Howard spent more per resident in 2022 than 76% of similar cities
Howard’s city government spent $902,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,201 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($1.1 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Howard is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,201 per resident in 2022: more than 76% of them
Howard’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,201 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 124 South Dakota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $747, and the middle half spent $370–$1,166. Howard spent more than 76% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($248,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
South Dakota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Howard itself left out).
About $1,201 per resident a year, or $3.29 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 27%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Howard reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau (2023 is an estimate), so there is no trend yet.
full-time in March 2025, the same as 5 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
The typical homeowner pays $1,347 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.34% of the home’s value, vs 1.06% across South Dakota.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Howard’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 Howard’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Howard →
Who’s in charge in Howard
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Howard’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofhoward.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 150 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (751).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Howard School District 48-3
Howard’s K–12 school district, shared with Adams Township, Canova, Canova Township, Carthage, Carthage Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $14,652 per pupil, $8,095 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.
South Dakota districts overall: 50% local, 31% state, 19% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Howard’s votes are counted by county
South Dakota reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Howard alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Miner County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican72.1%841 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat25.1%293 votesOthers: 2.8% (33 votes).
Most votes in Miner County: Donald J Trump
South Dakota: Trump 63.4%, Harris 34.2%
100% of Howard lies in Miner County. Every 2024 race in Miner County is on the county’s page.
Miner County’s 2024 results →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.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Howard.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofhoward.com ↗
- 2South Dakota HouseState representatives
- 3South Dakota SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of South Dakota
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Howard’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Howard’s government
How much does Howard spend per resident?
About $1,201 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,201 was more than 76% of 124 South Dakota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Howard?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,347 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.34% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.06% across South Dakota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofhoward.com.
Who runs Howard’s government?
See cityofhoward.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Howard yet.
How did Howard vote in 2024?
South Dakota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Howard alone. Miner County, where 100% of Howard lies, voted Trump 72.1%, Harris 25.1% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Howard?
5 full-time and 43 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $103,551 (about $1.2M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Howard in the state legislature?
State Senate District 8 (Casey Crabtree) and State House District 8 (Tim Reisch and Tim Walburg). The House district also covers 85 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Howard’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
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 →