Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Garner

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
Hancock County CourthousePhoto: Ann Sullivan-Larson · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Garner

Garner spent less per resident in 2022 than 69% of similar cities

Garner’s city government spent $3.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,067 per resident. Water and other utilities ($300,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Iowa.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$3.2M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,067
In 2022: $1,067, less than 69% of 91 similar cities
Long-term debt
$7.0M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
12
full-time · 20 part-time · March payroll $88,009
Typical tax bill
$2,312
1.24% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Garner is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,067 per resident, less than 69% of 91 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer23% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Community School District with 1 other town.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $2,312 a year: 1.24% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$1,067 per resident in 2022: less than 69% of them

Garner’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,067 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 $1,177, and the middle half spent $1,027–$1,402. Garner spent less than 69% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,027–$1,402Median $1,177Garner

Includes sewer and trash ($525,000), 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
91

Iowa cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Garner itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,067 per resident a year, or $2.92 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: parks & libraries, at 23%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 38%Fees & charges 24%Sales taxes 10%Interest, fines & other 9%From the state 8%Utility sales 6%From the federal government 3%From other local governments <1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $365,000; interest on debt $157,000; payments to other governments $45,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $4.1 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,312 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
Garner$2,312
$2,312
typical bill a year
1.24%
effective rate
$186,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Garner

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

See garneriowa.org for Garner’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Garner yet.garneriowa.org ↗
Agendas

Garner’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on garneriowa.org ↗.

Who works for Garner

One full-time city employee for every 253 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 (3,031).

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

Parks & libraries2 + 17 pt
Police4 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings2
Roads & transportation2
Sewer & trash1
Water & other utilities1
Other0 + 1 pt
12
full-time
20
part-time
$88,009
payroll for March 2022
$1.1M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$69,100
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
4
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Garner had 4.0 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 77 of the 91 Iowa cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.6: Garner had fewer than 94% 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

Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Community School District

Garner’s K–12 school district, shared with Ventura. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Garner →
$12,232
per pupil · IA $13,713
955
students
$2.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,232 per pupil, $7,179 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 66%State 31%Federal 3%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Garner’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Hancock County’s results5,933 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican73.1%4,336 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat25.7%1,523 votes

Others: 1.2% (74 votes).

Most votes in Hancock County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Hancock 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 Garner

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Garner.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: garneriowa.org ↗
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Mark Thompson
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Dennis Guth
  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 Garner’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitegarneriowa.org ↗

Questions about Garner’s government

How much does Garner spend per resident?

About $1,067 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 $1,067 was less than 69% of 91 Iowa cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Garner?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,312 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 garneriowa.org.

Who runs Garner’s government?

See garneriowa.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Garner yet.

How did Garner vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Garner alone. Hancock County, where 100% of Garner lies, voted Trump 73.1%, Harris 25.7% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Garner?

12 full-time and 20 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $88,009 (about $1.1M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Garner in the state legislature?

State Senate District 28 (Dennis Guth) and State House District 56 (Mark Thompson). The House district also covers 25 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Garner’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 →