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Town Hall · Beacon

Beacon spent less per resident in 2022 than 99% of similar cities

Beacon’s city government spent $96,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $197 per resident.

Election Day

Today

General election in Iowa.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$96,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$197
In 2022: $197, less than 99% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 3 part-time · March payroll $969
Typical tax bill
$980
1.26% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Beacon is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $197 per resident, less than 99% of 802 similar cities.A shared school districtShares Oskaloosa Community School District with 4 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $980 a year: 1.26% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$197 per resident in 2022: less than 99% of them

Beacon’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($197 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $900, and the middle half spent $634–$1,190. Beacon spent less than 99% of them.

Middle half of the group, $634–$1,190Median $900Beacon

Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
802

Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Beacon itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $197 per resident a year, or $0.54 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 17%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 32%Property taxes 28%From the state 21%From the federal government 18%Interest, fines & other 2%
Not in the receipt.Payments to other governments $46,000. With these, the whole budget was $142,000.
About “Other”.49% of Beacon’s day-to-day spending ($47,000) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

Beacon reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $980 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.26% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Beacon$980
$980
typical bill a year
1.26%
effective rate
$77,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Beacon’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

Tax bills are one input to Beacon’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Beacon →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Beacon

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

Check Beacon’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Beacon yet.
The school district

Oskaloosa Community School District

Beacon’s K–12 school district, shared with Keomah Village, Oskaloosa, Rose Hill, University Park. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Beacon →
$13,969
per pupil · IA $13,713
2,130
students
$9.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,969 per pupil, $8,153 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 33%State 57%Federal 10%

Iowa districts overall: 43% local, 49% state, 8% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

Beacon’s votes are counted by county

Iowa reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Beacon alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Mahaska County’s results.

President · Mahaska County’s results10,910 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican75.2%8,207 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat23.6%2,577 votes

Others: 1.2% (126 votes).

Most votes in Mahaska County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

100% of Beacon lies in Mahaska County. Every 2024 race in Mahaska County is on the county’s page.

Mahaska County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Beacon

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Beacon.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Barb Kniff McCulla
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Ken Rozenboom
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kim Reynolds
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Mariannette Miller-Meeks
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Iowa
    Chuck GrassleyJoni Ernst

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Reach Beacon’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Beacon’s government

How much does Beacon spend per resident?

About $197 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $197 was less than 99% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Beacon?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $980 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.26% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who runs Beacon’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Beacon yet.

How did Beacon vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Beacon alone. Mahaska County, where 100% of Beacon lies, voted Trump 75.2%, Harris 23.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Beacon?

0 full-time and 3 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $969 (about $11,628 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Beacon in the state legislature?

State Senate District 19 (Ken Rozenboom) and State House District 37 (Barb Kniff McCulla). The House district also covers 11 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Beacon’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →