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Local taxes › Worth County › Northwood

City

Northwood

Worth County · How cities work

$2,670 a yearproperty tax on a $200,000 home here, FY27, for every local government ($31.67 per $1,000 of taxable value)1
$950 a yearof that goes to the city ($11.28 per $1,000)
$838,639property taxes the city levies, FY27
$2.7Mcity 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.

  • Douglas F. MoehleNorthwood Mayor · elected November 4, 2025
  • Steve PetersonNorthwood City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Teresa George-ZenzNorthwood City Council At-Large · elected November 4, 2025
  • Annika SchreiberNorthwood City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Daniel L. ReederNorthwood City Council At-Large · elected November 7, 2023
  • Michael BodeNorthwood 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 Northwood

Homes and businesses in most of Northwood pay a combined $31.67 per $1,000 of taxable value (FY27). They pay it all to the Worth County treasurer, who passes each government its share; the city sets and gets only its own piece, $11.28. Estimate your bill.

Rates over time

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

YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$34.43$14.34
FY21$31.81$11.63
FY22$31.48$11.65
FY23$31.08$10.97
FY24$32.22$11.90
FY25$32.36$11.64
FY26$32.42$11.68
FY27$31.67$11.28
Show the numbers
YearCombinedCity’s own
FY20$34.43$14.34
FY21$31.81$11.63
FY22$31.48$11.65
FY23$31.08$10.97
FY24$32.22$11.90
FY25$32.36$11.64
FY26$32.42$11.68
FY27$31.67$11.28

Compared with places this size3

Northwood’s city property tax rate of $11.28 per $1,000 is the 12th lowest of 104 Iowa cities with 1,400–3,100 people. The middle of the group is $14.18.

Eldora: $26.87Pocahontas: $20.79Rockwell City: $20.74Bloomfield: $20.41Belmond: $19.86Sibley: $19.77Sac City: $19.69Traer: $19.56Corning: $19.36Lake City: $19.32Corydon: $18.22Toledo: $18.21La Porte City: $18.08Tama: $17.74Clarion: $17.74Britt: $17.72Missouri Valley: $17.68Madrid: $16.93Manson: $16.87Nashua: $16.81Ackley: $16.63West Union: $16.60Audubon: $16.52Roland: $16.51Monona: $16.41Grundy Center: $16.36Belle Plaine: $16.34Colfax: $16.25Durant: $16.24Lamoni: $16.15Marengo: $16.10Holstein: $15.81State Center: $15.80Pleasantville: $15.80Postville: $15.68Earlham: $15.55Tipton: $15.54Brooklyn: $15.49Stuart: $15.48Mount Ayr: $15.32Granger: $15.22Sigourney: $15.20Guttenberg: $15.19Sumner: $14.83Woodbine: $14.80Bedford: $14.66Manning: $14.62Van Meter: $14.60Rock Rapids: $14.57Jesup: $14.31Kingsley: $14.25Urbana: $14.20Parkersburg: $14.15Hartley: $14.11Ida Grove: $14.10Woodward: $14.05Guthrie Center: $14.04Lake Mills: $13.82Montezuma: $13.79Gilbert: $13.71Wilton: $13.62Avoca: $13.51Wapello: $13.29Hudson: $13.19Center Point: $13.19Greenfield: $13.13Hawarden: $13.02Akron: $12.93Leon: $12.93Garner: $12.86Slater: $12.79Bellevue: $12.67Sanborn: $12.62New London: $12.56Lisbon: $12.50Dallas Center: $12.42Onawa: $12.32Remsen: $12.32Monroe: $12.28Denver: $12.27Alta: $12.13Reinbeck: $12.10Atkins: $11.99Wellman: $11.88Blue Grass: $11.79Hull: $11.79Columbus Junction: $11.71Cascade: $11.64West Branch: $11.63Mitchellville: $11.54Palo: $11.49Prairie City: $11.38Mediapolis: $11.27Ely: $11.08Ogden: $10.99Farley: $10.91Oakland: $10.85Moville: $10.67Kalona: $10.37Walcott: $10.29Peosta: $9.82Epworth: $9.42Fairfax: $8.10Northwood: $11.28$8.10 lowest$26.87 highestmiddle
See all 104
#PlaceRate per $1,000People
1Eldora$26.872,595
2Pocahontas$20.791,848
3Rockwell City$20.742,185
4Bloomfield$20.412,773
5Belmond$19.862,405
6Sibley$19.772,787
7Sac City$19.691,992
8Traer$19.561,547
9Corning$19.361,509
10Lake City$19.321,656
11Corydon$18.221,563
12Toledo$18.212,372
13La Porte City$18.082,267
14Tama$17.742,997
15Clarion$17.742,751
16Britt$17.722,001
17Missouri Valley$17.682,638
18Madrid$16.932,824
19Manson$16.871,646
20Nashua$16.811,515
21Ackley$16.631,538
22West Union$16.602,435
23Audubon$16.522,008
24Roland$16.511,376
25Monona$16.411,462
26Grundy Center$16.362,821
27Belle Plaine$16.342,335
28Colfax$16.252,305
29Durant$16.241,798
30Lamoni$16.152,072
31Marengo$16.102,415
32Holstein$15.811,475
33State Center$15.801,403
34Pleasantville$15.801,696
35Postville$15.682,418
36Earlham$15.551,411
37Tipton$15.543,059
38Brooklyn$15.491,474
39Stuart$15.481,887
40Mount Ayr$15.321,616
41Granger$15.222,095
42Sigourney$15.201,974
43Guttenberg$15.191,804
44Sumner$14.832,032
45Woodbine$14.801,707
46Bedford$14.661,474
47Manning$14.621,390
48Van Meter$14.601,840
49Rock Rapids$14.572,709
50Jesup$14.312,541
51Kingsley$14.251,394
52Urbana$14.201,635
53Parkersburg$14.151,986
54Hartley$14.111,584
55Ida Grove$14.101,988
56Woodward$14.051,383
57Guthrie Center$14.041,579
58Lake Mills$13.822,077
59Montezuma$13.791,421
60Gilbert$13.711,397
61Wilton$13.622,914
62Avoca$13.511,685
63Wapello$13.292,026
64Hudson$13.192,916
65Center Point$13.192,578
66Greenfield$13.131,988
67Hawarden$13.022,630
68Akron$12.931,545
69Leon$12.931,779
70Garner$12.863,049
71Slater$12.791,626
72Bellevue$12.672,321
73Sanborn$12.621,463
74New London$12.561,853
75Lisbon$12.502,238
76Dallas Center$12.421,993
77Onawa$12.322,795
78Remsen$12.321,681
79Monroe$12.282,021
80Denver$12.271,955
81Alta$12.132,039
82Reinbeck$12.101,673
83Atkins$11.992,168
84Wellman$11.881,531
85Blue Grass$11.791,707
86Hull$11.792,459
87Columbus Junction$11.711,794
88Cascade$11.642,396
89West Branch$11.632,876
90Mitchellville$11.542,686
91Palo$11.491,554
92Prairie City$11.381,722
93Northwood$11.282,047
94Mediapolis$11.271,679
95Ely$11.082,371
96Ogden$10.991,970
97Farley$10.911,723
98Oakland$10.851,519
99Moville$10.671,707
100Kalona$10.372,762
101Walcott$10.291,556
102Peosta$9.822,195
103Epworth$9.422,042
104Fairfax$8.102,937

