Topic areas on this page:
City Budgets | Audits, Accounting & Financial Reporting | Financial Policies & Planning
Property Taxes & Local Option Taxes | Additional Finance Resources
City Budget Resources
Cities are required to pass a budget annually and there are quite a few steps that must be followed before and after…
There are a number of ways a city can work through the budget process before final approval. City council members and city…
The finish line for the city government budgeting process in Iowa is clear, with state law requiring cities to approve and file…
Code of Iowa Section 331.385 and Section 331.424C allow cities and townships to enter into 28E fire township and emergency management services…
Audits, Accounting and
Financial Reporting Topics
Many would suggest that cities do accounting on the accrual basis “just like a business”. However, there are real differences between a business…
The basis of any accounting system (manual or electronic) is a systematic use of numeric or alpha numeric segments organized in such…
Completing financial audits and establishing appropriate internal controls are essential to maintaining financial health in your community. There are various requirements cities…
Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement Number 54 (GASB 54) provides guidance for fund balance categories and classifications and governmental fund type definitions. In…
Financial Policies
and Planning Topics
The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is a three to five-year plan identifying a community’s capital outlay and improvement needs. As a long-range…
It is recommended that each city have a Cash Management Policy for a number of reasons. First, it gives the citizens and…
Each city must name one individual, usually the city clerk or finance officer, as the prudent finance officer, whose responsibility it is…
Cities occasionally need to incur debt to finance a needed project or program for the community. It is recommended to first adopt…
Property Taxes and
Local Option Taxes Topics
As permitted in Code of Iowa Chapter 423A, a city may impose a hotel/motel tax at a rate not to exceed 7 percent after a successful election…
In order for a city to have a local option sales and service tax (LOSST), a majority of the eligible electors in…
One of the key aspects of the property tax system in Iowa is how properties are assessed and valued. Cities, counties, schools and…
Code of Iowa Chapter 427B allows cities to pass an ordinance establishing an industrial abatement to local property taxes for improving industrial real…
Additional
Finance Resources
City council members and mayors have the important responsibility of managing the city’s funds. With that responsibility comes difficult decisions on how…
Cities may need to borrow money for a number of different reasons, but it usually revolves around a capital project or equipment…
Continuing disclosure is a reporting requirement for information about a municipal bond that occurs after the initial issuance of the bond. This…
When reviewing the fiscal condition of a city, the collection of fees and charges is an important element to consider. In other words, a city must be able…
Related Publications
Find publications related to city finance.
This publication is designed to assist cities begin their annual budget process. Learn about revenues, expenditures, legislation and other budget issues.
This guide has been prepared for the cities of Iowa to assist the city clerks, finance officers as well as other personnel in their municipal duties. Order your copy.
Property taxes play a significant role in municipal government as the primary funding source for city budgets. Check out a variety of special reports regarding this topic.