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

Lanesboro spent less per resident in 2022 than 74% of similar cities

Lanesboro’s city government spent $70,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $648 per resident. Water and other utilities ($45,000) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$70,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$648
In 2022: $648, less than 74% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$342,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 32 part-time · March payroll $2,978 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$500
0.71% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Lanesboro is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $648 per resident, less than 74% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer57% 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 $500 a year: 0.71% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$648 per resident in 2022: less than 74% of them

Lanesboro’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($648 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. Lanesboro spent less than 74% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($20,000), 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; Lanesboro itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $648 per resident a year, or $1.78 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 29%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 31%Property taxes 22%Fees & charges 21%Sales taxes 14%From the state 11%From other local governments 1%Interest, fines & other 1%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $14,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $129,000.
About “Other”.40% of Lanesboro’s day-to-day spending ($28,000) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $500 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.71% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Lanesboro$500
$500
typical bill a year
0.71%
effective rate
$70,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Lanesboro

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

Check Lanesboro’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Lanesboro yet.
The school district

South Central Calhoun Community School District

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

Schools in Lanesboro →
$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.

Also serving Lanesboro

Glidden-Ralston Community School District · $14,219 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Lanesboro’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Carroll County’s results11,120 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican70.3%7,814 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat28.4%3,153 votes

Others: 1.4% (153 votes).

Most votes in Carroll County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Carroll 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 Lanesboro

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Lanesboro.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Craig Williams
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Jason Schultz
  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 Lanesboro’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Lanesboro’s government

How much does Lanesboro spend per resident?

About $648 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 $648 was less than 74% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Lanesboro?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $500 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.71% 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 Lanesboro’s government?

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

How did Lanesboro vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Lanesboro alone. Carroll County, where 100% of Lanesboro lies, voted Trump 70.3%, Harris 28.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Lanesboro?

0 full-time and 32 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $2,978 (about $35,736 a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Lanesboro in the state legislature?

State Senate District 6 (Jason Schultz) and State House District 11 (Craig Williams). The House district also covers 22 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Lanesboro’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 →