Finance

The Finance Department has three primary functions:

  • To report the results of city operations in a way that allows the city to meet all its reporting requirements and give all constituents information upon which they may evaluate the effectiveness of city operations
  • To satisfy the obligations of the city, in other words – pay the bills to vendors, employees, and contractors
  • To take in funds for the operation of the city and properly account for these receipts

Taking in City Funds

Council Bluffs collects money from a number of different sources, including licenses and permits (such as pet licenses), fees for goods or services (such as trash bills), various city taxes (other than property tax), and parking tickets. Money is received by the Treasurer’s Office and can be paid by mail, in person at City Hall, or online.

Reporting City Activity

The City of Council Bluffs uses three major reporting documents to report its operations to the public: Operating Budget, Comprehensive Financial Report, and Capital Improvement Program.

City Budget Information 

Operating budget documents dating back to 2011:
FY24 Adopted Budget | FY23 Amended Budget
FY23 Adopted Budget | FY22 Adopted Budget | FY22 Proposed Budget | FY22 Proposed Amended Budget | FY21 Adopted Budget | FY21 Proposed Amended Budget | FY20 Adopted Budget | Prior Adopted Budgets

Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) 

ACFR documents dating back to 2005:
2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report  | Prior ACFRs

Capital Improvement Program (CIP) 

CIP documents dating back to 2009: 
FY24 Capital Improvement Plan | FY23 Capital Improvement Plan | Prior CIPs

Maximum Property Tax Levy

FY22 Maximum Property Tax Levy Hearing Notice
FY22 Maximum Property Tax Levy Resolution
FY21 Maximum Property Tax Levy Hearing Notice
FY21 Maximum Property Tax Levy Resolution

The budget is prepared for a fiscal year (running from July 1 to June 30) during January and February of the upcoming year. The Mayor is responsible for preparing the budget, the City Council must approve it, and the Finance Director must file the budget by March 31 with the County Auditor and the Iowa Department of Management. At the end of the fiscal year, an ACFR is prepared by the Finance Department and audited by the Auditor of State’s Office. The report is released within six months of the fiscal year's end.