ZIP 50261 · Van Meter, IA

Seven governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 50261: the state, county, city or town and school district, and where each one's money comes from and goes.

Each government is shown for its own newest fiscal year on file, so the years differ. Figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau's Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, the government's own report or, for Iowa governments, the Iowa Department of Management and the Iowa Department of Education, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 50261?
50261 is served by the State of Iowa, Madison County, Van Meter Community School District, Winterset Community School District, Dallas County, the City of Van Meter and Adel-Desoto-Midburn Community School District. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Iowa spent $30.0 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Madison County spent $45.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022), Van Meter Community School District spent $24.3 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Winterset Community School District spent $32.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Dallas County spent $105 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), City of Van Meter spent $2.8 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2023) and Adel-Desoto-Midburn Community School District spent $43.1 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 50261?
Of the governments serving 50261, Dallas County collected $40.7 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Adel-Desoto-Midburn Community School District collected $11.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Madison County collected $11.6 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022), Winterset Community School District collected $10.8 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Van Meter Community School District collected $5.3 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), City of Van Meter collected $840 thousand (fiscal year ended June 30, 2023) and State of Iowa collected $837 thousand (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 50261.

See another ZIP code

From the state down to your schools: where each one's money comes from and goes.

See the full budget for: Madison County, Dallas County, Van Meter and Van Meter Community School District

Why not this year? Iowa governments with newer filings show figures from the Iowa Department of Management and the Iowa Department of Education (for 2023 and 2025, each government's newest year on file). Each other figure is the newest year the U.S. Census Bureau has published for that government, so the years differ and are not the current year. Most governments post their current budget on their own website.

Where property tax goes in 50261

Dallas County$40.7 million

44% of its $92.2 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Adel-Desoto-Midburn Community School District$11.9 million

30% of its $39.4 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Madison County$11.6 million

23% of its $51.0 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2022

Winterset Community School District$10.8 million

35% of its $31.1 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Van Meter Community School District$5.3 million

30% of its $17.9 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

City of Van Meter$840 thousand

28% of its $3.0 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2023

State of Iowa$837 thousand

<0.1% of its $32.3 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

These are each government's total property tax collections, not your bill. Your own bill is split by each government's tax rate, shown on your property tax bill.

Your counties

Madison County

$45.2 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2022.

About 80% of this ZIP is in Madison County.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (hospital bills, road charges)53%County taxes27%State tax money14%Fines and other4.6%Federal tax money1.6%Local tax money0.2%

What stands out

53%

of Madison County's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people gets 8.4%.

Full Madison County breakdown

County taxes27%

Property tax
23%$11.6 million
Sales tax
3.0%$1.5 million
Other taxes
0.9%$484 thousand
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes and other licenses
  • Public utility taxes$372 thousand
  • Other licenses$112 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services53%

Fees for services
53%$27.2 million
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; other service charges and 1 more
  • Hospital bills$25.9 million
  • Other service charges$1.3 million
  • Road charges$19 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.6%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
1.6%$817 thousand

State tax money14%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
14%$7.0 million

Local tax money0.2%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
0.2%$80 thousand

Fines and other4.6%

Interest, rents and other
4.6%$2.3 million
Madison County page →

Where the money goes

Health and hospitals61%Running the government and other costs16%Roads, transit and parking14%Police, fire, courts and jails6.1%Interest on debt1.0%All other spending1.7%

What stands out

61%

of Madison County's spending goes to health services and hospitals.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people spends 4.8%.

Full Madison County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Health and hospitals
61%$27.6 million
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$25.4 million
  • Public health$2.1 million
Running the government and other costs
16%$7.5 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$5.2 million
  • Government buildings$962 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$685 thousand
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$568 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
14%$6.2 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$6.2 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
6.1%$2.8 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; courts and legal services and 2 more
  • Police$1.6 million
  • Courts and legal services$634 thousand
  • Prisons and jails$422 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$156 thousand
Interest on debt
1.0%$439 thousand
Environment and natural resources
1.0%$433 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$433 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.6%$270 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries and parks and recreation
  • Libraries$146 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$124 thousand
Social services
0.2%$79 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$79 thousand
Madison County page →

Dallas County

$105 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 21% of this ZIP is in Dallas County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes51%Fees for services (hospital bills, road charges)30%Fines and other9.8%State tax money5.2%Local tax money2.7%Federal tax money0.5%

What stands out

30%

of Dallas County's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 11%.

