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

Ralston spent more per resident in 2022 than 93% of similar cities

Ralston’s city government spent $126,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,750 per resident. Water and other utilities ($33,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Iowa.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$126,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,750
In 2022: $1,750, more than 93% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$381,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 2 part-time · March payroll $2,385
Typical tax bill
$633
0.76% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Ralston is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,750 per resident, more than 93% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer33% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Glidden-Ralston Community School District with 1 other town.Split between districts2 State House and 2 U.S. House districts cover Ralston; your street decides yours.
Compared with similar places

$1,750 per resident in 2022: more than 93% of them

Ralston’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,750 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. Ralston spent more than 93% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($20,000), 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; Ralston itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,750 per resident a year, or $4.79 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 19%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 56%Utility sales 15%Fees & charges 11%Sales taxes 7%From the state 5%From the federal government 2%From other local governments 2%Interest, fines & other 2%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $23,000; interest on debt $16,000; payments to other governments $2,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $200,000.
About “Other”.29% of Ralston’s day-to-day spending ($36,000) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $633 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
Ralston$633
$633
typical bill a year
0.76%
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 Ralston’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 Ralston’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Ralston →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Ralston

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

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

Glidden-Ralston Community School District

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

Schools in Ralston →
$14,219
per pupil · IA $13,713
393
students
$150,000
long-term debt

Of the $14,219 per pupil, $9,211 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 53%State 41%Federal 5%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Ralston’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Carroll County’s results11,120 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican70.3%7,814 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat28.4%3,153 votes

Others: 1.4% (153 votes).

Most votes in Carroll County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

97% of Ralston lies in Carroll County; the rest in Greene County. Every 2024 race in Carroll County is on the county’s page.

Carroll 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 Ralston

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Ralston.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseRalston is split between 2 districts
    Craig WilliamsCarter Nordman
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Jason SchultzJesse Green
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kim Reynolds
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseSplit between districts
    Randy FeenstraZachary Nunn
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Iowa
    Chuck GrassleyJoni Ernst
Find your state legislators by address ↗Find your House district by ZIP code ↗

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

Reach Ralston’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Ralston’s government

How much does Ralston spend per resident?

About $1,750 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 $1,750 was more than 93% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Ralston?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $633 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 the city’s assessor.

Who runs Ralston’s government?

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

How did Ralston vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Ralston alone. Carroll County, where 97% of Ralston lies, voted Trump 70.3%, Harris 28.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Ralston?

0 full-time and 2 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $2,385 (about $28,620 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Ralston in the state legislature?

Ralston is split among 2 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Iowa Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Ralston’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 →