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Grand Auditorium and Hotel BlockGrand Auditorium and Hotel Block · Photo: Jim Roberts · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Story City

Story City spent more per resident in 2022 than 94% of similar cities

Story City’s city government spent $6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,802 per resident. Water and other utilities ($261,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$6.0M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,802
In 2022: $1,802, more than 94% of 91 similar cities
Long-term debt
$12.4M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
21
full-time · 14 part-time · March payroll $115,712
Typical tax bill
$2,851
1.32% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Story City is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,802 per resident, more than 94% of 91 similar cities.A shared school districtShares Roland-Story Community School District with 1 other town.
Compared with similar places

$1,802 per resident in 2022: more than 94% of them

Story City’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,802 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 91 Iowa cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,166, and the middle half spent $1,027–$1,378. Story City spent more than 94% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,027–$1,378Median $1,166Story City

Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
91

Iowa cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Story City itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,802 per resident a year, or $4.94 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 23%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 31%Interest, fines & other 21%Fees & charges 18%Sales taxes 9%Utility sales 8%From the state 7%From the federal government 3%Other taxes & licenses 1%From other local governments 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $946,000; interest on debt $320,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $7.5 million.
About “Other”.30% of Story City’s day-to-day spending ($1.8 million) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,851 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.32% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Story City$2,851
$2,851
typical bill a year
1.32%
effective rate
$215,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Story City

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

See cityofstorycity.org for Story City’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Story City yet.cityofstorycity.org ↗
Agendas

Story City’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofstorycity.org ↗.

Who works for Story City

One full-time city employee for every 159 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (3,330).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Parks & libraries5 + 12 pt
Police6
Administration & buildings3 + 2 pt
Roads & transportation3
Sewer & trash2
Water & other utilities2
21
full-time
14
part-time
$115,712
payroll for March 2022
$1.4M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$61,100
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
6
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Story City had 6.3 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 77 of the 91 Iowa cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.6: Story City had fewer 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

Roland-Story Community School District

Story City’s K–12 school district, shared with Roland. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Story City →
$12,050
per pupil · IA $13,713
1,108
students
$13.9 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,050 per pupil, $8,026 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 47%State 49%Federal 4%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Story City’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Story County’s results49,200 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat54.4%26,765 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican44.0%21,665 votes

Others: 1.6% (770 votes).

Most votes in Story County: Kamala D Harris

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Story 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 Story City

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Story City.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofstorycity.org ↗
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Shannon Latham
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Dennis Guth
  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 Story City’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofstorycity.org ↗

Questions about Story City’s government

How much does Story City spend per resident?

About $1,802 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 $1,802 was more than 94% of 91 Iowa cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Story City?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,851 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.32% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofstorycity.org.

Who runs Story City’s government?

See cityofstorycity.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Story City yet.

How did Story City vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Story City alone. Story County, where 100% of Story City lies, voted Harris 54.4%, Trump 44.0% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Story City?

21 full-time and 14 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $115,712 (about $1.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Story City in the state legislature?

State Senate District 28 (Dennis Guth) and State House District 55 (Shannon Latham). The House district also covers 22 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Story City’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 →