Full Dallas County breakdown

County taxes51%

Property tax
44%$40.7 million
Other taxes
7.3%$6.7 million
What's in other taxesOther taxes not classified elsewhere; motor vehicle licenses and 1 more
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$5.0 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$1.4 million
  • Other licenses$297 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services30%

Fees for services
30%$28.1 million
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; other service charges and 1 more
  • Hospital bills$25.5 million
  • Other service charges$2.0 million
  • Road charges$601 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.5%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
0.5%$443 thousand

State tax money5.2%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
5.2%$4.8 million

Local tax money2.7%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
2.7%$2.5 million

Fines and other9.8%

Interest, rents and other
9.6%$8.8 million
Fines
0.2%$195 thousand
Dallas County page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs32%Health and hospitals32%Police, fire, courts and jails13%Roads, transit and parking13%Environment and natural resources8.3%All other spending2.7%

What stands out

32%

of Dallas County's spending goes to health services and hospitals.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people spends 5.7%.

Full Dallas County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
32%$33.7 million
What's in running the government and other costsGovernment buildings; other and not broken out and 2 more
  • Government buildings$21.1 million
  • Other and not broken out$7.9 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.6 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$2.2 million
Health and hospitals
32%$33.3 million
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$28.5 million
  • Public health$4.8 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
13%$13.3 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; courts and legal services and 1 more
  • Police$10.6 million
  • Courts and legal services$2.3 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$335 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
13%$13.1 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$13.1 million
Environment and natural resources
8.3%$8.7 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$8.7 million
Sent to other local governments
1.0%$1.1 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to the state government and sent to local governments: other and not broken out
  • Sent to the state government$742 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$350 thousand
Social services
0.7%$720 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$720 thousand
Interest on debt
0.6%$589 thousand
Housing and community development
0.2%$180 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.1%$155 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries
  • Libraries$155 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
<0.1%$85 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$85 thousand
Dallas County page →

Your city

City of Van Meter

$2.8 million budget in fiscal year 2023 (ended June 30, 2023), from the Iowa Department of Management.

About 17% of this ZIP is in Van Meter.

Where the money comes from

City taxes48%Fees for services31%Grants from federal, state and local governments17%Fines and other2.7%
Full Van Meter breakdown

City taxes48%

Property tax
28%$840 thousand
Other taxes
21%$625 thousand

Fees for services31%

Fees for services
31%$953 thousand

Grants from federal, state and local governments17%

Grants from the federal government, the state and other local governments, which this government's report lists as one amount.

Grants from federal, state and local governments
17%$527 thousand

Fines and other2.7%

Interest, rents and other
2.7%$82 thousand
Van Meter page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities26%Police, fire, courts and jails22%Parks, recreation and libraries20%Running the government and other costs15%Roads, transit and parking10%All other spending7.3%
Full Van Meter breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
26%$725 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
22%$614 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
20%$548 thousand
Running the government and other costs
15%$416 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
10%$293 thousand
Debt payments (principal and interest)
6.2%$174 thousand
Housing and community development
1.1%$31 thousand
Van Meter page →

Your schools

Van Meter Community School District

$24.3 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Iowa Department of Education.

