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Town Hall · What Cheer

What Cheer spent less per resident in 2022 than 66% of similar cities

What Cheer’s city government spent $457,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $743 per resident. Water and other utilities ($107,000) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$457,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$743
In 2022: $743, less than 66% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$62,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 3 part-time · March payroll $2,281
Typical tax bill
$860
1.75% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how What Cheer is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $743 per resident, less than 66% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer44% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Tri-County Community School District with 3 other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $860 a year: 1.75% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$743 per resident in 2022: less than 66% of them

What Cheer’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($743 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 $632–$1,190. What Cheer spent less than 66% of them.

Middle half of the group, $632–$1,190Median $900What Cheer

Includes sewer and trash ($143,000), 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; What Cheer itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $743 per resident a year, or $2.04 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 31%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 23%From the state 19%Property taxes 19%Utility sales 15%Sales taxes 13%From the federal government 9%Interest, fines & other 1%From other local governments <1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $52,000; interest on debt $4,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $620,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $860 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.75% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
What Cheer$860
$860
typical bill a year
1.75%
effective rate
$49,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in What Cheer

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

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

Tri-County Community School District

What Cheer’s K–12 school district, shared with Gibson, Keswick, Thornburg. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in What Cheer →
$18,589
per pupil · IA $13,713
192
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $18,589 per pupil, $12,240 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 42%State 52%Federal 5%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

What Cheer’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Keokuk County’s results5,142 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican75.2%3,869 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat23.7%1,219 votes

Others: 1.1% (54 votes).

Most votes in Keokuk County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

100% of What Cheer lies in Keokuk County. Every 2024 race in Keokuk County is on the county’s page.

Keokuk 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 What Cheer

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for What Cheer.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Helena Hayes
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Adrian Dickey
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kim Reynolds
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Mariannette Miller-Meeks
  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 What Cheer’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about What Cheer’s government

How much does What Cheer spend per resident?

About $743 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 $743 was less than 66% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in What Cheer?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $860 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.75% 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 What Cheer’s government?

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

How did What Cheer vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for What Cheer alone. Keokuk County, where 100% of What Cheer lies, voted Trump 75.2%, Harris 23.7% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for What Cheer?

0 full-time and 3 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $2,281 (about $27,372 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents What Cheer in the state legislature?

State Senate District 44 (Adrian Dickey) and State House District 88 (Helena Hayes). The House district also covers 28 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about What Cheer’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 →