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Local taxes › Winnebago County › Rake

City

Rake

Winnebago County · How cities work

$2,610 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($31.02 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$930 a yearof that goes to the city ($11.05 per $1,000)
$182,167property taxes the city levies, FY27
$308,500city 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.

  • Craig BowenRake City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Louise HagedornRake Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Melissa DuveRake City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Ronald JohnsonRake City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Darin GeerdesRake City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Kristal OlsonRake City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Stacy RothRake 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 Rake

Homes and businesses in most of Rake pay a combined $31.02 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Winnebago County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $11.05. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$31.61$11.44
FY21$30.85$10.83
FY22$30.36$10.67
FY23$30.38$11.11
FY24$33.59$11.13
FY25$32.80$11.24
FY26$33.33$11.27
FY27$31.02$11.05
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$31.61$11.44
FY21$30.85$10.83
FY22$30.36$10.67
FY23$30.38$11.11
FY24$33.59$11.13
FY25$32.80$11.24
FY26$33.33$11.27
FY27$31.02$11.05

Compared with places this size3

Rake’s city property tax rate of $11.05 per $1,000 is the 92nd lowest of 197 Iowa cities with 120–270 people. The middle of the group is $11.37.

Brayton: $25.07Harris: $23.13Fenton: $22.05Soldier: $21.92Coulter: $21.80Chelsea: $21.61Smithland: $21.12Volga: $20.23Alta Vista: $19.88Arthur: $19.86Coin: $19.59Chester: $19.30Bouton: $19.25Garden Grove: $19.20Hastings: $18.95Swaledale: $18.62Cumberland: $18.42Jamaica: $18.24Hillsboro: $17.68Bristow: $17.39Woolstock: $17.26Pisgah: $17.09Lakota: $16.84Marble Rock: $16.78Auburn: $16.65Prescott: $16.53Monmouth: $16.41Blockton: $16.37Montour: $16.37Geneva: $16.25Corwith: $16.22Deep River: $16.18Waucoma: $16.17Little Sioux: $15.74Moorhead: $15.68Onslow: $15.63Linden: $15.62Woodburn: $15.59Kamrar: $15.47Greeley: $15.23Goodell: $15.16Riverton: $14.94Marathon: $14.89Ladora: $14.74Magnolia: $14.68Bagley: $14.63Davis City: $14.45Lucas: $14.40Halbur: $14.37Crystal Lake: $14.36Steamboat Rock: $14.19Westgate: $14.05Palmer: $13.89Kellerton: $13.60Quimby: $13.58Ayrshire: $13.55Searsboro: $13.55Meservey: $13.43Leland: $13.31Harcourt: $13.21Calumet: $13.16Ridgeway: $13.10Farmersburg: $13.09Portsmouth: $13.05Clutier: $13.03Silver City: $12.87Delaware: $12.86Patterson: $12.84Martelle: $12.83Malcom: $12.82Clemons: $12.69Blencoe: $12.57Kensett: $12.47Millersburg: $12.40Aurora: $12.40Bridgewater: $12.29Cushing: $12.18Hanlontown: $12.17Stout: $12.14Macedonia: $12.12Webb: $12.10Paton: $12.09Decatur: $12.08Kiron: $12.03Rembrandt: $12.03Shambaugh: $11.98Lone Rock: $11.92New Providence: $11.88Henderson: $11.85Parnell: $11.78Reasnor: $11.76Joice: $11.72Cantril: $11.69Wadena: $11.65Exline: $11.60Beaman: $11.54Delta: $11.52College Springs: $11.44Holland: $11.37Mallard: $11.28Renwick: $11.16Linn Grove: $11.15Dundee: $11.14Randolph: $11.08Leighton: $11.07Somers: $10.99Frederika: $10.99Havelock: $10.95Alexander: $10.90Goose Lake: $10.89Yale: $10.85Lambs Grove: $10.78Wallingford: $10.75Hornick: $10.74Woden: $10.68Cleghorn: $10.49Barnes City: $10.44Stockton: $10.37Randall: $10.35Dedham: $10.28Deloit: $10.28Protivin: $10.28Meriden: $10.28Drakesville: $10.24Hancock: $10.13La Motte: $10.09Melvin: $10.05Defiance: $10.05Barnum: $9.96Panama: $9.85Grafton: $9.83Clare: $9.81Tingley: $9.81Ionia: $9.65Van Wert: $9.62Rock Falls: $9.61Kirkville: $9.59Luxemburg: $9.58Superior: $9.58Rippey: $9.42Hamilton: $9.35Westphalia: $9.18Elberon: $9.16Dixon: $9.03Blairsburg: $8.93Prairieburg: $8.91Oakville: $8.89Welton: $8.86Luther: $8.83Harvey: $8.71Washta: $8.65Moorland: $8.61Pilot Mound: $8.54Ollie: $8.44Thor: $8.38Rowley: $8.31South English: $8.27Thurman: $8.26Boxholm: $8.11Bertram: $8.10Fostoria: $8.10Low Moor: $8.10Westfield: $8.10Laurel: $8.10Lineville: $8.10Vincent: $8.09Lockridge: $7.92Mount Auburn: $7.86Haverhill: $7.86Grand River: $7.86Olds: $7.86Castalia: $7.86Dickens: $7.86Rose Hill: $7.86West Chester: $7.82Mcclelland: $7.79Lidderdale: $7.68Pulaski: $7.58Fredonia: $7.55Braddyville: $7.49Alvord: $7.41Franklin: $7.31Weldon: $7.18Brunsville: $6.95Packwood: $6.77Houghton: $6.73Williamson: $6.72Keswick: $6.49Gravity: $6.18Oakland Acres: $5.88Springbrook: $5.79Maysville: $5.77Panorama Park: $4.62Sherrill: $2.66Rickardsville: $2.27New Liberty: $2.27Rake: $11.05$2.27 lowest$25.07 highestmiddle