About 56% of this ZIP is in Van Meter Community School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money47%School district taxes35%Fees for services14%Fines and other3.1%Federal tax money1.4%
Full Van Meter Community School District breakdown

School district taxes35%

Property tax
30%$5.3 million
Individual income tax
2.8%$507 thousand
Other taxes
2.0%$362 thousand

Fees for services14%

Fees for services
14%$2.5 million

Federal tax money1.4%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
1.4%$248 thousand

State tax money47%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
47%$8.4 million

Fines and other3.1%

Interest, rents and other
3.1%$553 thousand
Van Meter Community School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges89%Debt payments (principal and interest)9.1%Sent to other local governments1.5%
Full Van Meter Community School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
89%$21.8 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
9.1%$2.2 million
Sent to other local governments
1.5%$353 thousand
Van Meter Community School District page →

Winterset Community School District

$32.9 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Iowa Department of Education.

About 28% of this ZIP is in Winterset Community School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money50%School district taxes38%Fees for services5.5%Federal tax money3.8%Fines and other2.8%
Full Winterset Community School District breakdown

School district taxes38%

Property tax
35%$10.8 million
Individual income tax
1.7%$527 thousand
Other taxes
1.4%$429 thousand

Fees for services5.5%

Fees for services
5.5%$1.7 million

Federal tax money3.8%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
3.8%$1.2 million

State tax money50%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
50%$15.6 million

County and local tax money<0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
<0.1%$15 thousand

Fines and other2.8%

Interest, rents and other
2.8%$864 thousand
Winterset Community School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges79%Debt payments (principal and interest)19%Sent to other local governments2.0%
Full Winterset Community School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
79%$26.0 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
19%$6.2 million
Sent to other local governments
2.0%$663 thousand
Winterset Community School District page →

Adel-Desoto-Midburn Community School District

$43.1 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Iowa Department of Education.

About 12% of this ZIP is in Adel-Desoto-Midburn Community School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money52%School district taxes33%Fees for services7.8%Fines and other3.9%Federal tax money3.1%
Full Adel-Desoto-Midburn Community School District breakdown

School district taxes33%

Property tax
30%$11.9 million
Other taxes
3.2%$1.3 million

Fees for services7.8%

Fees for services
7.8%$3.1 million

Federal tax money3.1%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
3.1%$1.2 million

State tax money52%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
52%$20.5 million

County and local tax money<0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
<0.1%$389

Fines and other3.9%

Interest, rents and other
3.9%$1.5 million
Adel-Desoto-Midburn Community School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges90%Debt payments (principal and interest)8.5%Sent to other local governments2.0%
Full Adel-Desoto-Midburn Community School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
90%$38.6 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
8.5%$3.6 million
Sent to other local governments
2.0%$852 thousand
Adel-Desoto-Midburn Community School District page →

Your state

State of Iowa

$30.0 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes39%Federal tax money32%Fees for services (hospital bills, college tuition)19%Fines and other9.5%Local tax money0.1%

What stands out

19%

of Iowa's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical state government gets 10%.

Full Iowa breakdown

State taxes39%

Sales tax
14%$4.64 billion
Individual income tax
12%$3.76 billion
Other taxes
8.6%$2.79 billion
What's in other taxesMotor vehicle licenses; motor fuel taxes and 16 more
  • Motor vehicle licenses$788 million
  • Motor fuel taxes$680 million
  • Amusement taxes$345 million
  • Insurance premium taxes$190 million
  • Tobacco taxes$160 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$118 million
  • Corporation licenses$116 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$109 million
  • Public utility taxes$76.8 million
  • Estate and gift taxes$59.7 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$36.4 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$28.6 million
  • Amusement licenses$20.6 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$17.4 million
  • Driver's licenses$17.2 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$15.0 million
  • Public utility licenses$13.1 million
  • Other licenses$2.8 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Business income tax
4.7%$1.53 billion
Property tax
<0.1%$837 thousand

Fees for services19%

Fees for services
19%$6.06 billion
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; college tuition and 10 more
  • Hospital bills$3.61 billion
  • College tuition$1.19 billion
  • University housing and dining$532 million
  • Liquor stores$445 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$136 million
  • Other service charges$116 million
  • Housing$17.5 million
  • Parks and recreation$6.9 million
  • Garbage collection$6.1 million
  • Airport$2.1 million
  • Road charges$1.8 million
  • Other education charges$558 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money32%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
32%$10.4 billion

Local tax money0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
0.1%$45.6 million

Fines and other9.5%

Interest, rents and other
9.2%$2.98 billion
Fines
0.3%$93.0 million
Iowa page →

Where the money goes

Social services34%Sent to local governments23%Health and hospitals13%Schools and colleges13%Roads, transit and parking6.6%All other spending11%

What stands out

13%

of Iowa's spending goes to health services and hospitals.A typical state government spends 5.7%.

