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Decorah

Winneshiek County · How cities work

$3,270 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($38.83 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$1,310 a yearof that goes to the city ($15.52 per $1,000)
$7.2Mproperty taxes the city levies, FY27
$29.1Mcity 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.

  • Andy CarlsonDecorah Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Brecka PutnamDecorah Park and Recreation Commissioner · elected November 4, 2025
  • Cody WhittleDecorah City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Johanna BerganDecorah City Council Ward 3 · elected November 4, 2025
  • Kent KlockeDecorah Park and Recreation Commissioner · elected November 4, 2025
  • Randal J. SchisselDecorah City Council Ward 5 · elected November 4, 2025
  • Brent ParkerDecorah City Council Ward 1 · elected November 7, 2023
  • Brian FuhrmannDecorah Park and Recreation Commission · elected November 7, 2023
  • Christopher MiculinichDecorah City Council Ward 2 · elected November 7, 2023
  • Emily NealDecorah City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Kathy BakkenDecorah Park and Recreation Commission · elected November 7, 2023
  • Richard GaardDecorah Park and Recreation Commission · elected November 7, 2023
  • Steven ZittergruenDecorah City Council Ward 4 · 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.3

City Council · Monday, November 2, 2026Agenda (PDF)

AI summary

  • Discuss and consider new rules regarding urban camping and updates to how tax and revenue money is divided for the North Side Residential and Business Park urban renewal areas.
  • Discuss a potential agreement with Sherman Place Water and Roads, Inc. regarding backup municipal water service and hold a discussion on city sidewalk inspections.
  • Review plans for the 2026 Decorah Business Park and a proposed Decorah Workforce Housing urban renewal area, including setting dates for public hearings.
  • Finalize the College Drive improvements project, including a final payment and a resolution to accept the project as complete.
  • Address several construction and property items, including the Montgomery Street and Hwy 9 stormwater project by Skyline Construction, an invoice from Restoration Services for library renovations, and new street rights-of-way and easements.
  • Consider renewing the retail alcohol license for Landing Market and fill vacancies on the Tree Board, Human Rights Commission, Library Board, and Civil Service Commission.
6 resolutions · 0 ordinances · 1 hearings
  • Resolutionc. Resolution Setting Date for Public Hearing on Designation of the 2026 Decorah Business Park Urban Renewal Area and on Urban Renewal Plan and Projects
  • Resolutiond. Resolution Determining the Necessity and Setting Dates of a Consultation and Public
  • HearingHearing on a Proposed Decorah Workforce Housing Urban Renewal Plan and for a Proposed Urban Renewal Area in the City of Decorah, State of Iowa
  • Resolutionh. Resolution Accepting Improvement to College Drive Project as Complete
  • Resolutionk. Resolution Approving Street Right-of-Way Plats and Accepting Deed for Red Oak Road, Aspen Lane Road, and Part of Shagbark Lane Road and 172nd Avenue, Dedicating as Public Street Right-of-Way
  • Resolutionl. Resolution Accepting Easement from Steve Downing Development Company, LLC
  • Resolutionm. Resolution Accepting Easement from Scenic View Estates Homeowners Association
City Council · Monday, October 26, 2026Agenda (PDF)

AI summary

  • Discussion regarding the proposed street improvement plan for the 2028 fiscal year.
  • Discussion regarding the sidewalk improvement plan for the 2028 fiscal year.
  • Discussion on urban camping.
City Council · Monday, October 19, 2026Agenda (PDF)

AI summary

  • Hold public hearings and consider actions regarding the North Side Residential Urban Renewal Plan, including designating an economic development area and dividing revenues.
  • Hold a public hearing and consider a development agreement with Tom Massman Construction, Inc.
  • Discuss providing $70,000.00 in matching funds for construction documents for the Cluster Housing Development Project.
  • Consider updates to city zoning laws regarding last mile delivery facilities and data centers, and a new ordinance regarding urban camping.
  • Consider awarding ISG Design and Engineering Firm the contract for the Park and Recreation Master Plan and discussing an SS4A grant amendment.
  • Review various project payments and agreements, including renovations for the Decorah Public Library, work at Carlson Park and the Athletic Complex, tree removal by Brink’s Tree Service LLC, and a street light payment to Alliant Energy.
2 resolutions · 0 ordinances · 0 hearings
  • Resolutionj. Resolution Approving Chapter 28E Fire Protection Agreement Amendment
  • Resolutionk. Resolution Accepting Recreational Trail Easement from Kevin and Leslie Sand
Show 5 more meetings
City Council · Monday, October 5, 2026Agenda (PDF)

