Charles J. Thompson House · Photo: Chuckmor · CC BY-SA 3.0Forest City spent more per resident in 2022 than 68% of similar cities
Forest City’s city government spent $6.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,535 per resident. Water and other utilities ($6.4 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Forest City is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,357 per resident in 2022: more than 68% of them
Forest City’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,357 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 91 Iowa cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,166, and the middle half spent $1,027–$1,402. Forest City spent more than 68% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.2 million), 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 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Forest City itself left out).
About $1,535 per resident a year, or $4.21 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 30%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 21% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Forest City reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $1,357 · 2023: $1,350 · 2024: $1,535. Per resident it went from $1,357 to $1,535 (up 13%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 3,986 to 4,261.
full-time in March 2025, the same as 45 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $2,250 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.57% 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 Forest City’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.
Tax bills are one input to Forest City’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Forest City →
Who’s in charge in Forest City
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Forest City’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofforestcity.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 95 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (4,261).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Forest City Community School District
Forest City’s K–12 school district, shared with Crystal Lake, Fertile, Leland, Woden. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $13,341 per pupil, $8,057 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.
Forest City’s votes are counted by county
Iowa reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Forest City alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Winnebago County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican64.6%3,636 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat33.9%1,909 votesOthers: 1.5% (82 votes).
Most votes in Winnebago County: Donald J Trump
Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%
91% of Forest City lies in Winnebago County; the rest in Hancock County. Every 2024 race in Winnebago County is on the county’s page.
Winnebago County’s 2024 results →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 Forest City.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofforestcity.com ↗
- 2Iowa HouseForest City is split between 2 districts
- 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 Forest City’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Forest City’s government
How much does Forest City spend per resident?
About $1,535 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,357 was more than 68% of 91 Iowa cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Forest City?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,250 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.57% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofforestcity.com.
Who runs Forest City’s government?
See cityofforestcity.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Forest City yet.
How did Forest City vote in 2024?
Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Forest City alone. Winnebago County, where 91% of Forest City lies, voted Trump 64.6%, Harris 33.9% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Forest City?
45 full-time and 19 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $276,584 (about $3.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Forest City in the state legislature?
Forest City is split among 2 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Iowa Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Forest City’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 →