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Town Hall · Roanoke

How Roanoke is run

Roanoke spent $2 million in the year to April 30, 2022, about $1,027 per resident.

Photo: Nyttend
City budget
$2 million
spent, year to April 30, 2022
Per resident
$1,027
Below typical Illinois cities ($1,403)
Long-term debt
$6.4 million
$3,272 per resident
City staff
9
full-time
Typical tax bill
$2,850
a year · IL $5,298

What stands out about how Roanoke is run

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

★ What stands out · Your share of the budget

About $1,027 per resident a year, or $2.81 a day

The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 21% of spending.

Where the money comes from
From the state 39%Utility sales 39%Property taxes 7%Fees & charges 6%From the federal government 5%Interest, fines & other 3%Other taxes & licenses 2%
Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,850 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 2.04% of the home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Illinois$5,298
Roanoke$2,850
$2,850
typical bill a year
2.04%
effective rate
$139,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Roanoke-Benson Community Unit School District 60

Roanoke’s K–12 school district, shared with Benson, Roanoke, Greene, Linn, Clayton. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Roanoke →
$17,357
per pupil · IL $21,567
448
students
$5 million
long-term debt

Of the $17,357 per pupil, $10,638 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 60%State 32%Federal 8%

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 Roanoke

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

Who works for Roanoke

One full-time town employee for every 218 residents

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

By department full-time, plus part-time

Roads & transportation4
Sewer & trash4
Administration & buildings1
9
full-time
0
part-time
$70,700
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 Roanoke

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Roanoke.

Politics & elections →
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Illinois HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Illinois SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Illinois

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

Reach Roanoke’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 Roanoke is run?

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Weigh in
Does Roanoke 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.

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Add to the handbook

Sign in to add to Roanoke’s handbook. Every fact you add earns karma once neighbors confirm it.