The $8.10 limit

Northwood’s general levy is $7.56 per $1,000 of taxable value in FY27, $0.54 below the limit.4 784 of 934 Iowa cities have a higher general levy. All cities.

FY23 $8.10 · FY24 $8.10 · FY25 $7.86 · FY26 $7.79 · FY27 $7.56 (before FY25, the general levy alone)

Outside the limit: $3.72 more5

  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$2.03 · $150,000
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$1.69 · $125,000

Tax increment financing (TIF)

$7.6M of taxable value in Northwood is in TIF districts’ increment (9% of the city’s taxable value), 2025 valuations, taxed in FY27.6 It budgeted $225,000 in TIF revenue for FY25.

$428,692
$280,455

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 $86,079 of the city’s own.

  • Northwood-Kensett schools$73,197
  • Worth County$47,700
YearTIF revenue
FY16$286,559
FY17$351,821
FY18$428,692
FY19$389,274
FY20$395,160
FY21$255,407
FY22$295,556
FY23$280,455
Show the numbers
YearTIF revenue
FY16$286,559
FY17$351,821
FY18$428,692
FY19$389,274
FY20$395,160
FY21$255,407
FY22$295,556
FY23$280,455

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$558,93567%
  • Liability, property & self insurance costs$150,00018%
  • Total Employee Benefit Levies$125,00015%

Budget and spending

Reading a local budget

Where each dollar of Northwood’s budget goes, FY26

Business Type / Enterprise: 32¢ of every dollar32¢Public Works: 22¢ of every dollar22¢Community and Economic Development: 11¢ of every dollar11¢Public Safety: 10¢ of every dollar10¢Culture and Recreation: 10¢ of every dollar10¢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 103 Iowa cities closest in size (1,400–3,100 people).

