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Portsmouth, IAPhoto: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Portsmouth

Portsmouth spent less per resident in 2022 than 84% of similar cities

Portsmouth’s city government spent $89,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $506 per resident. Water and other utilities ($76,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$89,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$506
In 2022: $506, less than 84% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 6 part-time · March payroll $5,589
Typical tax bill
$1,537
1.23% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Portsmouth is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $506 per resident, less than 84% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer61% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Harlan Community School District with 5 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,537 a year: 1.23% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$506 per resident in 2022: less than 84% of them

Portsmouth’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($506 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 $634–$1,190. Portsmouth spent less than 84% of them.

Middle half of the group, $634–$1,190Median $900Portsmouth

Includes sewer and trash ($25,000), 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; Portsmouth itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $506 per resident a year, or $1.39 a day

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

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 30%Property taxes 21%Fees & charges 15%From the federal government 12%From the state 9%Sales taxes 7%Interest, fines & other 5%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $44,000; payments to other governments $5,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $214,000.
About “Other”.26% of Portsmouth’s day-to-day spending ($23,000) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,537 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.23% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Portsmouth$1,537
$1,537
typical bill a year
1.23%
effective rate
$125,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Portsmouth

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

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

Portsmouth’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on portsmouthiowa.com ↗.

The school district

Harlan Community School District

Portsmouth’s K–12 school district, shared with Defiance, Earling, Harlan, Panama, Westphalia. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Portsmouth →
$12,751
per pupil · IA $13,713
1,505
students
$36.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,751 per pupil, $7,977 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 45%State 48%Federal 7%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Portsmouth’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Shelby County’s results6,486 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican70.9%4,600 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat27.9%1,811 votes

Others: 1.2% (75 votes).

Most votes in Shelby County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Shelby 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 Portsmouth

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Portsmouth.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: portsmouthiowa.com ↗
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Steven Holt
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Jason Schultz
  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 Portsmouth’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteportsmouthiowa.com ↗

Questions about Portsmouth’s government

How much does Portsmouth spend per resident?

About $506 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 $506 was less than 84% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Portsmouth?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,537 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.23% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see portsmouthiowa.com.

Who runs Portsmouth’s government?

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

How did Portsmouth vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Portsmouth alone. Shelby County, where 100% of Portsmouth lies, voted Trump 70.9%, Harris 27.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Portsmouth?

0 full-time and 6 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $5,589 (about $67,068 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Portsmouth in the state legislature?

State Senate District 6 (Jason Schultz) and State House District 12 (Steven Holt). The House district also covers 24 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Portsmouth’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 →