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Steele MO 2013-05-11 003Photo: Thomas R Machnitzki (thomasmachnitzki.com) · CC BY 3.0
Town Hall · Steele

Steele spent more per resident in 2022 than 82% of similar cities

Steele’s city government spent $1.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $749 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.1 million) and the airport ($35,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Missouri.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.4M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$749
In 2022: $749, more than 82% of 356 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
9
full-time · 20 part-time · March payroll $34,572
Typical tax bill
$1,070
0.90% of home value · MO 0.85%

What stands out about how Steele is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $749 per resident, more than 82% of 356 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer43% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares South Pemiscot County R-V School District with 1 other town.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $1,070 a year: 0.90% of the home’s value, vs 0.85% across Missouri.
Compared with similar places

$749 per resident in 2022: more than 82% of them

Steele’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($749 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 356 Missouri cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $313, and the middle half spent $137–$614. Steele spent more than 82% of them.

Middle half of the group, $137–$614Median $313Steele

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

The group
356

Missouri cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Steele itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $749 per resident a year, or $2.05 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 39%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 25%Utility sales 20%From the state 11%Other taxes & licenses 11%Interest, fines & other 10%Sales taxes 8%From the federal government 8%Property taxes 6%
Not in the receipt.With the enterprises, the whole budget was $2.5 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,070 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.90% of the home’s value, vs 0.85% across Missouri.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Missouri$1,948
Steele$1,070
$1,070
typical bill a year
0.90%
effective rate
$119,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Steele

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

Check Steele’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Steele yet.
Who works for Steele

One full-time city employee for every 206 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 (1,853).

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

Administration & buildings0 + 8 pt
Police4
Roads & transportation1 + 3 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections2 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries0 + 5 pt
Sewer & trash1
Fire0 + 1 pt
Water & other utilities0 + 1 pt
Other1 + 1 pt
9
full-time
20
part-time
$34,572
payroll for March 2022
$414,864
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$33,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
4
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Steele had 4.9 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 277 of the 356 Missouri cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 3.6: Steele had more than 59% 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

South Pemiscot County R-V School District

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

Schools in Steele →
$14,236
per pupil · MO $14,569
539
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $14,236 per pupil, $8,046 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 27%State 54%Federal 19%

Missouri districts overall: 54% local, 35% state, 11% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Steele’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Pemiscot County’s results5,270 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican74.3%3,917 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat25.3%1,331 votes

Others: 0.4% (22 votes).

Most votes in Pemiscot County: Donald J Trump

Missouri: Trump 58.5%, Harris 40.1%

The county’s page

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

Pemiscot 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 Steele

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Steele.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Missouri HouseState representatives
    Cameron Parker
  3. 3
    Missouri SenateState senator
    Jason Bean
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Mike Kehoe
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Jason Smith
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Missouri
    Josh HawleyEric Schmitt

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

Reach Steele’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Steele’s government

How much does Steele spend per resident?

About $749 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 $749 was more than 82% of 356 Missouri cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Steele?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,070 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.90% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.85% across Missouri. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who runs Steele’s government?

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

How did Steele vote in 2024?

Missouri counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Steele alone. Pemiscot County, where 100% of Steele lies, voted Trump 74.3%, Harris 25.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Steele?

9 full-time and 20 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $34,572 (about $414,864 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Steele in the state legislature?

State Senate District 25 (Jason Bean) and State House District 150 (Cameron Parker). The House district also covers 25 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Steele’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 →