Town Hall · Cherokee

Cherokee, IA town hall & government

Cherokee spent $9 million in the year to June 30, 2023, about $1,764 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Cherokee's government.

Town budget

Where Cherokee's money goes

Spent
$9 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2023
Per resident
$1,764
typical Iowa cities: $2,697
Long-term debt
$5.4 million
$1,051 per resident
Roads & transportation
$2.5 million27%
Sewer & trash
$2 million22%
Parks & libraries
$1.2 million13%
Police
$953,00011%
Water & other utilities
$940,00010%
Administration & buildings
$543,0006%
Fire
$456,0005%
Interest on debt
$126,0001%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$46,0001%
Health & welfare
$1,000<1%
Other
$298,0003%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 27%
  • Fees & charges 24%
  • Sales taxes 14%
  • From the state 14%
  • Utility sales 10%
  • Interest, fines & other 7%
  • From the federal government 4%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%
  • From other local governments <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Cherokee

Full-time staff
29
14 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$56,000
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
8
and 2 full-time firefighters
Parks & libraries
6 full-time9 part
Police
9 full-time
Roads & transportation
5 full-time
Sewer & trash
4 full-time
Water & other utilities
3 full-time
Fire
2 full-time1 part
Administration & buildings
0 full-time4 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Cherokee Community School District

Cherokee's K–12 school district, shared with Larrabee. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$11,678
Iowa: $13,713
Students
1,217
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$10 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Iowa districts overall: 43% local, 49% state, 8% federal

  • Local 38%
  • State 55%
  • Federal 7%

Of the $11,678 per pupil, $7,638 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Property tax

What homeowners in Cherokee pay

Typical tax bill
$1,547
a year · Iowa typical $2,897
Effective rate
1.13%
of home value · Iowa 1.39%
Typical home value
$136,700
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Cherokee's government

🏛️ Official websitecherokeeiowa.net ↗

Town hall & decisions in Cherokee →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Cherokee

Cherokee is represented in Congress by Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst and Representative Randy Feenstra. Kim Reynolds is governor.

All of Cherokee's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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Cherokee

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