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Local taxes › Winnebago County › Thompson

City

Thompson

Winnebago County · How cities work

$3,130 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($37.22 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,450 a yearof that goes to the city ($17.25 per $1,000)
$194,344property taxes the city levies, FY27
$513,986city 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.

  • Bill RollingThompson City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Kris HaugebakThompson City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Michael HauanThompson Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Cara ChapmanThompson City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Logan SwearingenThompson City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Stacy WillertThompson 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 Thompson

Homes and businesses in most of Thompson pay a combined $37.22 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, $17.25. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.53$13.37
FY21$35.11$15.10
FY22$34.79$15.10
FY23$34.32$15.05
FY24$36.69$14.23
FY25$37.57$16.01
FY26$38.90$16.84
FY27$37.22$17.25
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$33.53$13.37
FY21$35.11$15.10
FY22$34.79$15.10
FY23$34.32$15.05
FY24$36.69$14.23
FY25$37.57$16.01
FY26$38.90$16.84
FY27$37.22$17.25

Compared with places this size3

Thompson’s city property tax rate of $17.25 per $1,000 is the 25th highest of 184 Iowa cities with 320–720 people. The middle of the group is $13.01.

Stanhope: $29.10Rolfe: $22.67Elliott: $21.61Charter Oak: $21.32Oxford Junction: $20.84Earling: $20.47Pomeroy: $19.60Salem: $19.15Dumont: $19.04Seymour: $18.78Dexter: $18.69Fonda: $18.52Massena: $18.23Kanawha: $18.11Swea City: $18.04Elma: $17.82Callender: $17.78Casey: $17.72Dows: $17.70New Hartford: $17.69Vail: $17.66Ringsted: $17.65Emerson: $17.54Murray: $17.44Ashton: $17.17Pierson: $17.12Burt: $17.10Latimer: $16.96Lohrville: $16.95Elk Horn: $16.78Oxford: $16.70Mccallsburg: $16.58Whittemore: $16.54Bancroft: $16.52Irwin: $16.46Titonka: $16.45Early: $16.35Truro: $16.34Lewis: $16.25Duncombe: $16.10Bayard: $16.05Scranton: $16.01Ruthven: $15.84Minden: $15.77Walker: $15.74Peterson: $15.27Russell: $15.18Stanwood: $15.12Stratford: $15.03Zearing: $14.99Arlington: $14.98Maynard: $14.85Plainfield: $14.84Ryan: $14.84Otho: $14.82Wyoming: $14.81Humeston: $14.80Hopkinton: $14.79Gilmore City: $14.60Sabula: $14.38Garrison: $14.38Lorimor: $14.36Collins: $14.32Clermont: $14.30Moulton: $14.25Ocheyedan: $14.22Olin: $14.19Garwin: $14.08Farragut: $14.07Elgin: $14.05Lime Springs: $13.95Dow City: $13.94Wesley: $13.91Diagonal: $13.91Bussey: $13.83Mondamin: $13.82Livermore: $13.78Albion: $13.58Lamont: $13.57New Albin: $13.55Boyden: $13.39Lawler: $13.39Lacona: $13.38Ute: $13.26New Market: $13.25Plymouth: $13.21Bennett: $13.16Quasqueton: $13.12Farmington: $13.10Anthon: $13.05Little Rock: $13.03Coggon: $12.99Lehigh: $12.97Menlo: $12.92Templeton: $12.91Earlville: $12.90Brighton: $12.88Goldfield: $12.73Wellsburg: $12.68Delmar: $12.68Galva: $12.68Badger: $12.67Martensdale: $12.63Stanton: $12.62Hospers: $12.58Norway: $12.53Everly: $12.51Hazleton: $12.48Spillville: $12.40Alburnett: $12.30Brandon: $12.29Moravia: $12.27Hedrick: $12.22Bonaparte: $12.17Schaller: $12.14Hawkeye: $12.11Colesburg: $11.97Albert City: $11.88Thornton: $11.86Runnells: $11.79Allerton: $11.72Orient: $11.66Merrill: $11.64Ellsworth: $11.57Morning Sun: $11.50Battle Creek: $11.49Churdan: $11.31Miles: $11.28Sutherland: $11.25Arcadia: $11.23Blairstown: $11.04Milton: $10.98Ireton: $10.93New Vienna: $10.91Letts: $10.91Fontanelle: $10.88Birmingham: $10.87Charlotte: $10.86Richland: $10.82Grand Mound: $10.78Batavia: $10.77Riverdale: $10.67Union: $10.58Calamus: $10.47Lovilia: $10.46Radcliffe: $10.37Stacyville: $10.36Ventura: $10.22Andrew: $10.22Royal: $10.20Rudd: $10.13What Cheer: $10.01Cumming: $9.85Breda: $9.80Doon: $9.78Lynnville: $9.68Farnhamville: $9.18Middletown: $9.16Alleman: $9.12Crescent: $8.72Ainsworth: $8.62Grand Junction: $8.57Gilman: $8.10Grandview: $8.10Kellogg: $8.10Lakeside: $8.10Lost Nation: $8.10Agency: $7.94Fremont: $7.86Delhi: $7.81Klemme: $7.74Beacon: $7.56Worthington: $7.50Marquette: $7.08Columbus City: $6.94Donahue: $6.83Keystone: $6.80New Virginia: $5.97Holy Cross: $5.91Conesville: $5.86University Park: $5.27Orleans: $4.13Wahpeton: $3.19Thompson: $17.25$3.19 lowest$29.10 highestmiddle