Full Iowa breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
34%$10.3 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; welfare institutions and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$10.2 billion
  • Welfare institutions$64.8 million
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$48.8 million
  • Veterans' services$2.8 million
Sent to local governments
23%$6.86 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: roads and highways and 17 more
  • Sent to school districts$4.90 billion
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$714 million
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$352 million
  • Sent to local governments: public health$241 million
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$206 million
  • Sent to local governments: general support$168 million
  • Sent to local governments: other education$90.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$65.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$38.0 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$29.3 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$27.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$10.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$2.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$2.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: hospitals$1.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: garbage and solid waste$1.6 million
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$661 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$356 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$10 thousand
Health and hospitals
13%$3.88 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$3.72 billion
  • Public health$166 million
Schools and colleges
13%$3.79 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; college housing, dining and bookstores and 2 more
  • Colleges and universities$2.55 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$641 million
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$408 million
  • Other education$193 million
Roads, transit and parking
6.6%$1.97 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; public transit and 1 more
  • Roads and highways$1.97 billion
  • Public transit$20 thousand
  • Airports$3 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
3.3%$980 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$355 million
  • Courts and legal services$341 million
  • Police$161 million
  • Inspections and regulation$104 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$19.8 million
Running the government and other costs
3.0%$884 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; other and not broken out and 3 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$365 million
  • Other and not broken out$334 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$103 million
  • Government buildings$45.4 million
  • Other government administration$37.7 million
Environment and natural resources
1.6%$493 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$493 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
1.1%$325 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesLiquor stores; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Liquor stores$320 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$3.5 million
  • Sewer systems$1.2 million
Interest on debt
0.9%$275 million
Housing and community development
0.6%$172 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.1%$32.0 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$25.6 million
  • Libraries$6.4 million
Iowa page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

State of Iowa. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

Madison County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2022. The Census record for this government is from the 2022 survey, the newest on file.

Van Meter Community School District. Iowa Department of Education, Certified Annual Report (CAR), fiscal year 2025, fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

Winterset Community School District. Iowa Department of Education, Certified Annual Report (CAR), fiscal year 2025, fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

Dallas County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

City of Van Meter. Iowa Department of Management, city Annual Financial Report data (Iowa Data Hub datasets 925 and 928), fiscal year 2023, fiscal year ended June 30, 2023. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2022.

Adel-Desoto-Midburn Community School District. Iowa Department of Education, Certified Annual Report (CAR), fiscal year 2025, fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

How these figures are counted. Iowa city and county figures are the Annual Financial Report figures filed with the Iowa Department of Management, and school district figures are the Certified Annual Reports filed with the Iowa Department of Education, grouped into the same categories as the Census figures. Borrowing, transfers between a government's own funds, internal service, trust and custodial funds and depreciation are not counted. Cities show the newest year with actual figures on file, counties and school districts the 2025 fiscal year (ended June 30, 2025). Federal, state and local grants are reported as one amount for cities and counties and are shown together. Local-option sales tax and hotel, motel and utility taxes are reported together as "Other taxes." County figures leave out county hospitals, which are separate, so a county can read lower than its Census figure. School district debt payments include principal, and construction is counted under schools and colleges.

How a ZIP is matched. A ZIP code is not a government boundary, so we match it to the cities, counties and school districts that overlap it, using Census Bureau geography. Where a ZIP crosses several, each one is shown with its share of the ZIP. Each government's money covers its own operations only; the others listed here are separate.

Latest recorded year. The year differs by government: each block shows the newest fiscal year on file. A Census survey year covers fiscal years ending July 1 of the year before through June 30 of that year.