Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Runnells spent less per resident in 2022 than 72% of similar cities
Runnells’ city government spent $337,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $677 per resident. Water and other utilities ($7,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Runnells is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$677 per resident in 2022: less than 72% of them
Runnells’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($677 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. Runnells spent less than 72% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($83,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Runnells itself left out).
About $677 per resident a year, or $1.85 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 27%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Runnells reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $3,657 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.58% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Runnells’ 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 Runnells’ Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Runnells →
Who’s in charge in Runnells
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Runnells’ meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on runnellsia.com ↗.
Southeast Polk Community School District
Runnells’ K–12 school district, shared with Mitchellville, Pleasant Hill, Altoona. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $13,373 per pupil, $8,163 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.
Iowa districts overall: 43% local, 49% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Runnells’ votes are counted by county
Iowa reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Runnells alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Polk County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat54.8%140,075 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican43.9%112,240 votesOthers: 1.3% (3,248 votes).
Most votes in Polk County: Kamala D Harris
Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%
100% of Runnells lies in Polk County. Every 2024 race in Polk County is on the county’s page.
Polk County’s 2024 results →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.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Runnells.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: runnellsia.com ↗
- 2Iowa HouseState representatives
- 3Iowa SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Iowa
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Runnells’ government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Runnells’ government
How much does Runnells spend per resident?
About $677 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 $677 was less than 72% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Runnells?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,657 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.58% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see runnellsia.com.
Who runs Runnells’ government?
See runnellsia.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Runnells yet.
How did Runnells vote in 2024?
Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Runnells alone. Polk County, where 100% of Runnells lies, voted Harris 54.8%, Trump 43.9% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Runnells?
0 full-time and 17 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $12,703 (about $152,436 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Runnells in the state legislature?
State Senate District 23 (Jack Whitver) and State House District 45 (Brian Lohse). The House district also covers eight other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Runnells’ government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
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 →