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Water tower Dawson Iowa 8-11-2012Photo: rochelle hartman from La Crosse, WI · CC BY 2.0
Town Hall · Dawson

Dawson spent less per resident in 2022 than 88% of similar cities

Dawson’s city government spent $58,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $457 per resident. Water and other utilities ($57,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Iowa.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$58,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$457
In 2022: $457, less than 88% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 9 part-time · March payroll $8,191
Typical tax bill
$1,156
1.25% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Dawson is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $457 per resident, less than 88% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer50% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Perry Community School District with 2 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,156 a year: 1.25% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$457 per resident in 2022: less than 88% of them

Dawson’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($457 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. Dawson spent less than 88% of them.

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

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; Dawson itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $457 per resident a year, or $1.25 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 38%.

Where the money comes from
Interest, fines & other 26%Property taxes 22%Utility sales 20%Sales taxes 17%From the state 11%From other local governments 4%
Not in the receipt.With the enterprises, the whole budget was $115,000.
About “Other”.43% of Dawson’s day-to-day spending ($25,000) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,156 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.25% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Dawson$1,156
$1,156
typical bill a year
1.25%
effective rate
$92,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Dawson

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

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

Perry Community School District

Dawson’s K–12 school district, shared with Bouton, Perry. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Dawson →
$14,213
per pupil · IA $13,713
1,858
students
$20.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,213 per pupil, $8,376 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 31%State 61%Federal 8%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Dawson’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Dallas County’s results62,633 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican51.7%32,374 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat46.9%29,402 votes

Others: 1.4% (857 votes).

Most votes in Dallas County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Dallas 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 Dawson

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Dawson.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Carter Nordman
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Jesse Green
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kim Reynolds
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Zachary Nunn
  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 Dawson’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Dawson’s government

How much does Dawson spend per resident?

About $457 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 $457 was less than 88% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Dawson?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,156 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.25% 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 Dawson’s government?

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

How did Dawson vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Dawson alone. Dallas County, where 100% of Dawson lies, voted Trump 51.7%, Harris 46.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Dawson?

0 full-time and 9 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $8,191 (about $98,292 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Dawson in the state legislature?

State Senate District 24 (Jesse Green) and State House District 47 (Carter Nordman). The House district also covers 23 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Dawson’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 →