Town Hall · Platinum

How Platinum is run

Platinum spent $277,000 in the year to June 30, 2022, about $4,134 per resident.

Photo: C&GS Season's Report Stewart 1948-172.

City budget

$277,000

spent, year to June 30, 2022

Per resident

$4,134

Below typical Alaska cities ($9,984)

Long-term debt

None

at year end

City staff

full-time · 17 part-time

What stands out about how Platinum is run

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

A lean budget$4,134 per resident a year, vs $9,984 for a typical Alaska city.Runs its own water & sewer93% of spending goes to water, sewer and trash, paid largely by users’ fees.A shared school districtShares Lower Kuskokwim School District with 6+ other towns.

★ What stands out · Your share of the budget

About $4,134 per resident a year, or $11.33 a day

The biggest line: water & other utilities, at 92% of spending.

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

Water & other utilities$255,000 · 92%$3,806

Administration & buildings$17,000 · 6%$254

Sewer & trash$3,000 · 1%$45

Courts, inspections & corrections$1,000 · <1%$15

Health & welfare$1,000 · <1%$15

Total per resident$4,134

Whole budget $277,000 · 67 residents
Thank you for being a neighbor

Where the money comes from

Utility sales 67%From the state 28%Fees & charges 5%

The school district

Lower Kuskokwim School District

Platinum’s K–12 school district, shared with Bethel, Chefornak, Eek, Goodnews Bay, Kwethluk and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Platinum →

$45,371

per pupil · AK $21,070

3,917

students

None

long-term debt

Of the $45,371 per pupil, $13,034 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 3%State 63%Federal 34%

Alaska districts overall: 24% local, 55% state, 21% federal.

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Platinum

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

Who works for Platinum

One full-time town employee for every 67 residents

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

By department full-time, plus part-time

Administration & buildings0 + 14 pt

Water & other utilities1 + 3 pt

full-time

part-time

$25,800

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 Platinum

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Platinum.

Politics & elections →

1
Your cityMayor & council

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

Bryce Edgmon
3
Alaska SenateState senator

Lyman Hoffman
4
GovernorStatewide

Mike Dunleavy
5
U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress

Nicholas J. Begich III
6
U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Alaska

Lisa Murkowski Dan Sullivan

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

Reach Platinum’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 Platinum is run?

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →

Weigh in

Does Platinum 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.