Where it goesOf each dollarCities this size (103)
Business Type / Enterprise32¢41¢
Public Works22¢10¢
Community and Economic Development11¢3¢
Public Safety10¢11¢
Culture and Recreation10¢7¢
Everything else14¢12¢

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$916,20434%
  • Public Safety$474,99618%
  • Culture and Recreation$446,01917%
  • General Government$338,35013%
  • Community and Economic Development$243,4979%
  • Debt Service$223,8408%
  • Health and Social Services$23,6251%

The state’s FY27 file doesn’t include business type / enterprise yet ($1.3M in FY26), so this total is low.

Budget compared with what it spent, FY23
FunctionBudgetSpent
Public Works$741,340$767,228
Public Safety$383,299$432,330
Health and Social Services$16,155$19,795
General Government$339,759$261,299
Debt Service$228,000$225,960
Culture and Recreation$404,856$372,127
Community and Economic Development$685,000$503,080
Capital Projects$0$0
Business Type / Enterprise$1.2M$1.1M

What it spent each year

FY24 left out8

$8.0M
$4.8M

Debt, reserves and audits

How local debt works · What an audit tells you

What Northwood owes

$6.7M at June 30, 2026: $3,212 per resident. 261st most per resident of 939 Iowa places of its kind (the list).9

$9.5M
$6.7M
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$6.7M$3,212
2025$7.0M$3,385
2024$7.4M$3,555
2023$7.7M$3,721
2022$8.0M$3,884
2021$8.4M$4,044
2020$8.7M$4,190
2019$8.7M$4,204
2018$9.5M$4,608
2017$5.1M$2,464
2016$833,000$402
2015$1.0M$494
2014$1.2M$582
2013$1.4M$668
2012$1.6M$752
2011$1.8M$859
2010$2.0M$975
Show the numbers
June 30OwedPer resident
2026$6.7M$3,212
2025$7.0M$3,385
2024$7.4M$3,555
2023$7.7M$3,721
2022$8.0M$3,884
2021$8.4M$4,044
2020$8.7M$4,190
2019$8.7M$4,204
2018$9.5M$4,608
2017$5.1M$2,464
2016$833,000$402
2015$1.0M$494
2014$1.2M$582
2013$1.4M$668
2012$1.6M$752
2011$1.8M$859
2010$2.0M$975

Up 230% since 2010.

The 5% limit10

General obligation debt is $2.0M, 27% of the limit of about $7.3M (5% of $146.6M, the full value of its taxable property in 2024).

2 obligations at June 30, 2026
KindForPaid off byOwed
Revenue Bonds2017 Sewer Revenue Bond2047$4.7M
General Obligation2017 Sewer GO Bond2036$2.0M

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. Northwood’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 Friday, December 12, 2025, by a CPA firm.

9 earlier reports for Northwood

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? 13

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: $294,264 in FY25, up 5% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 16% less. Grants are below.

Show the numbers
SourceFY22FY23FY24FY25
Road Use Tax (streets)$284,351$285,319$292,675$294,264
Commercial and industrial tax replacement (“backfill”)––––

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.

$120,000
  • Iowa Economic Development Authority$120,000100%
YearGrants and projects
FY19$0
FY20$3,862
FY21$3,272
FY22$3,254
FY23$1,399
FY24$0
FY25$120,000
Show the numbers
YearGrants and projects
FY19$0
FY20$3,862
FY21$3,272
FY22$3,254
FY23$1,399
FY24$0
FY25$120,000

Has it kept up with prices?

Each source from FY19 to FY25, after inflation.

  • Road Use Tax (streets)−9%$256,950 → $294,264, up 15% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 9% 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 57% since FY19 while prices rose 25%, so it buys 25% more.

$326,960

Federal grants, for comparison: $240,000 in FY24.

Business awards

Every award statewide

State economic development awards

Community college new jobs training: 2 contracts since 2000 worth $249K, for 56 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)14.

In a city that can hold a primary, filing runs Monday, August 9, 2027 to Thursday, August 26, 2027.

Most recent: November 4, 2025

Ballot measures · 1

Failed Yes 44.8% (90) · No 55.2% (111)

Passes with more yes votes than no.

City · 2

2 seats: the top 2 win.

Local races from civicAPI and county auditors for Northwood; 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.

  • Northwood City Council At-Large (3 seats)
    Now held by Annika Schreiber, Michael Bode, Daniel L. Reeder

Candidates as county auditors and civicAPI list them; a filing can take a few days to appear here15.

Past ballot measures

  • Public Measure WPNovember 4, 2025

    Failed Yes 44.8% (90) · No 55.2% (111)

    Passes with more yes votes than no.

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 ballot16.

Related places

At the Statehouse and in Congress17

Doug Campbell (Sen. 30)Jane Bloomingdale (Rep. 60)

U.S. House:District 2

Worth CountyNorthwood-Kensett schools