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Town Hall · Watseka

How Watseka is run

Watseka spent $8.3 million in the year to April 30, 2022, about $1,763 per resident.

Town website
Photo: Calvin Beale
City budget
$8.3 million
spent, year to April 30, 2022
Per resident
$1,763
Above typical Illinois cities ($1,403)
Long-term debt
$6.9 million
$1,467 per resident
City staff
26
full-time · 19 part-time
Typical tax bill
$2,393
a year · IL $5,298

What stands out about how Watseka is run

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

★ What stands out · Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,393 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 2.31% of the home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Illinois$5,298
Watseka$2,393
$2,393
typical bill a year
2.31%
effective rate
$103,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Your share of the budget

About $1,763 per resident a year, or $4.83 a day

The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 24% of spending.

Where the money comes from
From the state 38%Property taxes 21%Fees & charges 14%Sales taxes 11%Utility sales 10%Interest, fines & other 5%
The school district

Iroquois County Community Unit School District 9

Watseka’s K–12 school district, shared with Woodland, Middleport, Belmont. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Watseka →
$16,974
per pupil · IL $21,567
907
students
$1.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,974 per pupil, $10,706 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 32%State 58%Federal 10%

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 Watseka

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

Who works for Watseka

One full-time town employee for every 181 residents

On the payroll in March 2022.

By department full-time, plus part-time

Administration & buildings8 + 6 pt
Police7 + 3 pt
Parks & libraries2 + 9 pt
Roads & transportation3
Sewer & trash3
Other3 + 1 pt
26
full-time
19
part-time
$65,700
average full-time pay, before benefits
7
sworn police officers

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

Who represents Watseka

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Watseka.

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 Watseka’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 →
Official websitewatsekacity.com ↗

Questions about how Watseka is run?

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Weigh in
Does Watseka 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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