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Bedford, IAPhoto: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Bedford

Bedford spent more per resident in 2022 than 73% of similar cities

Bedford’s city government spent $1.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,159 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.1 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Iowa.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.6M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,159
In 2022: $1,159, more than 73% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$3.8M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
11
full-time · 3 part-time · March payroll $41,286
Typical tax bill
$1,269
1.31% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Bedford is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,159 per resident, more than 73% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer56% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Bedford Community School District with 4 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,269 a year: 1.31% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$1,159 per resident in 2022: more than 73% of them

Bedford’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,159 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 $632–$1,190. Bedford spent more than 73% of them.

Middle half of the group, $632–$1,190Median $900Bedford

Includes sewer and trash ($404,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. 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; Bedford itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,159 per resident a year, or $3.18 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 25%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 36%From the federal government 18%Fees & charges 16%Property taxes 12%From the state 8%Interest, fines & other 5%Sales taxes 5%From other local governments <1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $5.4 million; interest on debt $73,000; payments to other governments $203,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $8.4 million.
About “Other”.32% of Bedford’s day-to-day spending ($504,000) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,269 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.31% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Bedford$1,269
$1,269
typical bill a year
1.31%
effective rate
$96,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Bedford’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 Bedford’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Bedford →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Bedford

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

See bedfordia.org for Bedford’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Bedford yet.bedfordia.org ↗
Agendas

Bedford’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on bedfordia.org ↗.

Who works for Bedford

One full-time city employee for every 125 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (1,380).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Administration & buildings3
Roads & transportation3
Water & other utilities3
Sewer & trash2
Parks & libraries0 + 3 pt
11
full-time
3
part-time
$41,286
payroll for March 2022
$495,432
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$42,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Bedford had 8.0 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 648 of the 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 2.8: Bedford had more than 84% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Bedford Community School District

Bedford’s K–12 school district, shared with Blockton, Conway, Gravity, New Market. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Bedford →
$13,967
per pupil · IA $13,713
523
students
$1.2 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,967 per pupil, $7,977 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 43%State 47%Federal 9%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Bedford’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Taylor County’s results3,078 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican77.4%2,381 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat21.6%666 votes

Others: 1.0% (31 votes).

Most votes in Taylor County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Taylor 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 Bedford

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Bedford.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: bedfordia.org ↗
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Devon Wood
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Tom Shipley
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kim Reynolds
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Zachary Nunn
  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 Bedford’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websitebedfordia.org ↗

Questions about Bedford’s government

How much does Bedford spend per resident?

About $1,159 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 $1,159 was more than 73% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Bedford?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,269 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.31% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see bedfordia.org.

Who runs Bedford’s government?

See bedfordia.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Bedford yet.

How did Bedford vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Bedford alone. Taylor County, where 100% of Bedford lies, voted Trump 77.4%, Harris 21.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Bedford?

11 full-time and 3 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $41,286 (about $495,432 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Bedford in the state legislature?

State Senate District 9 (Tom Shipley) and State House District 17 (Devon Wood). The House district also covers 30 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Bedford’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 →