Town Hall · Ruston

Ruston, LA town hall & government

Ruston spent $89.3 million in the year to September 30, 2024, about $4,006 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Ruston's money goes

Spent
$89.3 million
fiscal year to September 30, 2024
Per resident
$4,006
typical Louisiana cities: $2,793
Long-term debt
$115.5 million
$5,181 per resident
Roads & transportation
$27.9 million31%
Water & other utilities
$23.9 million27%
Administration & buildings
$7.2 million8%
Sewer & trash
$6.6 million7%
Police
$5.4 million6%
Interest on debt
$5 million6%
Fire
$3.9 million4%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$621,0001%
Parks & libraries
$553,0001%
Other
$8.2 million9%

Where the money comes from

  • Sales taxes 34%
  • Utility sales 33%
  • From the state 22%
  • Fees & charges 6%
  • Interest, fines & other 3%
  • Property taxes 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Ruston

Full-time staff
302
5 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$57,900
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
46
and 67 full-time firefighters
Fire
67 full-time
Police
46 full-time
Roads & transportation
33 full-time1 part
Administration & buildings
29 full-time
Water & other utilities
23 full-time
Sewer & trash
22 full-time
Parks & libraries
9 full-time
Courts, inspections & corrections
8 full-time
Other
65 full-time4 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Lincoln Parish School District

Ruston's K–12 school district, shared with Choudrant, Dubach, Grambling, Simsboro, Vienna and Downsville. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$16,471
Louisiana: $15,623
Students
5,803
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$44.1 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Louisiana districts overall: 47% local, 34% state, 19% federal

  • Local 51%
  • State 31%
  • Federal 18%

Of the $16,471 per pupil, $8,822 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 Ruston pay

Typical tax bill
$1,110
a year · Louisiana typical $1,180
Effective rate
0.49%
of home value · Louisiana 0.55%
Typical home value
$225,300
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 Ruston's government

🏛️ Official websiteruston.org ↗

Town hall & decisions in Ruston →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Ruston

Ruston is represented in Congress by Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy and Representative Mike Johnson. Jeff Landry is governor.

All of Ruston'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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