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Lu Verne City JailLu Verne City Jail · Photo: Brandonrush · Public domain
Town Hall · Lu Verne

Lu Verne spent more per resident in 2022 than 92% of similar cities

Lu Verne’s city government spent $411,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,671 per resident. Water and other utilities ($35,000) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$411,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,671
In 2022: $1,671, more than 92% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
4
full-time · 0 part-time · March payroll $10,898
Typical tax bill
$492
0.80% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Lu Verne is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$1,671 per resident in 2022: more than 92% of them

Lu Verne’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,671 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. Lu Verne spent more than 92% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($32,000), 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; Lu Verne itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,671 per resident a year, or $4.58 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 46%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 33%Interest, fines & other 30%Sales taxes 10%From the federal government 7%From the state 7%Fees & charges 6%Utility sales 5%From other local governments 2%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Payments to other governments $2,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $448,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $492 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.80% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Lu Verne$492
$492
typical bill a year
0.80%
effective rate
$61,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Lu Verne

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

Check Lu Verne’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Lu Verne yet.
Who works for Lu Verne

One full-time city employee for every 62 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 (246).

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

Administration & buildings4
4
full-time
0
part-time
$10,898
payroll for March 2022
$130,776
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$32,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Lu Verne had 16.3 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: Lu Verne had more than 97% 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

Algona Community School District

Lu Verne’s K–12 school district, shared with Algona, Burt, Corwith, Titonka, Wesley and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Lu Verne →
$13,958
per pupil · IA $13,713
1,597
students
$19.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,958 per pupil, $8,704 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 53%State 43%Federal 4%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Lu Verne’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Kossuth County’s results8,376 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican71.4%5,983 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat27.3%2,284 votes

Others: 1.3% (109 votes).

Most votes in Kossuth County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

89% of Lu Verne lies in Kossuth County; the rest in Humboldt County. Every 2024 race in Kossuth County is on the county’s page.

Kossuth 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 Lu Verne

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Lu Verne.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseLu Verne is split between 2 districts
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Iowa

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Reach Lu Verne’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Lu Verne’s government

How much does Lu Verne spend per resident?

About $1,671 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 $1,671 was more than 92% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Lu Verne?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $492 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.80% 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 Lu Verne’s government?

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

How did Lu Verne vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Lu Verne alone. Kossuth County, where 89% of Lu Verne lies, voted Trump 71.4%, Harris 27.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Lu Verne?

4 full-time and 0 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $10,898 (about $130,776 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Lu Verne in the state legislature?

Lu Verne is split among 2 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Iowa Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Lu Verne’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 →