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Clay County CourthouseClay County Courthouse · Photo: Scott Romine · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Spencer

Spencer spent more per resident in 2022 than 91% of similar cities

Spencer’s city government spent $22.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,934 per resident. It also runs a hospital ($114.5 million) and water utilities ($13.7 million), counted separately. Census Bureau figures.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Iowa.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$22.1M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,934
In 2022: $2,106, more than 91% of 23 similar cities
Long-term debt
$46.2M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
134
full-time, hospital & welfare staff apart (542 in all) · March payroll $3.8M
Typical tax bill
$2,419
1.31% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Spencer is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Runs a hospital$114.5 million for a hospital the city runs in 2024, shown apart from day-to-day spending.Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $2,106 per resident, more than 91% of 23 similar cities.A shared school districtShares Spencer Community School District with 2 other towns.
★ What stands out · Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,934 per resident a year, or $5.30 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 16%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 76%Utility sales 12%Property taxes 5%Interest, fines & other 4%Sales taxes 2%From the state 1%From the federal government <1%From other local governments <1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $23.5 million; interest on debt $1.3 million; payments to other governments $651,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $176.1 million.
Why the hospital is apart.The Census Bureau counts the hospital it runs in the city’s books ($114.5 million, 76% of all operations). Only 135 of the 11,301 towns and cities of 2,500+ run one (Census finance files), so it is shown here and left out of every per-resident comparison.
About “Other”.39% of Spencer’s day-to-day spending ($8.6 million) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Compared with similar places

$2,106 per resident in 2022: more than 91% of them

Spencer’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,106 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 23 Iowa cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,462, and the middle half spent $1,179–$1,778. Spencer spent more than 91% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,179–$1,778Median $1,462Spencer

Includes sewer and trash ($3.2 million), 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
23

Iowa cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Spencer itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is down 5% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Spencer reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$23.1 million
2023$23.2 million
2024$22.1 million

Per resident: 2022: $2,106 · 2023: $2,045 · 2024: $1,934.

City staff
134

full-time in March 2025 (hospital, health & welfare left out), down from 138 in 2022.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,419 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.31% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Spencer$2,419
$2,419
typical bill a year
1.31%
effective rate
$184,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Spencer’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.

Tax bills are one input to Spencer’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Spencer →

Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Spencer’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Spencer

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

See spenceriowacity.com for Spencer’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Spencer yet.spenceriowacity.com ↗
Who works for Spencer

One full-time city employee for every 85 residents, not counting hospital, health & welfare staff

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (11,413).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Water & other utilities32
Police29
Parks & libraries13 + 12 pt
Fire5 + 22 pt
Sewer & trash15 + 1 pt
Administration & buildings12
Roads & transportation12
Other16
Run separately
Hospital, health & welfare408 + 103 pt
134
full-time, hospital, health & welfare apart
138
part-time
$3.8M
payroll for March 2025
$45.2M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$74,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
20
sworn police officers
5
full-time firefighters
The hospital.The 408 full-time hospital, health & welfare staff include the hospital the city runs, so they are counted apart, as the hospitals are in the budget. The payroll figures cover every employee, the hospital’s included: the Census file doesn’t split pay by function.
Compared, 2022.Spencer had 12.6 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022 (hospital, health & welfare left out, and the same for any peer that runs a hospital). The median for the 21 of the 23 Iowa cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 7.2: Spencer had more than 95% 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

Spencer Community School District

Spencer’s K–12 school district, shared with Dickens, Gillett Grove. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Spencer →
$13,383
per pupil · IA $13,713
2,267
students
$21 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,383 per pupil, $8,078 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 39%State 55%Federal 7%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Spencer voted in 2024

Official results for Spencer’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President5,545 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican67.8%3,758 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat30.9%1,713 votes

Others: 1.3% (74 votes).

Most votes in Spencer: Donald J Trump

Clay County: Trump 71.0%, Harris 27.8% · Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

Turnout
65%

of Spencer’s 8,526 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Iowa: 70%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. House · Iowa’s 4th District372,697 votes
Randy FeenstraRepublican67.2%
Ryan MeltonDemocrat32.8%

Most votes in the district: Randy Feenstra

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Spencer, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Spencer67.8%30.9%1.3%5,545
Clay County71.0%27.8%1.2%8,514
Iowa55.7%42.5%1.8%1,663,506
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 Spencer

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Spencer.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: spenceriowacity.com ↗
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Megan Jones
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Lynn Evans
  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 Spencer’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitespenceriowacity.com ↗

Questions about Spencer’s government

How much does Spencer spend per resident?

About $1,934 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. Spencer also runs a hospital ($114.5 million), counted separately. In 2022, the last full count, its $2,106 was more than 91% of 23 Iowa cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Spencer?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,419 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.31% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see spenceriowacity.com.

Who runs Spencer’s government?

See spenceriowacity.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Spencer yet.

How did Spencer vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 67.8%, Kamala D Harris 30.9% (5,545 votes, official results). Clay County: Trump 71.0%, Harris 27.8%. Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%.

How many people work for Spencer?

134 full-time and 138 part-time employees in March 2025 (plus 408 full-time hospital, health & welfare staff), with a March payroll of $3.8M (about $45.2M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Spencer in the state legislature?

State Senate District 3 (Lynn Evans) and State House District 6 (Megan Jones). The House district also covers 15 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Spencer?

The next posted meeting is Airport Board on Monday, November 9, at 3:00 pm in Main Conference Room, 101 W. 5th Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Spencer’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 →