI water projects. | 2046 | $2.7M |
| General Obligation | GO Corporate Series 2019B - Development of former Crossroads Mall area. | 2033 | $2.4M |
| Revenue Bonds | Water SRF Series 2021 - Northwest water loop | 2041 | $2.0M |
| General Obligation | GO 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 Bonds | Water SRF Series 2025 - Manson Connection | 2045 | $1.6M |
| Revenue Bonds | Water SRF Series 2022 - Various water projects | 2042 | $401,475 |
| Revenue Bonds | Water SRF Series 2017 - water meter replacement project | 2028 | $268,000 |
| Revenue Bonds | P&D Loan - AG Park -to be repaid in FY27 | 2026 | $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
18 earlier reports for Fort Dodge
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2024Thursday, June 12, 2025
- Financial Statement, period ending Friday, June 30, 2023Thursday, June 27, 2024
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2022Thursday, July 13, 2023
- Financial Statement, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2021Monday, May 16, 2022
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2020Wednesday, May 26, 2021
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2019Monday, April 6, 2020
- Financial Statement, period ending Saturday, June 30, 2018Thursday, March 28, 2019
- Financial Statement, period ending Friday, June 30, 2017Wednesday, March 28, 2018
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2016Friday, March 31, 2017
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2015Thursday, March 17, 2016
- Financial Statement, period ending Monday, June 30, 2014Wednesday, March 25, 2015
- Financial Statement, period ending Sunday, June 30, 2013Wednesday, March 26, 2014
- Financial Statement, period ending Saturday, June 30, 2012Wednesday, March 27, 2013
- Financial Statement, period ending Thursday, June 30, 2011Thursday, March 29, 2012
- Reaudit, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2010Thursday, February 9, 2012
- Financial Statement, period ending Wednesday, June 30, 2010Wednesday, June 1, 2011
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2009Thursday, April 29, 2010
- Financial Statement, period ending Tuesday, June 30, 2009Thursday, April 29, 2010
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
| Source | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Year | Grants 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
| Year | Grants 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.
Federal grants, for comparison: $2.4M in FY25.
Business awards
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 LLCHigh Quality Jobs Program · FY23 · Not going ahead: Declined or withdrawn · 16 jobs required$410K
- Cargill, IncorporatedHigh Quality Jobs Program · FY22 · Under contract: Keeping the jobs · 0 jobs required, 0 reported$700K
- Calcium ProductsHigh 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.
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
2 seats: the top 2 win.
- Terry Moehnke Winner2,40742.6%
- Scott Davis Winner1,35924.1%
- Michael Haubrich 1,04018.4%
- Eugene Melvin Newsome 84214.9%
- Jennifer Crimmins Unopposed542100.0%
- Cameron Nelson Unopposed363100.0%
- Todd R. McCubbin Winner78958.2%
- Dennis Paul Mernka 56741.8%
- Kim Alstott Winner61852.1%
- Ed Touney 56947.9%
- David M. Flattery Unopposed3,222100.0%
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-LargeNow held by Megan Secor
- Fort Dodge City Council Ward 1Now held by Jen Crimmins
- Fort Dodge City Council Ward 2Now held by Cameron Nelson
- Fort Dodge City Council Ward 3Now held by David Flattery
- Fort Dodge City Council Ward 4Now 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.