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Storm Lake Public Library (NRHP 83000346) 20120930 IMG 8844Photo: Scott A. Miller · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Storm Lake

Storm Lake spent more per resident in 2022 than 78% of similar cities

Storm Lake’s city government spent $18.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,599 per resident. Water and other utilities ($4.3 million) and the airport ($359,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

Airport Commission Agenda

4:00 pm · Storm Lake Municipal Airport, 850 630th Street

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$18.1M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,599
In 2022: $1,845, more than 78% of 23 similar cities
Long-term debt
$24.4M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
70
full-time · 18 part-time · March payroll $447,590
Typical tax bill
$2,482
1.44% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Storm Lake is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,845 per resident, more than 78% of 23 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer35% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Storm Lake Community School District with 1 other town.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Nov2
    City Council AgendaMonday · 5:00 pm · City Council Council Chambers, 620 Erie StreetCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Nov2
    Library Board AgendaMonday · 5:00 pm · City Council Council Chambers, 620 Erie StreetLive Stream will be on the 11/2/2026 Council Meeting - Library BoardAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct26
    City Council AgendaMonday · 5:00 pm · City Council Council Chambers, 620 Erie StreetSpecial Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct26
    Airport Commission AgendaMonday · 5:00 pm · City Council Council Chambers, 620 Erie StreetLive Stream will be on the Special Council Meeting tab - Airport Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct19
    City Council AgendaMonday · 5:00 pm · City Council Council Chambers, 620 Erie StreetCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
Go in person

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

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,599 per resident a year, or $4.38 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 20%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 25%Fees & charges 24%Utility sales 20%Sales taxes 13%From the state 11%Interest, fines & other 5%From the federal government 1%Other taxes & licenses 1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $5.7 million; interest on debt $939,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $29.4 million.
About “Other”.38% of Storm Lake’s day-to-day spending ($6.9 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

$1,845 per resident in 2022: more than 78% of them

Storm Lake’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,845 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. Storm Lake spent more than 78% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($6.1 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; Storm Lake itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is down 6% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$19.3 million
2023$18.5 million
2024$18.1 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,845 · 2023: $1,643 · 2024: $1,599. Per resident it went from $1,845 to $1,599 (down 13%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 10,438 to 11,307.

City staff
70

full-time in March 2025, down from 76 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 $2,482 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.44% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Lakeside$3,595
Iowa$2,897
Storm Lake$2,482
$2,482
typical bill a year
1.44%
effective rate
$172,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Storm Lake

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

See stormlake.org for Storm Lake’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Storm Lake yet.stormlake.org ↗
Who works for Storm Lake

One full-time city employee for every 162 residents

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 (11,307).

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

Police23
Administration & buildings11 + 6 pt
Roads & transportation12
Parks & libraries6 + 4 pt
Water & other utilities8
Fire2 + 8 pt
Sewer & trash5
Other3
70
full-time
18
part-time
$447,590
payroll for March 2025
$5.4M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$74,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
20
sworn police officers
2
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Storm Lake had 7.3 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. 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: Storm Lake had more than 52% 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

Storm Lake Community School District

Storm Lake’s K–12 school district, shared with Lakeside. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Storm Lake →
$14,136
per pupil · IA $13,713
2,933
students
$38.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,136 per pupil, $8,557 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 30%State 56%Federal 14%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Storm Lake’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Buena Vista County’s results7,516 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican66.0%4,962 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat32.8%2,462 votes

Others: 1.2% (92 votes).

Most votes in Buena Vista County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

100% of Storm Lake lies in Buena Vista County. Every 2024 race in Buena Vista County is on the county’s page.

Buena Vista 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 Storm Lake

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Storm Lake.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: stormlake.org ↗
  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.

Next door

How Storm Lake compares with the towns next door

Storm Lake spent $1,845 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $897. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Lakeside: $897 per resident (2022)LakesideStorm Lake
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Lakeside$897$3,595
Storm Lake$1,845$2,482

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Storm Lake’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitestormlake.org ↗

Questions about Storm Lake’s government

How much does Storm Lake spend per resident?

About $1,599 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,845 was more than 78% of 23 Iowa cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Storm Lake?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,482 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.44% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see stormlake.org.

Who runs Storm Lake’s government?

See stormlake.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Storm Lake yet.

How did Storm Lake vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Storm Lake alone. Buena Vista County, where 100% of Storm Lake lies, voted Trump 66.0%, Harris 32.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Storm Lake?

70 full-time and 18 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $447,590 (about $5.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Storm Lake 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 Storm Lake?

The next posted meeting is Airport Commission Agenda on Monday, November 9, at 4:00 pm in Storm Lake Municipal Airport, 850 630th Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Storm Lake’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 →