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Waterloo, Iowa (2014) (cropped)Photo: David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA · CC BY 2.0
Town Hall · Waterloo

Waterloo spent more per resident in 2022 than 72% of similar cities

Waterloo’s city government spent $130.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,961 per resident. Water and other utilities ($9.5 million) and the airport ($3.6 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

City Council Work Session

4:00 pm

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$130.5M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,961
In 2022: $1,740, more than 72% of 18 similar cities
Long-term debt
$182.1M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
564
full-time · 193 part-time · March payroll $4.1M
Typical tax bill
$2,494
1.63% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Waterloo 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: $1,740 per resident, more than 72% of 18 similar cities.A shared school districtShares Waterloo Community School District with 4 other towns.Split between districts3 State House districts cover Waterloo; your street decides yours.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Waterloo’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 ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,961 per resident a year, or $5.37 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 18%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 32%Fees & charges 21%Sales taxes 12%From the federal government 9%Interest, fines & other 9%From the state 9%Utility sales 6%Other taxes & licenses 1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $61.8 million; interest on debt $4 million; payments to other governments $3.7 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $214.9 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,740 per resident in 2022: more than 72% of them

Waterloo’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,740 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 18 Iowa cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,490, and the middle half spent $1,137–$1,755. Waterloo spent more than 72% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,137–$1,755Median $1,490Waterloo

Includes sewer and trash ($14.2 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
18

Iowa cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Waterloo itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 11% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$117.1 million
2023$122 million
2024$130.5 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,740 · 2023: $1,823 · 2024: $1,961.

City staff
564

full-time in March 2025, up from 516 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 $2,494 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.63% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Cedar Falls$3,702
Iowa$2,897
Waterloo$2,494
Evansdale$1,875
$2,494
typical bill a year
1.63%
effective rate
$152,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Waterloo

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

See ci.waterloo.ia.us for Waterloo’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Waterloo yet.ci.waterloo.ia.us ↗
Who works for Waterloo

One full-time city employee for every 118 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 (66,562).

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

Parks & libraries65 + 181 pt
Police130
Fire118
Roads & transportation70 + 2 pt
Sewer & trash55
Water & other utilities36
Administration & buildings28 + 7 pt
Housing & development14 + 1 pt
Health & welfare6
Courts, inspections & corrections2
Other40 + 2 pt
564
full-time
193
part-time
$4.1M
payroll for March 2025
$49.7M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$84,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
121
sworn police officers
116
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Waterloo had 7.7 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 15 of the 18 Iowa cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 7.5: Waterloo had more than 53% 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

Waterloo Community School District

Waterloo’s K–12 school district, shared with Elk Run Heights, Evansdale, Gilbertville, Raymond. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Waterloo →
$15,351
per pupil · IA $13,713
10,606
students
$71.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,351 per pupil, $9,485 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 25%State 65%Federal 10%

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

Also serving Waterloo

Hudson Community School District · $11,653 per pupil

Cedar Falls Community School District · $11,799 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Waterloo’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Black Hawk County’s results62,653 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat50.0%31,299 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican48.8%30,572 votes

Others: 1.2% (782 votes).

Most votes in Black Hawk County: Kamala D Harris

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

100% of Waterloo lies in Black Hawk County. Every 2024 race in Black Hawk County is on the county’s page.

Black Hawk 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 Waterloo

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Waterloo.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: ci.waterloo.ia.us ↗
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseWaterloo is split between 3 districts
    Jerome AmosTimi Brown-PowersDerek Wulf
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Bill DotzlerDave Sires
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kim Reynolds
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Ashley Hinson
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Iowa
    Chuck GrassleyJoni Ernst
Find your state legislators by address ↗

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Waterloo compares with the towns next door

Waterloo spent $1,740 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $731 to $1,606. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Evansdale: $731 per resident (2022)Cedar Falls: $1,606 per resident (2022)EvansdaleCedar FallsWaterloo
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Evansdale$731$1,875
Cedar Falls$1,606$3,702
Waterloo$1,740$2,494

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 Waterloo’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteci.waterloo.ia.us ↗

Questions about Waterloo’s government

How much does Waterloo spend per resident?

About $1,961 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 $1,740 was more than 72% of 18 Iowa cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Waterloo?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,494 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.63% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.waterloo.ia.us.

Who runs Waterloo’s government?

See ci.waterloo.ia.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Waterloo yet.

How did Waterloo vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Waterloo alone. Black Hawk County, where 100% of Waterloo lies, voted Harris 50.0%, Trump 48.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Waterloo?

564 full-time and 193 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $4.1M (about $49.7M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Waterloo in the state legislature?

Waterloo is split among 3 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.

When is the next public meeting in Waterloo?

The next posted meeting is City Council Work Session on Monday, November 2, at 4:00 pm, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Waterloo’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 →