Town Hall · Spencer

Spencer, IA town hall & government

Spencer spent $176.1 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $15,433 per resident.

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

Local leadership

Who runs Spencer

Steve BomgaarsMayorSince 2022 Wikidata ↗ Out of date? Sign in to tell us

From public records (Open States and Wikidata), which can lag behind an election. If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.

Meetings

Coming up at Spencer's town hall

  • Sep 30Wed · 12:00 pm
    GeneralPersonnel Committee MeetingMain Conference Room, 101 W. 5th Street Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Sep 30Wed · 3:00 pm
    GeneralSpecial Airport Board MeetingUpstairs Conference Room, 101 W. 5th Street Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct 5Mon · 8:15 am
    Zoning Board of AdjustmentZoning Board of Adjustment MeetingCouncil Chamber, 101 W. 5th Street Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct 5Mon · 5:00 pm
    Golf Course BoardOctober 5, 2026 Golf Board MeetingCouncil Chamber, 101 W. 5th Street Meeting page ↗
  • Oct 5Mon · 6:30 pm
    City CouncilCity Council MeetingCouncil Chamber, 101 W. 5th Street Meeting page ↗
  • Oct 5Mon · 6:30 pm
    City CouncilCity Council MeetingCouncil Chamber, 101 W. 5th Street Meeting page ↗

Recent meetings

Official listings from Spencer's agenda portal ↗, checked daily. Times are local. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check the portal before you go.

Town budget

Where Spencer's money goes

Spent
$176.1 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$15,433
typical Iowa cities: $2,814
Long-term debt
$46.2 million
$4,051 per resident
Health & welfare
$118.6 million67%
Water & other utilities
$19.9 million11%
Sewer & trash
$3.9 million2%
Parks & libraries
$2.9 million2%
Police
$2.8 million2%
Roads & transportation
$1.6 million1%
Administration & buildings
$1.3 million1%
Interest on debt
$1 million1%
Fire
$1 million1%
Paid to other governments
$651,000<1%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$468,000<1%
Other
$21.9 million12%

Where the money comes from

  • Fees & charges 76%
  • Utility sales 12%
  • Property taxes 5%
  • Interest, fines & other 4%
  • Sales taxes 2%
  • From the state 1%
  • From the federal government <1%
  • From other local governments <1%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Spencer

Full-time staff
542
138 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$74,300
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
20
and 5 full-time firefighters
Health & welfare
408 full-time103 part
Water & other utilities
32 full-time
Police
29 full-time
Parks & libraries
13 full-time12 part
Fire
5 full-time22 part
Sewer & trash
15 full-time1 part
Administration & buildings
12 full-time
Roads & transportation
12 full-time
Other
16 full-time

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Spencer Community School District

Spencer's K–12 school district, shared with Dickens and Gillett Grove. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$13,383
Iowa: $13,713
Students
2,267
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$21 million
at year end

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

  • Local 39%
  • State 55%
  • Federal 7%

Of the $13,383 per pupil, $8,078 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 Spencer pay

Typical tax bill
$2,419
a year · Iowa typical $2,897
Effective rate
1.31%
of home value · Iowa 1.39%
Typical home value
$184,800
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 Spencer's government

🏛️ Official websitespenceriowacity.com ↗

Town hall & decisions in Spencer →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Spencer

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

All of Spencer'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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