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Marcus, IA, Main StreetPhoto: Ruralisms · CC BY 4.0
Town Hall · Marcus

How is Marcus run?

Marcus’ city government spent $871,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $826 per resident. Water and other utilities ($205,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Iowa.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$871,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$826
In 2022: $826, less than 57% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$685,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
7
full-time · 5 part-time · March payroll $19,631
Typical tax bill
$1,513
0.76% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Marcus is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Runs its own water & sewer37% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community School District with 2 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,513 a year: 0.76% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $826 per resident a year, or $2.26 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 31%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 31%Fees & charges 21%Utility sales 15%Sales taxes 10%From the state 10%Interest, fines & other 7%From the federal government 5%From other local governments 1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $32,000; interest on debt $20,000; payments to other governments $89,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $1.4 million.
Compared with similar places

$826 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Marcus’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($826 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. Marcus spent less than 57% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($274,000), 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; Marcus itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,513 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.76% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Marcus$1,513
$1,513
typical bill a year
0.76%
effective rate
$200,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Marcus

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

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

Marcus’ meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on marcusiowa.com ↗.

Who works for Marcus

One full-time city employee for every 151 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 (1,055).

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

Parks & libraries1 + 3 pt
Sewer & trash2
Water & other utilities2
Administration & buildings1
Roads & transportation1
Police0 + 2 pt
7
full-time
5
part-time
$19,631
payroll for March 2022
$235,572
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$29,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Marcus had 6.6 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: Marcus had more than 80% 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

Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community School District

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

Schools in Marcus →
$14,305
per pupil · IA $13,713
384
students
$23 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,305 per pupil, $8,901 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 69%State 29%Federal 2%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Marcus’ votes are counted by county

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

President · Cherokee County’s results6,089 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican72.2%4,398 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat26.5%1,611 votes

Others: 1.3% (80 votes).

Most votes in Cherokee County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Cherokee 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 Marcus

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Marcus.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: marcusiowa.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 Marcus’ government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitemarcusiowa.com ↗

Questions about Marcus’ government

How much does Marcus spend per resident?

About $826 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 $826 was less than 57% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Marcus?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,513 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.76% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see marcusiowa.com.

Who runs Marcus’ government?

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

How did Marcus vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Marcus alone. Cherokee County, where 100% of Marcus lies, voted Trump 72.2%, Harris 26.5% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Marcus?

7 full-time and 5 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $19,631 (about $235,572 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Marcus 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 Marcus’ 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 →