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Town Hall · Colo

Colo spent more per resident in 2022 than 83% of similar cities

Colo’s city government spent $1.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,364 per resident. Water and other utilities ($134,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Iowa.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.1M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,364
In 2022: $1,364, more than 83% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$561,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
6
full-time · 7 part-time · March payroll $40,184
Typical tax bill
$2,310
1.52% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Colo is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,364 per resident, more than 83% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer27% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Colo-NESCO Community School District with 2 other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $2,310 a year: 1.52% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$1,364 per resident in 2022: more than 83% of them

Colo’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,364 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. Colo spent more than 83% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($208,000), 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; Colo itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,364 per resident a year, or $3.74 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: fire, at 20%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 23%From the state 22%Fees & charges 15%Interest, fines & other 14%Utility sales 11%Sales taxes 9%From other local governments 6%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $39,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $1.3 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,310 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.52% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Colo$2,310
$2,310
typical bill a year
1.52%
effective rate
$152,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Colo

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

See colo-iowa.org for Colo’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Colo yet.colo-iowa.org ↗
Agendas

Colo’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on colo-iowa.org ↗.

Who works for Colo

One full-time city employee for every 137 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 (819).

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

Administration & buildings4 + 2 pt
Parks & libraries2 + 5 pt
6
full-time
7
part-time
$40,184
payroll for March 2022
$482,208
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$67,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Colo had 7.3 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: Colo had more than 82% 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

Colo-NESCO Community School District

Colo’s K–12 school district, shared with McCallsburg, Zearing. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Colo →
$16,423
per pupil · IA $13,713
383
students
$12.2 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,423 per pupil, $8,671 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 59%State 37%Federal 5%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Colo’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Story County’s results49,200 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat54.4%26,765 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican44.0%21,665 votes

Others: 1.6% (770 votes).

Most votes in Story County: Kamala D Harris

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Story 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 Colo

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Colo.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: colo-iowa.org ↗
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Brett Barker
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Kara Warme
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kim Reynolds
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Randy Feenstra
  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 Colo’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecolo-iowa.org ↗

Questions about Colo’s government

How much does Colo spend per resident?

About $1,364 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 $1,364 was more than 83% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Colo?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,310 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.52% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see colo-iowa.org.

Who runs Colo’s government?

See colo-iowa.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Colo yet.

How did Colo vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Colo alone. Story County, where 100% of Colo lies, voted Harris 54.4%, Trump 44.0% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Colo?

6 full-time and 7 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $40,184 (about $482,208 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Colo in the state legislature?

State Senate District 26 (Kara Warme) and State House District 51 (Brett Barker). The House district also covers 16 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Colo’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 →