Town Hall · Charleston

Charleston, IL town hall & government

Charleston spent $23.4 million in the year to April 30, 2022, about $1,167 per resident.

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

Town budget · Census estimate

Where Charleston's money goes

Spent
$23.4 million
fiscal year to April 30, 2022
Per resident
$1,167
typical Illinois cities: $1,403
Long-term debt
$6 million
$297 per resident
Fire
$4.9 million21%
Police
$4.6 million20%
Administration & buildings
$3 million13%
Sewer & trash
$2.5 million11%
Water & other utilities
$2.4 million10%
Parks & libraries
$1.9 million8%
Roads & transportation
$1.6 million7%
Housing & development
$1.1 million5%
Paid to other governments
$875,0004%
Interest on debt
$288,0001%
Health & welfare
$87,000<1%
Other
$71,000<1%

Where the money comes from

  • From the state 36%
  • Property taxes 20%
  • Fees & charges 18%
  • Utility sales 12%
  • Interest, fines & other 5%
  • Sales taxes 3%
  • Other taxes & licenses 3%
  • From other local governments 3%
  • From the federal government <1%

Charleston didn't report all of its 2022 figures to the Census Bureau, so most of these numbers are the Bureau's estimates.

Town workforce

Who works for Charleston

Full-time staff
135
41 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$68,500
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
30
and 31 full-time firefighters
Police
35 full-time4 part
Fire
33 full-time1 part
Parks & libraries
14 full-time28 part
Water & other utilities
17 full-time1 part
Administration & buildings
11 full-time7 part
Roads & transportation
10 full-time
Sewer & trash
4 full-time
Courts, inspections & corrections
2 full-time
Other
9 full-time

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Charleston Community Unit School District 1

Charleston's K–12 school district, shared with Ashmore, Charleston, Lerna, Hutton, Seven Hickory and Morgan. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$14,205
Illinois: $21,567
Students
2,652
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$9.1 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Illinois districts overall: 52% local, 38% state, 10% federal

  • Local 41%
  • State 45%
  • Federal 14%

Of the $14,205 per pupil, $7,477 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 Charleston pay

Typical tax bill
$2,818
a year · Illinois typical $5,298
Effective rate
2.05%
of home value · Illinois 2.01%
Typical home value
$137,400
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 Charleston's government

🏛️ Official websitecharlestonillinois.org ↗

Town hall & decisions in Charleston →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Charleston

Charleston is represented in Congress by Senators Richard J. Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and Representatives Mary E. Miller and Mike Bost. J. B. Pritzker is governor.

All of Charleston'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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Charleston

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