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BlakesburgIASignPhoto: Sroemerman at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 2.5
Town Hall · Blakesburg

How is Blakesburg run?

Blakesburg’s city government spent $298,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,046 per resident. Water and other utilities ($106,000) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$298,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,046
In 2022: $1,046, more than 64% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$386,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 4 part-time · March payroll $2,294
Typical tax bill
$1,000
1.16% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Blakesburg is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Runs its own water & sewer37% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District with 4 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,000 a year: 1.16% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,046 per resident a year, or $2.87 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 40%.

Where the money comes from
From the federal government 23%Fees & charges 19%Utility sales 17%Property taxes 13%Sales taxes 12%From the state 8%Interest, fines & other 4%From other local governments 3%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $17,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $430,000.
Compared with similar places

$1,046 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Blakesburg’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,046 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. Blakesburg spent more than 64% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($46,000), 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; Blakesburg itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,000 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.16% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Blakesburg$1,000
$1,000
typical bill a year
1.16%
effective rate
$85,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Blakesburg

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

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

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District

Blakesburg’s K–12 school district, shared with Chillicothe, Eddyville, Fremont, Kirkville. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Blakesburg →
$15,758
per pupil · IA $13,713
912
students
$49,000
long-term debt

Of the $15,758 per pupil, $8,675 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 54%State 35%Federal 11%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Blakesburg’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Wapello County’s results14,571 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican65.1%9,479 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat33.6%4,896 votes

Others: 1.3% (196 votes).

Most votes in Wapello County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Wapello 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 Blakesburg

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Blakesburg.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Austin Harris
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Cherielynn Westrich
  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 Blakesburg’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Blakesburg’s government

How much does Blakesburg spend per resident?

About $1,046 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 $1,046 was more than 64% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Blakesburg?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,000 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.16% 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 Blakesburg’s government?

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

How did Blakesburg vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Blakesburg alone. Wapello County, where 100% of Blakesburg lies, voted Trump 65.1%, Harris 33.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Blakesburg?

0 full-time and 4 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $2,294 (about $27,528 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Blakesburg in the state legislature?

State Senate District 13 (Cherielynn Westrich) and State House District 26 (Austin Harris). The House district also covers 20 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Blakesburg’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 →