See all 197
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Brayton$25.07138
2Harris$23.13145
3Fenton$22.05250
4Soldier$21.92176
5Coulter$21.80220
6Chelsea$21.61207
7Smithland$21.12184
8Volga$20.23200
9Alta Vista$19.88219
10Arthur$19.86218
11Coin$19.59171
12Chester$19.30134
13Bouton$19.25125
14Garden Grove$19.20173
15Hastings$18.95157
16Swaledale$18.62136
17Cumberland$18.42248
18Jamaica$18.24196
19Hillsboro$17.68158
20Bristow$17.39139
21Woolstock$17.26141
22Pisgah$17.09248
23Lakota$16.84261
24Marble Rock$16.78258
25Auburn$16.65253
26Prescott$16.53186
27Monmouth$16.41129
28Blockton$16.37123
29Montour$16.37199
30Geneva$16.25137
31Corwith$16.22259
32Deep River$16.18243
33Waucoma$16.17235
34Little Sioux$15.74170
35Moorhead$15.68186
36Onslow$15.63198
37Linden$15.62206
38Woodburn$15.59133
39Kamrar$15.47178
40Greeley$15.23216
41Goodell$15.16139
42Riverton$14.94243
43Marathon$14.89221
44Ladora$14.74223
45Magnolia$14.68194
46Bagley$14.63230
47Davis City$14.45178
48Lucas$14.40176
49Halbur$14.37268
50Crystal Lake$14.36243
51Steamboat Rock$14.19261
52Westgate$14.05190
53Palmer$13.89137
54Kellerton$13.60241
55Quimby$13.58245
56Ayrshire$13.55128
57Searsboro$13.55129
58Meservey$13.43212
59Leland$13.31240
60Harcourt$13.21257
61Calumet$13.16144
62Ridgeway$13.10261
63Farmersburg$13.09264
64Portsmouth$13.05187
65Clutier$13.03209
66Silver City$12.87244
67Delaware$12.86139
68Patterson$12.84176
69Martelle$12.83250
70Malcom$12.82257
71Clemons$12.69135
72Blencoe$12.57223
73Kensett$12.47256
74Millersburg$12.40135
75Aurora$12.40165
76Bridgewater$12.29145
77Cushing$12.18225
78Hanlontown$12.17200
79Stout$12.14194
80Macedonia$12.12266
81Webb$12.10139
82Paton$12.09217
83Decatur$12.08174
84Kiron$12.03262
85Rembrandt$12.03199
86Shambaugh$11.98161
87Lone Rock$11.92143
88New Providence$11.88233
89Henderson$11.85140
90Parnell$11.78190
91Reasnor$11.76157
92Joice$11.72206
93Cantril$11.69224
94Wadena$11.65201
95Exline$11.60157
96Beaman$11.54155
97Delta$11.52257
98College Springs$11.44172
99Holland$11.37261
100Mallard$11.28255
101Renwick$11.16228
102Linn Grove$11.15155
103Dundee$11.14193
104Randolph$11.08183
105Leighton$11.07153
106Rake$11.05179
107Somers$10.99121
108Frederika$10.99206
109Havelock$10.95127
110Alexander$10.90165
111Goose Lake$10.89250
112Yale$10.85265
113Lambs Grove$10.78174
114Wallingford$10.75154
115Hornick$10.74255
116Woden$10.68183
117Cleghorn$10.49235
118Barnes City$10.44152
119Stockton$10.37171
120Randall$10.35156
121Dedham$10.28221
122Deloit$10.28246
123Protivin$10.28264
124Meriden$10.28175
125Drakesville$10.24170
126Hancock$10.13199
127La Motte$10.09235
128Melvin$10.05196
129Defiance$10.05248
130Barnum$9.96186
131Panama$9.85234
132Grafton$9.83212
133Clare$9.81133
134Tingley$9.81146
135Ionia$9.65220
136Van Wert$9.62175
137Rock Falls$9.61143
138Kirkville$9.59159
139Luxemburg$9.58240
140Superior$9.58127
141Rippey$9.42217
142Hamilton$9.35125
143Westphalia$9.18133
144Elberon$9.16178
145Dixon$9.03204
146Blairsburg$8.93175
147Prairieburg$8.91156
148Oakville$8.89198
149Welton$8.86124
150Luther$8.83147
151Harvey$8.71242
152Washta$8.65206
153Moorland$8.61169
154Pilot Mound$8.54155
155Ollie$8.44196
156Thor$8.38182
157Rowley$8.31264
158South English$8.27196
159Thurman$8.26162
160Boxholm$8.11177
161Bertram$8.10267
162Fostoria$8.10229
163Low Moor$8.10242
164Westfield$8.10121
165Laurel$8.10214
166Lineville$8.10194
167Vincent$8.09125
168Lockridge$7.92245
169Mount Auburn$7.86162
170Haverhill$7.86164
171Grand River$7.86192
172Olds$7.86174
173Castalia$7.86141
174Dickens$7.86146
175Rose Hill$7.86156
176West Chester$7.82147
177Mcclelland$7.79147
178Lidderdale$7.68162
179Pulaski$7.58259
180Fredonia$7.55227
181Braddyville$7.49142
182Alvord$7.41216
183Franklin$7.31133
184Weldon$7.18134
185Brunsville$6.95128
186Packwood$6.77186
187Houghton$6.73129
188Williamson$6.72126
189Keswick$6.49238
190Gravity$6.18149
191Oakland Acres$5.88178
192Springbrook$5.79145
193Maysville$5.77155
194Panorama Park$4.62142
195Sherrill$2.66176
196Rickardsville$2.27204
197New Liberty$2.27141

