Town Hall · Otterbein

How Otterbein is run

Otterbein spent $1.4 million in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,115 per resident.

Town website

City budget

$1.4 million

spent, year to December 31, 2022

Per resident

$1,115

Below typical Indiana cities ($1,507)

Long-term debt

$2.4 million

$1,916 per resident

City staff

full-time · 10 part-time

Typical tax bill

$1,080

a year · IN $1,614

What stands out about how Otterbein is run

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

A lean budget$1,115 per resident a year, vs $1,507 for a typical Indiana city.Lower tax billsThe typical homeowner pays $1,080 a year in property tax, vs $1,614 across Indiana.Runs its own water & sewer44% of spending goes to water, sewer and trash, paid largely by users’ fees.A shared school districtShares Benton Community School Corporation with 6+ other towns.

★ What stands out · Your share of the budget

About $1,115 per resident a year, or $3.05 a day

The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 40% of spending.

OTTERBEINYour share · per resident · year to December 31, 2022

Administration & buildings$565,000 · 40%$449

Sewer & trash$333,000 · 24%$265

Water & other utilities$287,000 · 20%$228

Interest on debt$101,000 · 7%$80

Roads & transportation$70,000 · 5%$56

Other$47,000 · 3%$37

Total per resident$1,115

Whole budget $1.4 million · 1,258 residents
Thank you for being a neighbor

Where the money comes from

Fees & charges 31%Property taxes 27%Utility sales 19%From the state 16%From other local governments 4%Sales taxes 1%Interest, fines & other 1%Other taxes & licenses <1%

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,080 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.68% of the home’s value, vs 0.74% across Indiana.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Indiana$1,614

Otterbein$1,080

$1,080

typical bill a year

0.68%

effective rate

$158,500

typical home value (Census)

Your own bill

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

Benton Community School Corporation

Otterbein’s K–12 school district, shared with Ambia, Bolivar, Boswell, Center, Earl Park and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Otterbein →

$15,326

per pupil · IN $13,688

1,619

students

$10.5 million

long-term debt

Of the $15,326 per pupil, $7,834 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 47%State 48%Federal 5%

Indiana districts overall: 33% local, 56% state, 11% federal.

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Otterbein

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

Who works for Otterbein

One full-time town employee for every 252 residents

On the payroll in March 2022.

By department full-time, plus part-time

Administration & buildings3 + 7 pt

Police2

Roads & transportation0 + 1 pt

Sewer & trash0 + 1 pt

Water & other utilities0 + 1 pt

full-time

part-time

$48,700

average full-time pay, before benefits

sworn police officers

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

Who represents Otterbein

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Otterbein.

Politics & elections →

1
Your cityMayor & council

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

Matt Commons
3
Indiana SenateState senator

Spencer Deery Rick Niemeyer
4
GovernorStatewide

Mike Braun
5
U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress

James R. Baird
6
U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Indiana

Todd Young Jim Banks

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

Reach Otterbein’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 websiteotterbein.in.gov ↗

Questions about how Otterbein is run?

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →

Weigh in

Does Otterbein 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.