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Town Hall · Muscatine

Muscatine spent more per resident in 2022 than 70% of similar cities

Muscatine’s city government spent $57.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $2,443 per resident. Water and other utilities ($106.3 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

General

5:30 pm

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$57.2M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$2,443
In 2022: $1,724, more than 70% of 23 similar cities
Long-term debt
$50.2M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
475
full-time · 91 part-time · March payroll $3.7M
Typical tax bill
$2,556
1.66% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Muscatine is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,724 per resident, more than 70% of 23 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer72% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).Its own police and fire42 sworn officers and 45 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Muscatine’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $2,443 per resident a year, or $6.69 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 20%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 55%Fees & charges 17%Property taxes 10%Interest, fines & other 9%Sales taxes 3%From the state 3%From the federal government 2%Other taxes & licenses <1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $21.8 million; interest on debt $1.4 million; payments to other governments $76,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $187.4 million.
About “Other”.34% of Muscatine’s day-to-day spending ($19.4 million) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Compared with similar places

$1,724 per resident in 2022: more than 70% of them

Muscatine’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,724 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 23 Iowa cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,462, and the middle half spent $1,179–$1,838. Muscatine spent more than 70% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,179–$1,838Median $1,462Muscatine

Includes sewer and trash ($9.7 million), 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
23

Iowa cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Muscatine itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 41% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Muscatine reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$40.6 million
2023$51.7 million
2024$57.2 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,724 · 2023: $2,203 · 2024: $2,443.

City staff
475

full-time in March 2025, up from 458 in 2022.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,556 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.66% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Drury Township$4,962
Kent Estates$4,508
Iowa$2,897
Muscatine$2,556
$2,556
typical bill a year
1.66%
effective rate
$153,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Muscatine’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.

Tax bills are one input to Muscatine’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Muscatine →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Muscatine

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

See muscatineiowa.gov for Muscatine’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Muscatine yet.muscatineiowa.gov ↗
Who works for Muscatine

One full-time city employee for every 49 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (23,413).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Water & other utilities217
Fire47 + 3 pt
Police45 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries26 + 35 pt
Sewer & trash39 + 3 pt
Roads & transportation17 + 29 pt
Administration & buildings13 + 8 pt
Housing & development12 + 3 pt
Health & welfare0 + 2 pt
Other59 + 7 pt
475
full-time
91
part-time
$3.7M
payroll for March 2025
$44.4M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$89,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
42
sworn police officers
45
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Muscatine had 19.5 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 21 of the 23 Iowa cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 7.2: Muscatine had more than 100% 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

Muscatine Community School District

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

Schools in Muscatine →
$13,508
per pupil · IA $13,713
4,530
students
$22.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,508 per pupil, $7,839 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 32%State 56%Federal 11%

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

Also serving Muscatine

Louisa-Muscatine Community School District · $13,158 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Muscatine voted in 2024

Official results for Muscatine’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President9,690 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican52.1%5,048 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat46.0%4,458 votes

Others: 1.9% (184 votes).

Most votes in Muscatine: Donald J Trump

Muscatine County: Trump 56.6%, Harris 41.7% · Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

Turnout
58%

of Muscatine’s 16,852 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Iowa: 70%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. House · Iowa’s 1st District413,111 votes
Mariannette MillermeeksRepublican50.1%
Christina BohannanDemocrat49.9%

Most votes in the district: Mariannette Millermeeks

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Muscatine, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Muscatine52.1%46.0%1.9%9,690
Muscatine County56.6%41.7%1.7%19,695
Iowa55.7%42.5%1.8%1,663,506
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 Muscatine

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Muscatine.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: muscatineiowa.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Mark Cisneros
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Mark Lofgren
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kim Reynolds
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Mariannette Miller-Meeks
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Iowa
    Chuck GrassleyJoni Ernst

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

Next door

How Muscatine compares with the towns next door

Muscatine spent $1,724 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Kent Estates: unincorporated, no town budgetKent EstatesMuscatine
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Muscatine$1,724$2,556

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Muscatine’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitemuscatineiowa.gov ↗

Questions about Muscatine’s government

How much does Muscatine spend per resident?

About $2,443 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,724 was more than 70% of 23 Iowa cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Muscatine?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,556 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.66% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see muscatineiowa.gov.

Who runs Muscatine’s government?

See muscatineiowa.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Muscatine yet.

How did Muscatine vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 52.1%, Kamala D Harris 46.0% (9,690 votes, official results). Muscatine County: Trump 56.6%, Harris 41.7%. Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%.

How many people work for Muscatine?

475 full-time and 91 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $3.7M (about $44.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Muscatine in the state legislature?

State Senate District 48 (Mark Lofgren) and State House District 96 (Mark Cisneros). The House district also covers parts of two neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Muscatine?

The next posted meeting is General on Thursday, November 5, at 5:30 pm, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Muscatine’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 →