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Town Hall · Howard

In Howard, 79% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Wisconsin

Howard’s town government spent $442,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $544 per resident.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$442,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$544
In 2022: $544, more than 56% of 1113 similar towns
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of 2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
0
full-time · 15 part-time · March payroll $6,080
Typical tax bill
$2,384
0.96% of home value · WI 1.42%

What stands out about how Howard is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

The school district

Colfax School District

Howard’s K–12 school district, shared with Colfax, Grant, Otter Creek, Colfax, Wilson and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Howard →
$15,671
per pupil · WI $16,459
705
students
$4.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,671 per pupil, $8,695 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 29%State 62%Federal 10%

Wisconsin districts overall: 39% local, 50% state, 11% federal.

Also serving Howard

Chippewa Falls Area School District · $15,430 per pupil

Bloomer School District · $13,543 per pupil

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $544 per resident a year, or $1.49 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 71%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 43%Property taxes 42%From the federal government 11%Fees & charges 2%From other local governments 1%Interest, fines & other 1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Compared with similar places

$544 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar towns

Howard’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($544 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 1113 Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $509, and the middle half spent $371–$727. Howard spent more than 56% of them.

Middle half of the group, $371–$727Median $509Howard

Includes sewer and trash ($8,000), 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
1113

Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Howard itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,384 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.96% of the home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Wisconsin$3,792
Colfax$3,435
Wheaton$2,990
Tilden$2,976
Cooks Valley$2,779
Howard$2,384
$2,384
typical bill a year
0.96%
effective rate
$249,100
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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 runs it

Who’s in charge in Howard

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

Check Howard’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Howard yet.
Elections · 2024 general election

How Howard voted in 2024

Official results for Howard’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President519 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican65.1%338 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat33.1%172 votes

Others: 1.7% (9 votes).

Most votes in Howard: Donald J Trump

Chippewa County: Trump 60.8%, Harris 37.9% · Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%

Turnout
79%

of Howard’s 659 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Wisconsin: 76%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate513 votes
Eric HovdeRepublican62.2%
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat35.3%
Others2.5%

Most votes in Howard: Eric Hovde

Chippewa County: Hovde 58.3%, Baldwin 39.1% · Wisconsin: Baldwin 49.3%, Hovde 48.5%

U.S. House · Wisconsin’s 3rd District413,181 votes
Derrick Van OrdenRepublican51.3%
Rebecca CookeDemocrat48.6%
Others0.1%

Most votes in the district: Derrick Van Orden

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Howard, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Howard65.1%33.1%1.7%519
Chippewa County60.8%37.9%1.3%38,471
Wisconsin49.6%48.7%1.7%3,422,918
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 Howard

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Howard.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Wisconsin AssemblyState representatives
  3. 3
    Wisconsin SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Wisconsin

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

Next door

How Howard compares with the towns next door

Howard spent $544 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $232 to $391. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Tilden$232$2,976
Colfax$244$3,435
Cooks Valley$328$2,779
Wheaton$391$2,990
Howard$544$2,384

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 Howard’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Howard’s government

How much does Howard spend per resident?

About $544 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 $544 was more than 56% of 1113 Wisconsin towns and townships 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 $2,384 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.96% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the town’s assessor.

Who runs Howard’s government?

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?

For president, Donald J Trump 65.1%, Kamala D Harris 33.1% (519 votes, official results). Chippewa County: Trump 60.8%, Harris 37.9%. Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%.

How many people work for Howard?

0 full-time and 15 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $6,080 (about $72,960 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Howard in the state legislature?

State Senate District 23 (Jesse James) and Assembly District 68 (Rob Summerfield). The Assembly district also covers 92 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.

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 →