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Lime springs iaPhoto: Bill Whittaker · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Lime Springs

Lime Springs spent more per resident in 2022 than 82% of similar cities

Lime Springs’ city government spent $647,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,359 per resident. Water and other utilities ($100,000) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$647,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,359
In 2022: $1,359, more than 82% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$320,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 13 part-time · March payroll $9,568
Typical tax bill
$1,189
1.20% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Lime Springs is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,359 per resident, more than 82% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer34% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Howard-Winneshiek Community School District with 4 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,189 a year: 1.20% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$1,359 per resident in 2022: more than 82% of them

Lime Springs’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,359 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. Lime Springs spent more than 82% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($156,000), 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; Lime Springs itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,359 per resident a year, or $3.72 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 28%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 25%Utility sales 19%Property taxes 17%Interest, fines & other 12%Sales taxes 10%From the state 7%From the federal government 5%From other local governments 4%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $7,000; interest on debt $13,000; payments to other governments $17,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $784,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,189 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.20% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Lime Springs$1,189
$1,189
typical bill a year
1.20%
effective rate
$99,100
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Lime Springs

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

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

Howard-Winneshiek Community School District

Lime Springs’ K–12 school district, shared with Chester, Cresco, Elma, Ridgeway. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Lime Springs →
$15,077
per pupil · IA $13,713
1,058
students
$7.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,077 per pupil, $9,310 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 46%State 47%Federal 7%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Lime Springs’ votes are counted by county

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

President · Howard County’s results4,837 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican65.3%3,157 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat33.5%1,619 votes

Others: 1.3% (61 votes).

Most votes in Howard County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

100% of Lime Springs lies in Howard County. Every 2024 race in Howard County is on the county’s page.

Howard 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 Lime Springs

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Lime Springs.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Michael Bergan
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Mike Klimesh
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kim Reynolds
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Ashley Hinson
  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 Lime Springs’ government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Lime Springs’ government

How much does Lime Springs spend per resident?

About $1,359 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 $1,359 was more than 82% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Lime Springs?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,189 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.20% 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 Lime Springs’ government?

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

How did Lime Springs vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Lime Springs alone. Howard County, where 100% of Lime Springs lies, voted Trump 65.3%, Harris 33.5% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Lime Springs?

0 full-time and 13 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $9,568 (about $114,816 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Lime Springs in the state legislature?

State Senate District 32 (Mike Klimesh) and State House District 63 (Michael Bergan). The House district also covers 16 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Lime Springs’ 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 →