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Elkhart Iowa 20090503 City HallPhoto: Ashton B Crew · CC BY 3.0
Town Hall · Elkhart

Elkhart spent more per resident in 2022 than 93% of similar cities

Elkhart’s city government spent $1.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,789 per resident. Water and other utilities ($236,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.7M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,789
In 2022: $1,789, more than 93% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$7.3M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
1
full-time · 14 part-time · March payroll $14,563 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$3,747
1.48% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Elkhart is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,789 per resident, more than 93% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer28% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares North Polk Community School District with 3 other towns.
Compared with similar places

$1,789 per resident in 2022: more than 93% of them

Elkhart’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,789 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. Elkhart spent more than 93% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($305,000), 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; Elkhart itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,789 per resident a year, or $4.90 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 18%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 40%Fees & charges 15%Utility sales 13%Sales taxes 12%Other taxes & licenses 6%From other local governments 5%From the federal government 5%From the state 3%Interest, fines & other 2%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $62,000; interest on debt $211,000; payments to other governments $76,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $2.3 million.
About “Other”.54% of Elkhart’s day-to-day spending ($915,000) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $3,747 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.48% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Elkhart$3,747
Iowa$2,897
$3,747
typical bill a year
1.48%
effective rate
$253,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Elkhart

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

See elkhartiowa.com for Elkhart’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Elkhart yet.elkhartiowa.com ↗
Agendas

Elkhart’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on elkhartiowa.com ↗.

Who works for Elkhart

One full-time city employee for every 952 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (952).

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

Administration & buildings1 + 10 pt
Parks & libraries0 + 2 pt
Other0 + 2 pt
1
full-time
14
part-time
$14,563
payroll for March 2022
$174,756
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$51,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Estimates.Elkhart didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

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

North Polk Community School District

Elkhart’s K–12 school district, shared with Alleman, Sheldahl, Polk City. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Elkhart →
$11,911
per pupil · IA $13,713
2,284
students
$53.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $11,911 per pupil, $6,645 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 53%Federal 2%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Elkhart’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Polk County’s results255,563 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat54.8%140,075 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican43.9%112,240 votes

Others: 1.3% (3,248 votes).

Most votes in Polk County: Kamala D Harris

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Polk 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 Elkhart

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Elkhart.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: elkhartiowa.com ↗
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Brian Lohse
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Jack Whitver
  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 Elkhart’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteelkhartiowa.com ↗

Questions about Elkhart’s government

How much does Elkhart spend per resident?

About $1,789 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 $1,789 was more than 93% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Elkhart?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,747 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.48% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see elkhartiowa.com.

Who runs Elkhart’s government?

See elkhartiowa.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Elkhart yet.

How did Elkhart vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Elkhart alone. Polk County, where 100% of Elkhart lies, voted Harris 54.8%, Trump 43.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Elkhart?

1 full-time and 14 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $14,563 (about $174,756 a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Elkhart in the state legislature?

State Senate District 23 (Jack Whitver) and State House District 45 (Brian Lohse). The House district also covers eight other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Elkhart’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 →