Lester, IA town hall & government
Lester spent $453,000 in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,495 per resident.
Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Lester's government.
Where Lester's money goes
Where the money comes from
- Property taxes 30%
- From the state 24%
- Fees & charges 16%
- Interest, fines & other 14%
- Utility sales 8%
- Sales taxes 7%
- Other taxes & licenses <1%
Who works for Lester
Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate. Lester didn't report its staffing to the Census Bureau, so these are the Bureau's estimates.
West Lyon Community School District
Lester's K–12 school district, shared with Alvord, Inwood and Larchwood. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.
Where the district's money comes from Iowa districts overall: 43% local, 49% state, 8% federal
- Local 45%
- State 51%
- Federal 4%
Of the $11,631 per pupil, $7,953 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.
Which schools Lester kids attend, test scores and graduation rate →
What homeowners in Lester pay
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. In a town this small the survey estimate has a wide margin.
Contact Lester's government
Who represents Lester
Lester is represented in Congress by Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst and Representative Randy Feenstra. Kim Reynolds is governor.
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.