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Charlotte IowaPhoto: Tjburken · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Charlotte

Charlotte spent more per resident in 2022 than 76% of similar cities

Charlotte’s city government spent $436,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,211 per resident. Water and other utilities ($67,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$436,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,211
In 2022: $1,211, more than 76% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$49,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 5 part-time · March payroll $6,121
Typical tax bill
$1,284
1.27% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Charlotte is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,211 per resident, more than 76% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer26% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Northeast Community School District with 2 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,284 a year: 1.27% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$1,211 per resident in 2022: more than 76% of them

Charlotte’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,211 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–$1,186. Charlotte spent more than 76% of them.

Middle half of the group, $632–$1,186Median $900Charlotte

Includes sewer and trash ($66,000), 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; Charlotte itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,211 per resident a year, or $3.32 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: parks & libraries, at 19%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 21%Fees & charges 21%Utility sales 17%Property taxes 12%Sales taxes 10%From the federal government 9%Interest, fines & other 8%From other local governments 3%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $1,000; payments to other governments $13,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $518,000.
About “Other”.32% of Charlotte’s day-to-day spending ($138,000) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,284 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.27% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Charlotte$1,284
$1,284
typical bill a year
1.27%
effective rate
$101,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Charlotte

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

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

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

The school district

Northeast Community School District

Charlotte’s K–12 school district, shared with Andover, Goose Lake. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Charlotte →
$12,570
per pupil · IA $13,713
869
students
$7 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,570 per pupil, $7,939 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 61%State 34%Federal 5%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Charlotte’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Clinton County’s results23,813 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican58.6%13,964 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat39.8%9,472 votes

Others: 1.6% (377 votes).

Most votes in Clinton County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Clinton 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 Charlotte

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Charlotte.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: charlotteia.com ↗
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Norlin Mommsen
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Mike Zimmer
  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 Charlotte’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecharlotteia.com ↗

Questions about Charlotte’s government

How much does Charlotte spend per resident?

About $1,211 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 $1,211 was more than 76% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Charlotte?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,284 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.27% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see charlotteia.com.

Who runs Charlotte’s government?

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

How did Charlotte vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Charlotte alone. Clinton County, where 100% of Charlotte lies, voted Trump 58.6%, Harris 39.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Charlotte?

0 full-time and 5 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $6,121 (about $73,452 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Charlotte in the state legislature?

State Senate District 35 (Mike Zimmer) and State House District 70 (Norlin Mommsen). The House district also covers 16 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Charlotte’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 →