See all 184
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Stanhope$29.10354
2Rolfe$22.67505
3Elliott$21.61328
4Charter Oak$21.32521
5Oxford Junction$20.84424
6Earling$20.47394
7Pomeroy$19.60511
8Salem$19.15380
9Dumont$19.04614
10Seymour$18.78646
11Dexter$18.69631
12Fonda$18.52636
13Massena$18.23352
14Kanawha$18.11638
15Swea City$18.04545
16Elma$17.82493
17Callender$17.78361
18Casey$17.72387
19Dows$17.70509
20New Hartford$17.69555
21Vail$17.66383
22Ringsted$17.65346
23Emerson$17.54401
24Murray$17.44609
25Thompson$17.25478
26Ashton$17.17434
27Pierson$17.12335
28Burt$17.10404
29Latimer$16.96477
30Lohrville$16.95366
31Elk Horn$16.78631
32Oxford$16.70715
33Mccallsburg$16.58356
34Whittemore$16.54478
35Bancroft$16.52677
36Irwin$16.46320
37Titonka$16.45491
38Early$16.35571
39Truro$16.34515
40Lewis$16.25358
41Duncombe$16.10374
42Bayard$16.05402
43Scranton$16.01496
44Ruthven$15.84710
45Minden$15.77581
46Walker$15.74671
47Peterson$15.27321
48Russell$15.18475
49Stanwood$15.12612
50Stratford$15.03688
51Zearing$14.99508
52Arlington$14.98415
53Maynard$14.85466
54Plainfield$14.84392
55Ryan$14.84348
56Otho$14.82417
57Wyoming$14.81526
58Humeston$14.80472
59Hopkinton$14.79622
60Gilmore City$14.60484
61Sabula$14.38498
62Garrison$14.38345
63Lorimor$14.36377
64Collins$14.32503
65Clermont$14.30571
66Moulton$14.25596
67Ocheyedan$14.22424
68Olin$14.19652
69Garwin$14.08469
70Farragut$14.07480
71Elgin$14.05676
72Lime Springs$13.95467
73Dow City$13.94477
74Wesley$13.91382
75Diagonal$13.91331
76Bussey$13.83378
77Mondamin$13.82335
78Livermore$13.78382
79Albion$13.58444
80Lamont$13.57429
81New Albin$13.55435
82Boyden$13.39694
83Lawler$13.39392
84Lacona$13.38336
85Ute$13.26326
86New Market$13.25381
87Plymouth$13.21368
88Bennett$13.16330
89Quasqueton$13.12587
90Farmington$13.10583
91Anthon$13.05534
92Little Rock$13.03447
93Coggon$12.99691
94Lehigh$12.97395
95Menlo$12.92347
96Templeton$12.91337
97Earlville$12.90713
98Brighton$12.88592
99Goldfield$12.73617
100Wellsburg$12.68709
101Delmar$12.68541
102Galva$12.68416
103Badger$12.67540
104Martensdale$12.63413
105Stanton$12.62664
106Hospers$12.58703
107Norway$12.53463
108Everly$12.51570
109Hazleton$12.48711
110Spillville$12.40371
111Alburnett$12.30672
112Brandon$12.29331
113Moravia$12.27625
114Hedrick$12.22717
115Bonaparte$12.17357
116Schaller$12.14702
117Hawkeye$12.11429
118Colesburg$11.97379
119Albert City$11.88627
120Thornton$11.86394
121Runnells$11.79467
122Allerton$11.72432
123Orient$11.66363
124Merrill$11.64713
125Ellsworth$11.57495
126Morning Sun$11.50702
127Battle Creek$11.49683
128Churdan$11.31359
129Miles$11.28400
130Sutherland$11.25628
131Arcadia$11.23588
132Blairstown$11.04705
133Milton$10.98395
134Ireton$10.93571
135New Vienna$10.91384
136Letts$10.91358
137Fontanelle$10.88684
138Birmingham$10.87371
139Charlotte$10.86386
140Richland$10.82532
141Grand Mound$10.78608
142Batavia$10.77434
143Riverdale$10.67385
144Union$10.58378
145Calamus$10.47348
146Lovilia$10.46456
147Radcliffe$10.37540
148Stacyville$10.36436
149Ventura$10.22701
150Andrew$10.22374
151Royal$10.20379
152Rudd$10.13339
153What Cheer$10.01595
154Cumming$9.85527
155Breda$9.80492
156Doon$9.78640
157Lynnville$9.68382
158Farnhamville$9.18364
159Middletown$9.16365
160Alleman$9.12439
161Crescent$8.72626
162Ainsworth$8.62511
163Grand Junction$8.57715
164Gilman$8.10530
165Grandview$8.10431
166Kellogg$8.10597
167Lakeside$8.10695
168Lost Nation$8.10425
169Agency$7.94623
170Fremont$7.86688
171Delhi$7.81438
172Klemme$7.74429
173Beacon$7.56434
174Worthington$7.50374
175Marquette$7.08434
176Columbus City$6.94385
177Donahue$6.83336
178Keystone$6.80616
179New Virginia$5.97499
180Holy Cross$5.91348
181Conesville$5.86350
182University Park$5.27476
183Orleans$4.13503
184Wahpeton$3.19337

