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Town Hall · Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake spent more per resident in 2022 than 74% of similar cities

Crystal Lake’s city government spent $267,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,171 per resident. Water and other utilities ($46,000) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$267,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,171
In 2022: $1,171, more than 74% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$85,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 7 part-time · March payroll $4,267
Typical tax bill
$1,078
1.07% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Crystal Lake is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,171 per resident, more than 74% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer49% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Forest City Community School District with 4 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,078 a year: 1.07% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$1,171 per resident in 2022: more than 74% of them

Crystal Lake’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,171 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. Crystal Lake spent more than 74% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($108,000), 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; Crystal Lake itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,171 per resident a year, or $3.21 a day

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

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 19%Property taxes 17%Utility sales 15%From the state 13%Sales taxes 11%From other local governments 10%From the federal government 9%Interest, fines & other 5%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $4,000; payments to other governments $13,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $331,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,078 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.07% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Crystal Lake$1,078
$1,078
typical bill a year
1.07%
effective rate
$100,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Crystal Lake

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

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

Forest City Community School District

Crystal Lake’s K–12 school district, shared with Fertile, Forest City, Leland, Woden. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Crystal Lake →
$13,341
per pupil · IA $13,713
1,114
students
$103,000
long-term debt

Of the $13,341 per pupil, $8,057 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 45%State 50%Federal 5%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Crystal Lake’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Hancock County’s results5,933 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican73.1%4,336 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat25.7%1,523 votes

Others: 1.2% (74 votes).

Most votes in Hancock County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

100% of Crystal Lake lies in Hancock County. Every 2024 race in Hancock County is on the county’s page.

Hancock 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 Crystal Lake

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Crystal Lake.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Mark Thompson
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Dennis Guth
  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 Crystal Lake’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Crystal Lake’s government

How much does Crystal Lake spend per resident?

About $1,171 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 $1,171 was more than 74% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Crystal Lake?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,078 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.07% 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 Crystal Lake’s government?

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

How did Crystal Lake vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Crystal Lake alone. Hancock County, where 100% of Crystal Lake lies, voted Trump 73.1%, Harris 25.7% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Crystal Lake?

0 full-time and 7 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $4,267 (about $51,204 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Crystal Lake in the state legislature?

State Senate District 28 (Dennis Guth) and State House District 56 (Mark Thompson). The House district also covers 25 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Crystal Lake’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 →