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O'Brien County CourthouseO'Brien County Courthouse · Photo: Scott Romine · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Primghar

Primghar spent more per resident in 2022 than 86% of similar cities

Primghar’s city government spent $1.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,457 per resident. Water and other utilities ($995,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Iowa.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.3M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,457
In 2022: $1,457, more than 86% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$1.5M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
8
full-time · 20 part-time · March payroll $48,631
Typical tax bill
$1,425
0.97% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Primghar is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,457 per resident, more than 86% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer52% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares South O'Brien Community School District with 3 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,425 a year: 0.97% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$1,457 per resident in 2022: more than 86% of them

Primghar’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,457 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. Primghar spent more than 86% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($194,000), 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; Primghar itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,457 per resident a year, or $3.99 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: health & welfare, at 37%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 37%Fees & charges 17%Interest, fines & other 15%Property taxes 14%From other local governments 7%From the state 6%Sales taxes 5%From the federal government <1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $249,000; interest on debt $66,000; payments to other governments $97,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $2.7 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,425 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.97% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Primghar$1,425
$1,425
typical bill a year
0.97%
effective rate
$147,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Primghar

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

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

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

Who works for Primghar

One full-time city employee for every 107 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 (858).

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

Administration & buildings3 + 6 pt
Health & welfare0 + 9 pt
Parks & libraries1 + 4 pt
Water & other utilities2
Roads & transportation1
Sewer & trash1
Fire0 + 1 pt
8
full-time
20
part-time
$48,631
payroll for March 2022
$583,572
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$61,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Primghar had 9.3 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: Primghar had more than 88% 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

South O'Brien Community School District

Primghar’s K–12 school district, shared with Calumet, Paullina, Sutherland. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Primghar →
$14,188
per pupil · IA $13,713
558
students
$15.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,188 per pupil, $8,020 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 72%State 21%Federal 6%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Primghar’s votes are counted by county

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

President · O'Brien County’s results7,501 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican80.0%5,998 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat19.0%1,428 votes

Others: 1.0% (75 votes).

Most votes in O'Brien County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

100% of Primghar lies in O'Brien County. Every 2024 race in O'Brien County is on the county’s page.

O'Brien 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 Primghar

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Primghar.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: primghar.com ↗
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Zach Dieken
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Lynn Evans
  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 Primghar’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteprimghar.com ↗

Questions about Primghar’s government

How much does Primghar spend per resident?

About $1,457 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 $1,457 was more than 86% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Primghar?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,425 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.97% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see primghar.com.

Who runs Primghar’s government?

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

How did Primghar vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Primghar alone. O'Brien County, where 100% of Primghar lies, voted Trump 80.0%, Harris 19.0% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Primghar?

8 full-time and 20 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $48,631 (about $583,572 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Primghar in the state legislature?

State Senate District 3 (Lynn Evans) and State House District 5 (Zach Dieken). The House district also covers 16 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Primghar’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 →