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

Castana spent less per resident in 2022 than 70% of similar cities

Castana’s city government spent $94,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $707 per resident. Water and other utilities ($25,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$94,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$707
In 2022: $707, less than 70% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$2,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 3 part-time · March payroll $1,517
Typical tax bill
$732
0.98% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Castana is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$707 per resident in 2022: less than 70% of them

Castana’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($707 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. Castana spent less than 70% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($19,000), 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; Castana itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $707 per resident a year, or $1.94 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 30%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 20%From the state 20%Fees & charges 17%Property taxes 12%Interest, fines & other 11%Sales taxes 11%From other local governments 9%
Not in the receipt.With the enterprises, the whole budget was $119,000.
About “Other”.30% of Castana’s day-to-day spending ($28,000) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $732 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.98% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Castana$732
$732
typical bill a year
0.98%
effective rate
$74,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Castana

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

See castanaiowa.com for Castana’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Castana yet.castanaiowa.com ↗
Agendas

Castana’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on castanaiowa.com ↗.

The school district

Maple Valley-Anthon Oto Community School District

Castana’s K–12 school district, shared with Anthon, Danbury, Mapleton, Oto, Rodney. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Castana →
$15,281
per pupil · IA $13,713
626
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $15,281 per pupil, $9,923 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 53%State 41%Federal 6%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Castana’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Monona County’s results4,616 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican72.2%3,331 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat26.8%1,236 votes

Others: 1.1% (49 votes).

Most votes in Monona County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Monona 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 Castana

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Castana.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Iowa

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

Reach Castana’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Castana’s government

How much does Castana spend per resident?

About $707 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 $707 was less than 70% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Castana?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $732 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.98% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see castanaiowa.com.

Who runs Castana’s government?

See castanaiowa.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Castana yet.

How did Castana vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Castana alone. Monona County, where 100% of Castana lies, voted Trump 72.2%, Harris 26.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Castana?

0 full-time and 3 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1,517 (about $18,204 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Castana in the state legislature?

State Senate District 7 (Kevin Alons) and State House District 13 (Travis Sitzmann). The House district also covers 30 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Castana’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 →