The $8.10 limit

Rake’s general levy is $7.86 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.24 below the limit.4 640 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.10 · FY26 $8.10 · FY27 $7.86 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $3.19 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$2.43 · $39,659
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$0.76 · $12,440

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$128,56071%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$39,65922%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$12,4407%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Rake’s budget goes, FY26

Public Works: 33¢ of every dollar33¢General Government: 27¢ of every dollar27¢Business Type / Enterprise: 18¢ of every dollar18¢Culture and Recreation: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Public Safety: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Everything else: 3¢ 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 195 Iowa cities closest in size (120–270 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (195)
Public Works33¢24¢
General Government27¢21¢
Business Type / Enterprise18¢32¢
Culture and Recreation9¢8¢
Public Safety9¢9¢
Everything else3¢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.

  • Public Works$119,50039%
  • General Government$106,50035%
  • Culture and Recreation$40,00013%
  • Public Safety$36,00012%
  • Community and Economic Development$5,0002%
  • Health and Social Services$1,5000%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($75,000 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$107,500$171,918
Public Safety$26,500$53,531
Health and Social Services$1,500$1,380
General Government$99,500$99,470
Debt Service$0$0
Culture and Recreation$34,000$30,832
Community and Economic Development$13,550$2,691
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$31,500$97,346

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$457,168
$394,390

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Rake owes

No debt at June 30, 2026.7

$132,138
$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$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$0$0
2016$0$0
2015$0$0
2014$12,719$68
2013$26,550$143
2012$108,871$585
2011$132,138$710
2010$129,929$699
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$0$0
2018$0$0
2017$0$0
2016$0$0
2015$0$0
2014$12,719$68
2013$26,550$143
2012$108,871$585
2011$132,138$710
2010$129,929$699

Down 100% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $0, 0% of the limit of about $1.0M (5% of $20.4M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

Money in reserve

The state’s budget files don’t include cities’ fund balances9. Rake’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 Tuesday, January 20, 2026, by a CPA firm.

1 earlier report for Rake

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: $18,350 in FY25, down 20% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 37% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$23,249$16,137$16,233$16,322
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)–$2,839$2,434$2,028

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.

$77,502
$10,701
  • CEBA grants$10,701100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$5,231
FY20$5,440
FY21$34,606
FY22$77,502
FY23$3,815
FY24$3,046
FY25$10,701
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$5,231
FY20$5,440
FY21$34,606
FY22$77,502
FY23$3,815
FY24$3,046
FY25$10,701

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−44%$23,057 → $16,322, down 29% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 44% 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 48% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 18% more.

$29,604
$26,896

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

3 seats: the top 3 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Rake; 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.

  • Rake City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Stacy Roth, Kristal Olson, Darin Geerdes
  • Rake Mayor
    Now held by Louise Hagedorn

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

David D. Rowley (Sen. 5)Henry Stone (Rep. 9)

U.S. House:District 4

Winnebago CountyNorth Iowa schools