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Part of Downtown Kingsley, IowaPhoto: SL93 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Kingsley

Kingsley spent more per resident in 2022 than 85% of similar cities

Kingsley’s city government spent $2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,401 per resident. Water and other utilities ($193,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$2.0M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,401
In 2022: $1,401, more than 85% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$2.0M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2024
8
full-time · 4 part-time · March payroll $41,385
Typical tax bill
$1,948
1.17% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Kingsley is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,401 per resident, more than 85% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer24% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Kingsley-Pierson Community School District with 1 other town.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,948 a year: 1.17% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$1,401 per resident in 2022: more than 85% of them

Kingsley’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,401 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. Kingsley spent more than 85% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($335,000), 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; Kingsley itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,401 per resident a year, or $3.84 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 19%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 38%Fees & charges 23%Sales taxes 11%From the state 10%Interest, fines & other 9%Utility sales 8%From other local governments 1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $405,000; interest on debt $87,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $2.7 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

City staff
8

full-time in March 2024, up from 7 in 2022.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,948 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.17% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Kingsley$1,948
$1,948
typical bill a year
1.17%
effective rate
$167,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Kingsley

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

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

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

Who works for Kingsley

One full-time city employee for every 175 residents

On the payroll in March 2024, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (1,397).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2024

Police3
Parks & libraries1 + 3 pt
Sewer & trash2
Administration & buildings1
Roads & transportation1
Water & other utilities0 + 1 pt
8
full-time
4
part-time
$41,385
payroll for March 2024
$496,620
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$57,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
3
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Kingsley had 5.0 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: Kingsley had more than 70% 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

Kingsley-Pierson Community School District

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

Schools in Kingsley →
$15,329
per pupil · IA $13,713
438
students
$2.2 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,329 per pupil, $9,194 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 43%State 51%Federal 6%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Kingsley’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Plymouth County’s results13,931 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican76.5%10,661 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat22.3%3,104 votes

Others: 1.2% (166 votes).

Most votes in Plymouth County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Plymouth 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 Kingsley

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Kingsley.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: kingsleyia.com ↗
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Travis Sitzmann
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Kevin Alons
  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 Kingsley’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitekingsleyia.com ↗

Questions about Kingsley’s government

How much does Kingsley spend per resident?

About $1,401 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 $1,401 was more than 85% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Kingsley?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,948 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.17% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see kingsleyia.com.

Who runs Kingsley’s government?

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

How did Kingsley vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Kingsley alone. Plymouth County, where 100% of Kingsley lies, voted Trump 76.5%, Harris 22.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Kingsley?

8 full-time and 4 part-time employees in March 2024, with a March payroll of $41,385 (about $496,620 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Kingsley in the state legislature?

State Senate District 7 (Kevin Alons) and State House District 13 (Travis Sitzmann). The House district also covers 30 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Kingsley’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 →