Town Hall · Independence

Independence, IA town hall & government

Independence spent $25.8 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $4,171 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Independence's money goes

Spent
$25.8 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$4,171
typical Iowa cities: $2,814
Long-term debt
$14 million
$2,272 per resident
Water & other utilities
$9.2 million36%
Sewer & trash
$3.4 million13%
Parks & libraries
$1.9 million7%
Police
$1.7 million7%
Roads & transportation
$979,0004%
Paid to other governments
$973,0004%
Fire
$529,0002%
Housing & development
$525,0002%
Administration & buildings
$471,0002%
Interest on debt
$377,0001%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$210,0001%
Health & welfare
$89,000<1%
Other
$5.4 million21%

Where the money comes from

  • Utility sales 39%
  • Property taxes 20%
  • Interest, fines & other 12%
  • Fees & charges 8%
  • From the state 7%
  • From the federal government 7%
  • Sales taxes 6%
  • From other local governments 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Independence

Full-time staff
57
29 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$57,800
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
11
and 3 full-time firefighters
Water & other utilities
18 full-time
Parks & libraries
8 full-time19 part
Police
12 full-time
Administration & buildings
4 full-time8 part
Sewer & trash
6 full-time
Roads & transportation
5 full-time
Fire
3 full-time2 part
Other
1 full-time

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

Schools · school year 2023–24

Independence Community School District

Independence's K–12 school district, shared with Brandon and Rowley. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$13,345
Iowa: $13,713
Students
1,480
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$8.1 million
at year end

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

  • Local 42%
  • State 53%
  • Federal 6%

Of the $13,345 per pupil, $8,183 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 Independence pay

Typical tax bill
$2,722
a year · Iowa typical $2,897
Effective rate
1.65%
of home value · Iowa 1.39%
Typical home value
$165,300
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 Independence's government

🏛️ Official websiteindependenceia.com ↗

Town hall & decisions in Independence →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Independence

Independence is represented in Congress by Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst and Representative Ashley Hinson. Kim Reynolds is governor.

All of Independence'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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Independence

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