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Modale, IowaPhoto: Billwhittaker · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Modale

How is Modale run?

Modale’s city government spent $236,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $894 per resident. Water and other utilities ($51,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Iowa.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$236,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$894
In 2022: $894, less than 50% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$578,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 10 part-time · March payroll $9,218 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$1,167
1.41% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Modale is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Runs its own water & sewer40% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares West Harrison Community School District with 4 other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $1,167 a year: 1.41% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $894 per resident a year, or $2.45 a day

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

Where the money comes from
Interest, fines & other 27%Property taxes 25%Fees & charges 13%From other local governments 10%Utility sales 9%Sales taxes 6%From the federal government 5%From the state 5%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $21,000; payments to other governments $7,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $315,000.
Compared with similar places

$894 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Modale’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($894 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. Modale spent less than 50% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($65,000), 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; Modale itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,167 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.41% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Modale$1,167
$1,167
typical bill a year
1.41%
effective rate
$83,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Modale

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

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

West Harrison Community School District

Modale’s K–12 school district, shared with Little Sioux, Mondamin, Moorhead, Pisgah. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Modale →
$16,674
per pupil · IA $13,713
298
students
$1 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,674 per pupil, $9,480 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 55%State 40%Federal 5%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Modale’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Harrison County’s results7,938 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican70.1%5,566 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat28.3%2,245 votes

Others: 1.6% (127 votes).

Most votes in Harrison County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Harrison 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 Modale

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Modale.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Matt Windschitl
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Mark Costello
  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 Modale’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Modale’s government

How much does Modale spend per resident?

About $894 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 $894 was less than 50% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Modale?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,167 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.41% 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 Modale’s government?

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

How did Modale vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Modale alone. Harrison County, where 100% of Modale lies, voted Trump 70.1%, Harris 28.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Modale?

0 full-time and 10 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $9,218 (about $110,616 a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Modale in the state legislature?

State Senate District 8 (Mark Costello) and State House District 15 (Matt Windschitl). The House district also covers 13 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Modale’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 →