Town Hall · Ladora

How Ladora is run

Ladora spent $1.1 million in the year to June 30, 2022, about $3,934 per resident.

Photo: Billwhittaker (talk)

City budget

$1.1 million

spent, year to June 30, 2022

Per resident

$3,934

Above typical Iowa cities ($2,249)

Long-term debt

$860,000

$3,150 per resident

City staff

full-time · 12 part-time

Typical tax bill

$1,009

a year · IA $2,897

What stands out about how Ladora is run

Read from the town’s budget, meetings and records. The page puts what stands out first.

Lower tax billsThe typical homeowner pays $1,009 a year in property tax, vs $2,897 across Iowa.Runs its own water & sewer89% of spending goes to water, sewer and trash, paid largely by users’ fees.A shared school districtShares H-L-V Community School District with 2 other towns.

★ What stands out · Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,009 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.29% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897

Ladora$1,009

$1,009

typical bill a year

1.29%

effective rate

$78,200

typical home value (Census)

Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Ladora’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.

Your share of the budget

About $3,934 per resident a year, or $10.78 a day

The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 84% of spending.

LADORAYour share · per resident · year to June 30, 2022

Sewer & trash$904,000 · 84%$3,311

Water & other utilities$49,000 · 5%$179

Interest on debt$34,000 · 3%$125

Administration & buildings$32,000 · 3%$117

Roads & transportation$9,000 · 1%$33

Police$3,000 · <1%$11

Fire$1,000 · <1%$4

Other$42,000 · 4%$154

Total per resident$3,934

Whole budget $1.1 million · 273 residents
Thank you for being a neighbor

Where the money comes from

From the state 72%Fees & charges 9%Utility sales 6%Property taxes 5%Sales taxes 5%From the federal government 2%Interest, fines & other 1%

The school district

H-L-V Community School District

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

Schools in Ladora →

$16,349

per pupil · IA $13,713

295

students

$1.1 million

long-term debt

Of the $16,349 per pupil, $10,312 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 54%State 41%Federal 5%

Iowa districts overall: 43% local, 49% state, 8% federal.

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Ladora

Local officials aren’t in the public records we use for Ladora yet. Neighbors can add them.

Who works for Ladora

0 full-time staff

On the payroll in March 2022 (a Census Bureau estimate).

By department full-time, plus part-time

Administration & buildings0 + 11 pt

Water & other utilities0 + 1 pt

full-time

part-time

Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it’s approximate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

Who represents Ladora

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Ladora.

Politics & elections →

1
Your cityMayor & council

Local officials aren’t on record yet.
2
Iowa HouseState representatives

Judd Lawler
3
Iowa SenateState senator

Dawn Driscoll
4
GovernorStatewide

Kim Reynolds
5
U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress

Mariannette Miller-Meeks
6
U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Iowa

Chuck Grassley Joni Ernst

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

Reach Ladora’s government

Numbers and hours come from neighbors and the town’s own site (the Handbook). A new one goes live once two neighbors confirm it.

The Handbook →

Questions about how Ladora is run?

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →

Weigh in

Does Ladora get good value for its tax dollars?

Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.

Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. School district: Census school finance survey. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates. Representatives: Open States, the Census and congress-legislators.