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Somers, IowaPhoto: Lacey Niceswanger · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Somers

Somers spent less per resident in 2022 than 67% of similar cities

Somers’ city government spent $75,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $735 per resident. Water and other utilities ($15,000) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$75,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$735
In 2022: $735, less than 67% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$8,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 3 part-time · March payroll $1,873
Typical tax bill
$723
0.96% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Somers is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $735 per resident, less than 67% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer29% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Southeast Valley Community School District with 6+ other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $723 a year: 0.96% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$735 per resident in 2022: less than 67% of them

Somers’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($735 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. Somers spent less than 67% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($11,000), 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; Somers itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $735 per resident a year, or $2.01 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: parks & libraries, at 35%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 27%Utility sales 16%Sales taxes 14%From the state 13%Fees & charges 11%From other local governments 11%From the federal government 6%Interest, fines & other 2%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $1,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $91,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $723 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.96% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Somers$723
$723
typical bill a year
0.96%
effective rate
$75,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Somers

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

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

Southeast Valley Community School District

Somers’ K–12 school district, shared with Boxholm, Callender, Dayton, Farnhamville, Gowrie and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Somers →
$14,919
per pupil · IA $13,713
1,100
students
$4.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,919 per pupil, $9,037 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 50%State 45%Federal 5%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Somers’ votes are counted by county

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

President · Calhoun County’s results5,093 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican72.8%3,708 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat26.1%1,328 votes

Others: 1.1% (57 votes).

Most votes in Calhoun County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Calhoun 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 Somers

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Somers.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Wendy Larson
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Tim Kraayenbrink
  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 Somers’ government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Somers’ government

How much does Somers spend per resident?

About $735 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 $735 was less than 67% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Somers?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $723 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.96% 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 Somers’ government?

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

How did Somers vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Somers alone. Calhoun County, where 100% of Somers lies, voted Trump 72.8%, Harris 26.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Somers?

0 full-time and 3 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1,873 (about $22,476 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Somers in the state legislature?

State Senate District 4 (Tim Kraayenbrink) and State House District 7 (Wendy Larson). The House district also covers 35 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Somers’ 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 →