Town Hall · Columbia

Columbia, KY town hall & government

Columbia spent $5.5 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,142 per resident.

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

Local leadership

Who runs Columbia

From public records (Open States and Wikidata), which can lag behind an election. If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.

Town budget

Where Columbia's money goes

Spent
$5.5 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$1,142
typical Kentucky cities: $1,972
Long-term debt
$459,000
$95 per resident
Police
$1.4 million26%
Water & other utilities
$1.2 million22%
Administration & buildings
$852,00015%
Sewer & trash
$823,00015%
Roads & transportation
$786,00014%
Parks & libraries
$223,0004%
Fire
$154,0003%
Interest on debt
$11,000<1%
Other
$21,000<1%

Where the money comes from

  • Income taxes 22%
  • Sales taxes 20%
  • Utility sales 19%
  • Fees & charges 14%
  • From the federal government 9%
  • Property taxes 9%
  • From the state 3%
  • Other taxes & licenses 3%
  • Interest, fines & other 1%
  • From other local governments <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Columbia

Full-time staff
38
2 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$37,000
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
15
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
15 full-time1 part
Water & other utilities
7 full-time
Sewer & trash
6 full-time
Administration & buildings
4 full-time
Roads & transportation
4 full-time
Parks & libraries
2 full-time1 part

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

Schools · school year 2023–24

Adair County School District

Columbia's K–12 school district. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$12,778
Kentucky: $14,752
Students
2,644
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$14.1 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Kentucky districts overall: 37% local, 46% state, 17% federal

  • Local 20%
  • State 51%
  • Federal 29%

Of the $12,778 per pupil, $7,710 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 Columbia pay

Typical tax bill
$1,032
a year · Kentucky typical $1,544
Effective rate
0.72%
of home value · Kentucky 0.75%
Typical home value
$143,600
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 Columbia's government

🏛️ Official websitecityofcolumbiaky.com ↗

Town hall & decisions in Columbia →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Columbia

Columbia is represented in Congress by Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul and Representative James Comer. Andy Beshear is governor.

All of Columbia'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.

The coffee’s on

Where to, neighbor?

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01