Photo: Bill Whittaker · CC BY-SA 3.0Early spent more per resident in 2022 than 75% of similar cities
Early’s city government spent $609,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,201 per resident. Water and other utilities ($102,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Early is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,201 per resident in 2022: more than 75% of them
Early’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,201 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. Early spent more than 75% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($132,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Early itself left out).
About $1,201 per resident a year, or $3.29 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 44%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Early reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $980 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.09% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Early’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 Early’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Early →
Who’s in charge in Early
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Early’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on earlyia.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 254 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 (507).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Schaller-Crestland Community School District
Early’s elementary school district, shared with Nemaha, Schaller. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $15,434 per pupil, $8,923 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.
Iowa districts overall: 43% local, 49% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Early voted in 2024
Official results for Early’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Donald J TrumpRepublican74.6%300 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat23.6%95 votesOthers: 1.7% (7 votes).
Most votes in Early: Donald J Trump
Sac County: Trump 75.3%, Harris 23.7% · Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%
of Early’s 619 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Iowa: 70%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in the district: Randy Feenstra
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Early, its county and the state
| Trump | Harris | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early | 74.6% | 23.6% | 1.7% | 402 |
| Sac County | 75.3% | 23.7% | 1.1% | 5,448 |
| Iowa | 55.7% | 42.5% | 1.8% | 1,663,506 |
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.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Early.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: earlyia.com ↗
- 2Iowa HouseState representatives
- 3Iowa SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Iowa
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Early’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Early’s government
How much does Early spend per resident?
About $1,201 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 $1,201 was more than 75% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Early?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $980 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.09% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see earlyia.com.
Who runs Early’s government?
See earlyia.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Early yet.
How did Early vote in 2024?
For president, Donald J Trump 74.6%, Kamala D Harris 23.6% (402 votes, official results). Sac County: Trump 75.3%, Harris 23.7%. Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%.
How many people work for Early?
2 full-time and 10 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $9,968 (about $119,616 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Early in the state legislature?
State Senate District 4 (Tim Kraayenbrink) and State House District 7 (Wendy Larson). The House district also covers 35 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Early’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
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 →