AI summary

  • The Council will consider two second readings of updates to the city's zoning laws regarding data centers and last-mile delivery facilities.
  • Discussion and possible action will be taken regarding an amendment to the SS4A grant.
  • The Council will consider a resolution to authorize lease agreements with Enterprise Fleet Management and a resolution to set a public hearing date for a development agreement with Tom Massman Construction, Inc.
  • Several construction payments and project updates will be reviewed, including the Heivly Street Intersection Improvements, Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements, and the 2026 Street Improvements Chip Seal project.
  • The Council will consider a joint agreement with Winneshiek County for the North Side Urban Renewal Area and a contract between the Decorah Human Rights Commission and the Iowa Office of Civil Rights.
  • Business includes alcohol license updates for Bon Appetit Management Co and Your Place, LLC, as well as filling vacancies on the Tree Board, Human Rights Commission, Library Board, and Civil Service Commission.
2 resolutions · 0 ordinances · 0 hearings
  • Resolutionc. Resolution Fixing Date for Public Hearing on Proposal to Enter into a Development Agreement with Tom Massman Construction, Inc.
  • Resolutionh. Resolution Accepting Decorah 2026 Street Improvements as Complete – Chip Seal Project
City Council · Monday, September 28, 2026Agenda (PDF)

AI summary

  • Discuss the Sustainability Commission's progress regarding the city's spray policy.
  • Talk about the Mill Street Improvements Project.
  • Discuss the IDOT Highway 9 Corridor.
City Council · Monday, September 21, 2026Agenda (PDF)
City Council · Wednesday, September 9, 2026Agenda (PDF)
City Council · Tuesday, September 8, 2026Agenda (PDF)

Property taxes

How the bill is collected · What each levy is for

Who gets a property owner’s tax bill in Decorah

Homes and businesses in most of Decorah pay a combined $23.31 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Winneshiek County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $15.52. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

CombinedCity’s own
0$10$20$30$40’20’22’24’26’27CombinedCity’s own
0$10$20$30$40’20’21’22’23’24’25’26’27CombinedCity’s own
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$35.33$14.21
FY21$35.86$14.19
FY22$36.71$15.26
FY23$37.28$15.91
FY24$38.13$16.40
FY25$39.00$16.28
FY26$39.69$16.17
FY27$38.83$15.52
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$35.33$14.21
FY21$35.86$14.19
FY22$36.71$15.26
FY23$37.28$15.91
FY24$38.13$16.40
FY25$39.00$16.28
FY26$39.69$16.17
FY27$38.83$15.52

Compared with places this size4

Decorah’s city property tax rate of $15.52 per $1,000 is the 21st highest of 48 Iowa cities with 5,000–11,000 people. The middle of the group is $15.10.

Red Oak: $20.65Oelwein: $20.16Keokuk: $19.68Independence: $19.01Iowa Falls: $18.86Fort Madison: $18.84Denison: $18.69Perry: $17.91Waverly: $17.53Atlantic: $17.48Knoxville: $17.46Clarinda: $17.25Centerville: $16.85Algona: $16.75Fairfield: $16.69Webster City: $16.51Winterset: $16.15Anamosa: $15.95Charles City: $15.95Grinnell: $15.60Sheldon: $15.33Estherville: $15.27Washington: $15.21Creston: $14.99Manchester: $14.96Cherokee: $14.82Glenwood: $14.77Nevada: $14.58Osceola: $14.37Windsor Heights: $14.30Orange City: $14.01Hiawatha: $13.78Sergeant Bluff: $13.70Adel: $13.43Maquoketa: $12.85Mount Pleasant: $11.94Tiffin: $11.80Carroll: $11.25Le Mars: $11.18Sioux Center: $11.05Polk City: $11.00Bondurant: $10.82Pella: $10.75Spirit Lake: $10.17Clear Lake: $9.85Asbury: $8.32Eldridge: $8.13Decorah: $15.52$8.13 lowest$20.65 highestmiddle
See all 48
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Red Oak$20.655,420
2Oelwein$20.165,788
3Keokuk$19.689,462
4Independence$19.016,266
5Iowa Falls$18.864,993
6Fort Madison$18.849,983
7Denison$18.698,302
8Perry$17.918,046
9Waverly$17.5310,576
10Atlantic$17.486,717
11Knoxville$17.467,440
12Clarinda$17.255,334
13Centerville$16.855,345
14Algona$16.755,341
15Fairfield$16.699,511
16Webster City$16.517,763
17Winterset$16.155,421
18Anamosa$15.955,845
19Charles City$15.957,081
20Grinnell$15.609,495
21Decorah$15.527,454
22Sheldon$15.335,584
23Estherville$15.275,796
24Washington$15.217,281
25Creston$14.997,421
26Manchester$14.965,283
27Cherokee$14.825,186
28Glenwood$14.775,250
29Nevada$14.587,082
30Osceola$14.375,585
31Windsor Heights$14.305,106
32Orange City$14.016,547
33Hiawatha$13.787,347
34Sergeant Bluff$13.705,335
35Adel$13.436,763
36Maquoketa$12.856,064
37Mount Pleasant$11.948,509
38Tiffin$11.806,695
39Carroll$11.2510,125
40Le Mars$11.1810,674
41Sioux Center$11.058,675
42Polk City$11.006,430
43Bondurant$10.829,511
44Pella$10.7510,965
45Spirit Lake$10.175,548
46Clear Lake$9.857,602
47Asbury$8.326,051
48Eldridge$8.136,967

