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Downtown ElkaderPhoto: Kevin Schuchmann · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Elkader

Elkader spent more per resident in 2022 than 97% of similar cities

Elkader’s city government spent $2.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $2,122 per resident. Water and other utilities ($250,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$2.5M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$2,122
In 2022: $2,122, more than 97% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$7.2M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
12
full-time · 6 part-time · March payroll $37,305
Typical tax bill
$2,287
1.60% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Elkader is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $2,122 per resident, more than 97% 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 Central Community School District with 4 other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $2,287 a year: 1.60% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$2,122 per resident in 2022: more than 97% of them

Elkader’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,122 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. Elkader spent more than 97% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($521,000), 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; Elkader itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $2,122 per resident a year, or $5.81 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 20%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 30%Fees & charges 23%From the state 22%Utility sales 9%Sales taxes 7%Interest, fines & other 6%From the federal government 3%From other local governments 1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.1 million; interest on debt $81,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $3.9 million.
About “Other”.35% of Elkader’s day-to-day spending ($892,000) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,287 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.60% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Elkader$2,287
$2,287
typical bill a year
1.60%
effective rate
$143,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Elkader

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

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

Elkader’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on elkader-iowa.com ↗.

Who works for Elkader

One full-time city employee for every 100 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 (1,201).

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

Roads & transportation5
Parks & libraries1 + 5 pt
Police3
Administration & buildings2
Other1 + 1 pt
12
full-time
6
part-time
$37,305
payroll for March 2022
$447,660
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$33,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
3
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Elkader had 10.0 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: Elkader had more than 91% 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

Central Community School District

Elkader’s K–12 school district, shared with Elkport, St. Olaf, Volga, Garber. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Elkader →
$13,104
per pupil · IA $13,713
479
students
$5.2 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,104 per pupil, $8,330 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

Elkader’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Clayton County’s results9,381 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican66.7%6,255 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat32.2%3,017 votes

Others: 1.2% (109 votes).

Most votes in Clayton County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Clayton 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 Elkader

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Elkader.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: elkader-iowa.com ↗
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Jason Gearhart
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Mike Klimesh
  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 Elkader’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteelkader-iowa.com ↗

Questions about Elkader’s government

How much does Elkader spend per resident?

About $2,122 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 $2,122 was more than 97% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Elkader?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,287 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.60% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see elkader-iowa.com.

Who runs Elkader’s government?

See elkader-iowa.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Elkader yet.

How did Elkader vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Elkader alone. Clayton County, where 100% of Elkader lies, voted Trump 66.7%, Harris 32.2% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Elkader?

12 full-time and 6 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $37,305 (about $447,660 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Elkader in the state legislature?

State Senate District 32 (Mike Klimesh) and State House District 64 (Jason Gearhart). The House district also covers 23 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Elkader’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 →