Town Hall · Anchor

How Anchor is run

Anchor spent $99,000 in the year to April 30, 2022, about $723 per resident.

City budget

$99,000

spent, year to April 30, 2022

Per resident

$723

Below typical Illinois cities ($1,403)

Long-term debt

None

at year end

City staff

full-time · 11 part-time

Typical tax bill

$2,100

a year · IL $5,298

What stands out about how Anchor is run

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

A lean budget$723 per resident a year, vs $1,403 for a typical Illinois city.Lower tax billsThe typical homeowner pays $2,100 a year in property tax, vs $5,298 across Illinois.Runs its own water & sewer43% of spending goes to water, sewer and trash, paid largely by users’ fees.A shared school districtShares Ridgeview Community Unit School District 19 with 6+ other towns.

★ What stands out · Your share of the budget

About $723 per resident a year, or $1.98 a day

The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 38% of spending.

ANCHORYour share · per resident · year to April 30, 2022

Administration & buildings$38,000 · 38%$277

Water & other utilities$28,000 · 28%$204

Sewer & trash$15,000 · 15%$109

Roads & transportation$9,000 · 9%$66

Parks & libraries$8,000 · 8%$58

Interest on debt$1,000 · 1%$7

Total per resident$723

Whole budget $99,000 · 137 residents
Thank you for being a neighbor

Where the money comes from

Utility sales 35%From the state 31%Property taxes 19%From the federal government 7%Fees & charges 6%Other taxes & licenses 1%

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,100 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 2.14% of the home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Illinois$5,298

Anchor$2,100

$2,100

typical bill a year

2.14%

effective rate

$98,100

typical home value (Census)

Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Anchor’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.

The school district

Ridgeview Community Unit School District 19

Anchor’s K–12 school district, shared with Arrowsmith, Colfax, Cooksville, Saybrook, Martin and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Anchor →

$17,634

per pupil · IL $21,567

536

students

$4 million

long-term debt

Of the $17,634 per pupil, $9,966 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 62%State 27%Federal 11%

Illinois districts overall: 52% local, 38% state, 10% federal.

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Anchor

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

Who works for Anchor

0 full-time staff

On the payroll in March 2022.

By department full-time, plus part-time

Administration & buildings0 + 8 pt

Water & other utilities0 + 3 pt

full-time

part-time

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

Who represents Anchor

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Anchor.

Politics & elections →

1
Your cityMayor & council

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

Regan Deering
3
Illinois SenateState senator

Sally Turner
4
GovernorStatewide

J. B. Pritzker
5
U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress

Darin LaHood
6
U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Illinois

Richard J. Durbin Tammy Duckworth

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

Reach Anchor’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 Anchor is run?

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →

Weigh in

Does Anchor 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.