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Town Hall · Westgate

Westgate spent less per resident in 2022 than 77% of similar cities

Westgate’s city government spent $127,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $608 per resident. Water and other utilities ($20,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Iowa.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$127,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$608
In 2022: $608, less than 77% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 10 part-time · March payroll $5,685
Typical tax bill
$1,300
1.66% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Westgate is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$608 per resident in 2022: less than 77% of them

Westgate’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($608 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 $634–$1,190. Westgate spent less than 77% of them.

Middle half of the group, $634–$1,190Median $900Westgate

Includes sewer and trash ($18,000), 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; Westgate itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $608 per resident a year, or $1.67 a day

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

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 31%Property taxes 22%Fees & charges 17%Sales taxes 13%From the state 11%From other local governments 5%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Payments to other governments $5,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $152,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,300 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.66% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Westgate$1,300
$1,300
typical bill a year
1.66%
effective rate
$78,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Westgate’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. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Westgate

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

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

West Central Community School District

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

Schools in Westgate →
$13,660
per pupil · IA $13,713
329
students
$2.9 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,660 per pupil, $8,529 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 60%State 33%Federal 7%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Westgate’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Fayette County’s results9,817 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican64.4%6,325 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat34.0%3,334 votes

Others: 1.6% (158 votes).

Most votes in Fayette County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Fayette 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 Westgate

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Westgate.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Iowa

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

Reach Westgate’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Westgate’s government

How much does Westgate spend per resident?

About $608 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 $608 was less than 77% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Westgate?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,300 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.66% 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 Westgate’s government?

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

How did Westgate vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Westgate alone. Fayette County, where 100% of Westgate lies, voted Trump 64.4%, Harris 34.0% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Westgate?

0 full-time and 10 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $5,685 (about $68,220 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Westgate in the state legislature?

State Senate District 34 (Dan Zumbach) and State House District 68 (Chad Ingels). The House district also covers 17 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Westgate’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 →