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Sheldahl First Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran ChurchPhoto: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
Town Hall · Sheldahl

Sheldahl spent more per resident in 2022 than 65% of similar cities

Sheldahl’s city government spent $344,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,058 per resident. Water and other utilities ($72,000) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$344,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,058
In 2022: $1,058, more than 65% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 11 part-time · March payroll $2,223
Typical tax bill
$2,769
1.50% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Sheldahl is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,058 per resident, more than 65% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer35% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares North Polk Community School District with 3 other towns.Split between districts2 State House and 2 U.S. House districts cover Sheldahl; your street decides yours.
Compared with similar places

$1,058 per resident in 2022: more than 65% of them

Sheldahl’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,058 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. Sheldahl spent more than 65% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($75,000), 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; Sheldahl itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,058 per resident a year, or $2.90 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 22%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 33%Property taxes 18%Sales taxes 15%Utility sales 15%From the state 7%From the federal government 6%Interest, fines & other 5%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.With the enterprises, the whole budget was $416,000.
About “Other”.38% of Sheldahl’s day-to-day spending ($131,000) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,769 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.50% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Sheldahl$2,769
$2,769
typical bill a year
1.50%
effective rate
$184,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Sheldahl

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

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

North Polk Community School District

Sheldahl’s K–12 school district, shared with Alleman, Elkhart, Polk City. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Sheldahl →
$11,911
per pupil · IA $13,713
2,284
students
$53.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $11,911 per pupil, $6,645 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 53%Federal 2%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Sheldahl’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Polk County’s results255,563 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat54.8%140,075 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican43.9%112,240 votes

Others: 1.3% (3,248 votes).

Most votes in Polk County: Kamala D Harris

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

47% of Sheldahl lies in Polk County; the rest in Story County, Boone County. Every 2024 race in Polk County is on the county’s page.

Polk 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 Sheldahl

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Sheldahl.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseSheldahl is split between 2 districts
    Chad BehnBrian Lohse
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Jesse GreenJack Whitver
  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 Sheldahl’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Sheldahl’s government

How much does Sheldahl spend per resident?

About $1,058 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 $1,058 was more than 65% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Sheldahl?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,769 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.50% 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 Sheldahl’s government?

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

How did Sheldahl vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Sheldahl alone. Polk County, where 47% of Sheldahl lies, voted Harris 54.8%, Trump 43.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Sheldahl?

0 full-time and 11 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $2,223 (about $26,676 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Sheldahl in the state legislature?

Sheldahl 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 Sheldahl’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 →