The $8.10 limit

Thompson’s general levy is $8.10 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, at the limit.4 247 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $8.12 · FY26 $7.96 · FY27 $8.10 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $9.15 more5

  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$3.51 · $39,320
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$3.51 · $39,319
  • Debt Service Levy$2.13 · $23,897

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$90,72347%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$39,32020%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$39,31920%
  • Debt Service Levy$23,89712%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Thompson’s budget goes, FY26

Public Works: 30¢ of every dollar30¢Business Type / Enterprise: 23¢ of every dollar23¢General Government: 15¢ of every dollar15¢Public Safety: 9¢ of every dollar9¢Debt Service: 9¢ of every dollar9¢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 183 Iowa cities closest in size (320–720 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (183)
Public Works30¢18¢
Business Type / Enterprise23¢41¢
General Government15¢13¢
Public Safety9¢9¢
Debt Service9¢4¢
Everything else14¢10¢

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$192,00037%
  • General Government$125,77524%
  • Public Safety$75,20015%
  • Culture and Recreation$61,70012%
  • Community and Economic Development$35,0007%
  • Debt Service$24,3115%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($165,300 in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$207,800$155,711
Public Safety$67,600$64,725
Health and Social Services$0$0
General Government$104,088$98,133
Debt Service$100,272$33,053
Culture and Recreation$62,850$61,544
Community and Economic Development$9,500$7,918
Capital Projects$0$7,817
Business Type / Enterprise$93,450$171,169

What it spent each year

FY24 left out6

$1.2M
$665,872

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Thompson owes

$850,812 at June 30, 2026: $1,719 per resident. 418th most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).7

$1.1M
$850,812
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$850,812$1,719
2025$899,745$1,818
2024$969,270$1,958
2023$990,264$2,001
2022$1.1M$2,158
2021$656,838$1,327
2020$295,390$597
2019$136,626$276
2018$179,603$363
2017$224,967$454
2016$269,962$545
2015$295,082$596
2014$270,357$546
2013$291,715$589
2012$291,715$589
2011$0$0
2010$333,438$674
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$850,812$1,719
2025$899,745$1,818
2024$969,270$1,958
2023$990,264$2,001
2022$1.1M$2,158
2021$656,838$1,327
2020$295,390$597
2019$136,626$276
2018$179,603$363
2017$224,967$454
2016$269,962$545
2015$295,082$596
2014$270,357$546
2013$291,715$589
2012$291,715$589
2011$0$0
2010$333,438$674

Up 155% since 2010.

The 5% limit8

General obligation debt is $850,812, 73% of the limit of about $1.2M (5% of $23.2M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

2 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
General ObligationSRF WATER TREATMENT FACILITY LOAN2051$775,000
General ObligationStreet Repair Loan2029$75,812

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 balances9. Thompson’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 Thompson

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: $65,668 in FY25, up 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 19% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$65,127$59,121$69,389$65,668
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$12,949$2,440––

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.

$35,063
$24,079
  • State grants$24,079100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$17,164
FY20$11,950
FY21$16,666
FY22$35,063
FY23$13,348
FY24$0
FY25$24,079
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$17,164
FY20$11,950
FY21$16,666
FY22$35,063
FY23$13,348
FY24$0
FY25$24,079

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−19%$64,852 → $65,668, up 1% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 19% 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 15% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 9% less.

$78,135
$58,963

Federal grants, for comparison: $35,063 in FY23.

Business awards

Every award statewide

State economic development awards

Community college new jobs training: 1 contract since 2000 worth $475K, for 105 pledged jobs.

Awards statewide

Elections

Running for mayor and city council

Filing opens Monday, August 23, 2027: in 284 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

2 seats: the top 2 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Thompson; 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.

  • Thompson City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Cara Chapman, Stacy Willert, Logan Swearingen
  • Thompson Mayor
    Now held by Michael Hauan

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