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Lake City, IAPhoto: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Lake City

Lake City spent more per resident in 2022 than 71% of similar cities

Lake City’s city government spent $1.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,140 per resident. Water and other utilities ($340,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.8M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,140
In 2022: $1,140, more than 71% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$2.0M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
10
full-time · 9 part-time · March payroll $48,019
Typical tax bill
$1,301
1.29% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Lake City is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,140 per resident, more than 71% 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 South Central Calhoun Community School District with 6+ other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,301 a year: 1.29% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$1,140 per resident in 2022: more than 71% of them

Lake City’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,140 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–$1,190. Lake City spent more than 71% of them.

Middle half of the group, $632–$1,190Median $900Lake City

Includes sewer and trash ($271,000), 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; Lake City itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,140 per resident a year, or $3.12 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: parks & libraries, at 38%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 36%Utility sales 16%Fees & charges 15%From the state 11%Sales taxes 9%From other local governments 9%Other taxes & licenses 3%Interest, fines & other 2%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $256,000; interest on debt $121,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $2.6 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,301 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.29% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Lake City$1,301
$1,301
typical bill a year
1.29%
effective rate
$100,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Lake 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. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

Tax bills are one input to Lake City’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Lake City →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Lake City

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

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

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

Who works for Lake City

One full-time city employee for every 160 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 (1,604).

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

Administration & buildings2 + 6 pt
Police4
Parks & libraries2 + 3 pt
Roads & transportation1
Water & other utilities1
10
full-time
9
part-time
$48,019
payroll for March 2022
$576,228
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$51,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
4
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Lake City had 6.2 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: Lake City had more than 77% 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

South Central Calhoun Community School District

Lake City’s K–12 school district, shared with Jolley, Lohrville, Lytton, Rockwell City, Yetter and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Lake City →
$13,873
per pupil · IA $13,713
915
students
$1.9 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,873 per pupil, $8,196 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 50%State 45%Federal 6%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Lake 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 Lake City alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Calhoun County’s results.

President · Calhoun County’s results5,093 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican72.8%3,708 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat26.1%1,328 votes

Others: 1.1% (57 votes).

Most votes in Calhoun County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

100% of Lake City lies in Calhoun County. Every 2024 race in Calhoun County is on the county’s page.

Calhoun 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 Lake City

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Lake City.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: lakecityiowa.com ↗
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Wendy Larson
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Tim Kraayenbrink
  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 Lake City’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitelakecityiowa.com ↗

Questions about Lake City’s government

How much does Lake City spend per resident?

About $1,140 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 $1,140 was more than 71% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Lake City?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,301 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.29% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see lakecityiowa.com.

Who runs Lake City’s government?

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

How did Lake City vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Lake City alone. Calhoun County, where 100% of Lake City lies, voted Trump 72.8%, Harris 26.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Lake City?

10 full-time and 9 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $48,019 (about $576,228 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Lake City in the state legislature?

State Senate District 4 (Tim Kraayenbrink) and State House District 7 (Wendy Larson). The House district also covers 35 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Lake City’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 →