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Town Hall · Colwell

Colwell spent less per resident in 2022 than 86% of similar cities

Colwell’s city government spent $33,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $493 per resident. Water and other utilities ($8,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Iowa.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$33,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$493
In 2022: $493, less than 86% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 7 part-time · March payroll $1,240
Typical tax bill
$1,250
1.23% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Colwell is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $493 per resident, less than 86% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer24% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Charles City Community School District with 3 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,250 a year: 1.23% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$493 per resident in 2022: less than 86% of them

Colwell’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($493 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 $634–$1,190. Colwell spent less than 86% of them.

Middle half of the group, $634–$1,190Median $900Colwell

Includes sewer and trash ($2,000), 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; Colwell itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $493 per resident a year, or $1.35 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 21%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 36%Utility sales 15%Sales taxes 15%From the federal government 9%From the state 8%From other local governments 8%Fees & charges 4%Interest, fines & other 4%Other taxes & licenses 2%
Not in the receipt.With the enterprises, the whole budget was $41,000.
About “Other”.33% of Colwell’s day-to-day spending ($11,000) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,250 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.23% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Colwell$1,250
$1,250
typical bill a year
1.23%
effective rate
$101,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Colwell

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

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

Charles City Community School District

Colwell’s K–12 school district, shared with Bassett, Charles City, Floyd. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Colwell →
$14,853
per pupil · IA $13,713
1,473
students
$5.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,853 per pupil, $8,967 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 38%State 52%Federal 10%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Colwell’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Floyd County’s results7,625 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican62.2%4,744 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat36.5%2,782 votes

Others: 1.3% (99 votes).

Most votes in Floyd County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Floyd 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 Colwell

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Colwell.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Charley Thomson
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Sandy Salmon
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kim Reynolds
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Ashley Hinson
  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 Colwell’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Colwell’s government

How much does Colwell spend per resident?

About $493 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 $493 was less than 86% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Colwell?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,250 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.23% 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 Colwell’s government?

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

How did Colwell vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Colwell alone. Floyd County, where 100% of Colwell lies, voted Trump 62.2%, Harris 36.5% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Colwell?

0 full-time and 7 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1,240 (about $14,880 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Colwell in the state legislature?

State Senate District 29 (Sandy Salmon) and State House District 58 (Charley Thomson). The House district also covers 18 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Colwell’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 →