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$3.6M51%
  • Debt Service Levy$1.7M23%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.5M20%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$296,5974%
  • Support of a Local Emerg. Mgmt. Comm.$123,7982%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Decorah’s budget goes, FY26

Capital Projects: 27¢ of every dollar27¢Business Type / Enterprise: 23¢ of every dollar23¢Culture and Recreation: 16¢ of every dollar16¢Public Works: 13¢ of every dollar13¢Public Safety: 11¢ of every dollar11¢Everything else: 10¢ of every dollar10¢

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 47 Iowa cities closest in size (5,000–11,000 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (47)
Capital Projects27¢21¢
Business Type / Enterprise23¢37¢
Culture and Recreation16¢7¢
Public Works13¢8¢
Public Safety11¢13¢
Everything else10¢14¢

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$10.5M36%
  • Culture and Recreation$7.2M25%
  • Public Safety$3.7M13%
  • Public Works$3.2M11%
  • Debt Service$2.2M7%
  • Community and Economic Development$1.3M5%
  • General Government$1.0M4%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($7.4M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$4.9M$3.8M
Public Safety$2.4M$2.4M
Health and Social Services$579,751$15,250
General Government$954,197$885,282
Debt Service$1.3M$1.3M
Culture and Recreation$2.7M$2.4M
Community and Economic Development$622,849$720,353
Capital Projects$0$119,593
Business Type / Enterprise$2.8M$2.4M

What it spent each year

FY24 left out5

$19.0M
$14.4M
’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’25

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? 6

What the state pays the city

$1.6M in FY25: down 6% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 25% less. Road Use Tax, the money for streets the state sends every year by formula, is up 3% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 18% less; grants come and go.

In today's dollarsActual dollars
$1.0M$1.8M$2.5M$3.3M$4.0M’19’21’23’25Today's $Actual
$1.0M$1.8M$2.5M$3.3M$4.0M’19’20’21’22’23’24’25Today's $Actual
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$1.1M$1.0M$1.1M$1.1M
State grants$30,726$527,028$60,828$527,851
Iowa DOT projects$799,094–––
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$172,355$143,009$74,284–
LIBRARY DONATIONS 168––$46,700–
REIMBURSEMENT––$32,751–
PARK DONATIONS 167––$18,000–
LOCAL DONATIONS POLICE DOG––$8,888–
Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$1.1M$1.0M$1.1M$1.1M
State grants$30,726$527,028$60,828$527,851
Iowa DOT projects$799,094–––
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)$172,355$143,009$74,284–
LIBRARY DONATIONS 168––$46,700–
REIMBURSEMENT––$32,751–
PARK DONATIONS 167––$18,000–
LOCAL DONATIONS POLICE DOG––$8,888–

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−18%$1.0M → $1.1M, up 3% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 18% less
  • State grants+198%$141,318 → $527,851, up 274% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 198% 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 28% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 2% more.

$1.5M
$1.4M
’19’20’21’22’23’24’25

Federal grants, for comparison: $236,365 in FY25.

Elections

Most recent: November 3, 2026

Ballot measures · 1

Passed Yes 61.6% (2,374) · No 38.4% (1,481)

Passes with more yes votes than no.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Decorah; official results are on each county auditor’s site.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress7

Mike Klimesh (Sen. 32)Michael R. Bergan (Rep. 63)

U.S. House:District 2

Winneshiek CountyDecorah schools