Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Emerson

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Emerson, IAPhoto: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Emerson

Emerson spent less per resident in 2022 than 76% of similar cities

Emerson’s city government spent $272,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $625 per resident. Water and other utilities ($133,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Iowa.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$272,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$625
In 2022: $625, less than 76% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$802,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
5
full-time · 13 part-time · March payroll $7,370
Typical tax bill
$1,486
1.24% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Emerson is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $625 per resident, less than 76% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer51% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares East Mills Community School District with 3 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,486 a year: 1.24% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$625 per resident in 2022: less than 76% of them

Emerson’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($625 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. Emerson spent less than 76% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($72,000), 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; Emerson itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $625 per resident a year, or $1.71 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 26%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 31%Fees & charges 20%Property taxes 17%From the federal government 10%From the state 9%Sales taxes 7%From other local governments 5%Interest, fines & other 1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $28,000; interest on debt $33,000; payments to other governments $8,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $474,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,486 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.24% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Emerson$1,486
$1,486
typical bill a year
1.24%
effective rate
$119,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Emerson

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

Check Emerson’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Emerson yet.
Who works for Emerson

One full-time city employee for every 87 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 (435).

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

Administration & buildings0 + 8 pt
Sewer & trash2 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries1 + 2 pt
Roads & transportation1 + 1 pt
Water & other utilities1 + 1 pt
5
full-time
13
part-time
$7,370
payroll for March 2022
$88,440
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$10,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Emerson had 11.5 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: Emerson had more than 93% 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

East Mills Community School District

Emerson’s K–12 school district, shared with Hastings, Henderson, Malvern. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Emerson →
$15,451
per pupil · IA $13,713
443
students
$21.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,451 per pupil, $9,253 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 58%State 37%Federal 5%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Emerson’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Mills County’s results8,223 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican69.0%5,671 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat29.9%2,456 votes

Others: 1.2% (96 votes).

Most votes in Mills County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Mills 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 Emerson

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Emerson.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    David Sieck
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Mark Costello
  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 Emerson’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Emerson’s government

How much does Emerson spend per resident?

About $625 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 $625 was less than 76% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Emerson?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,486 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.24% 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 Emerson’s government?

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

How did Emerson vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Emerson alone. Mills County, where 100% of Emerson lies, voted Trump 69.0%, Harris 29.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Emerson?

5 full-time and 13 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $7,370 (about $88,440 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Emerson in the state legislature?

State Senate District 8 (Mark Costello) and State House District 16 (David Sieck). The House district also covers 23 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Emerson’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 →