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Town Hall · Remsen

How is Remsen run?

Remsen’s city government spent $1.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $998 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.3 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.6M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$998
In 2022: $998, more than 59% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$2.3M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
9
full-time · 7 part-time · March payroll $57,268
Typical tax bill
$2,052
1.10% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Remsen is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Runs its own water & sewer74% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Remsen-Union Community School District with 1 other town.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $2,052 a year: 1.10% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $998 per resident a year, or $2.73 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 26%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 54%Property taxes 17%Fees & charges 13%Sales taxes 5%From the state 4%Interest, fines & other 3%From the federal government 2%From other local governments 2%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $137,000; interest on debt $104,000; payments to other governments $10,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $5.1 million.
Compared with similar places

$998 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Remsen’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($998 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. Remsen spent more than 59% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($350,000), 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; Remsen itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,052 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.10% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Remsen$2,052
$2,052
typical bill a year
1.10%
effective rate
$185,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Remsen

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

See remseniowa.net for Remsen’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Remsen yet.remseniowa.net ↗
Agendas

Remsen’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on remseniowa.net ↗.

Who works for Remsen

One full-time city employee for every 179 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 (1,607).

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

Water & other utilities3
Police1 + 3 pt
Parks & libraries0 + 3 pt
Administration & buildings1
Roads & transportation1
Sewer & trash1
Other2 + 1 pt
9
full-time
7
part-time
$57,268
payroll for March 2022
$687,216
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$65,100
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
1
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Remsen had 5.6 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: Remsen had more than 74% 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

Remsen-Union Community School District

Remsen’s elementary school district, shared with Oyens. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Remsen →
$15,749
per pupil · IA $13,713
307
students
$3.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,749 per pupil, $8,775 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 62%State 35%Federal 3%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Remsen’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Plymouth County’s results13,931 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican76.5%10,661 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat22.3%3,104 votes

Others: 1.2% (166 votes).

Most votes in Plymouth County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Plymouth 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 Remsen

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Remsen.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: remseniowa.net ↗
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Travis Sitzmann
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Kevin Alons
  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 Remsen’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteremseniowa.net ↗

Questions about Remsen’s government

How much does Remsen spend per resident?

About $998 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 $998 was more than 59% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Remsen?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,052 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.10% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see remseniowa.net.

Who runs Remsen’s government?

See remseniowa.net for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Remsen yet.

How did Remsen vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Remsen alone. Plymouth County, where 100% of Remsen lies, voted Trump 76.5%, Harris 22.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Remsen?

9 full-time and 7 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $57,268 (about $687,216 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Remsen in the state legislature?

State Senate District 7 (Kevin Alons) and State House District 13 (Travis Sitzmann). The House district also covers 30 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Remsen’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 →