Town Hall · Ruthven

How Ruthven is run

Ruthven spent $3.3 million in the year to June 30, 2022, about $4,875 per resident.

City budget

$3.3 million

spent, year to June 30, 2022

Per resident

$4,875

Above typical Iowa cities ($2,249)

Long-term debt

None

at year end

City staff

full-time · 11 part-time

Typical tax bill

$1,163

a year · IA $2,897

What stands out about how Ruthven is run

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

Lower tax billsThe typical homeowner pays $1,163 a year in property tax, vs $2,897 across Iowa.Runs its own water & sewer86% of spending goes to water, sewer and trash, paid largely by users’ fees.A shared school districtShares Ruthven-Ayrshire Community School District with 1 other town.

★ What stands out · Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,163 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.10% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897

Ruthven$1,163

$1,163

typical bill a year

1.10%

effective rate

$105,700

typical home value (Census)

Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Ruthven’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 $4,875 per resident a year, or $13.36 a day

The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 81% of spending.

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

Sewer & trash$2.7 million · 81%$3,971

Water & other utilities$156,000 · 5%$230

Parks & libraries$105,000 · 3%$155

Roads & transportation$90,000 · 3%$133

Police$59,000 · 2%$87

Paid to other governments$42,000 · 1%$62

Administration & buildings$40,000 · 1%$59

Courts, inspections & corrections$7,000 · <1%$10

Fire$6,000 · <1%$9

Health & welfare$1,000 · <1%$1

Other$107,000 · 3%$158

Total per resident$4,875

Whole budget $3.3 million · 678 residents
Thank you for being a neighbor

Where the money comes from

From the federal government 80%Property taxes 5%From the state 5%Sales taxes 3%Fees & charges 3%From other local governments 3%Interest, fines & other 1%Other taxes & licenses <1%

The school district

Ruthven-Ayrshire Community School District

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

Schools in Ruthven →

$19,253

per pupil · IA $13,713

158

students

$36,000

long-term debt

Of the $19,253 per pupil, $11,684 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 46%State 43%Federal 10%

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 Ruthven

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

Who works for Ruthven

One full-time town employee for every 75 residents

On the payroll in March 2022.

By department full-time, plus part-time

Administration & buildings3 + 3 pt

Parks & libraries0 + 8 pt

Roads & transportation3

Water & other utilities3

full-time

part-time

$47,400

average full-time pay, before benefits

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

Who represents Ruthven

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Ruthven.

Politics & elections →

1
Your cityMayor & council

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

John Wills
3
Iowa SenateState senator

Dave Rowley
4
GovernorStatewide

Kim Reynolds
5
U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress

Randy Feenstra
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 Ruthven’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 Ruthven is run?

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →

Weigh in

Does Ruthven 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.