Town Hall · Colstrip

Colstrip, MT town hall & government

Colstrip spent $6.5 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $3,207 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Colstrip's money goes

Spent
$6.5 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$3,207
typical Montana cities: $2,059
Long-term debt
$1.1 million
$516 per resident
Police
$1.9 million30%
Water & other utilities
$1.2 million19%
Roads & transportation
$944,00014%
Sewer & trash
$640,00010%
Administration & buildings
$598,0009%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$267,0004%
Fire
$199,0003%
Parks & libraries
$127,0002%
Interest on debt
$37,0001%
Housing & development
$13,000<1%
Health & welfare
$5,000<1%
Other
$509,0008%

Where the money comes from

  • From the state 39%
  • Interest, fines & other 23%
  • Utility sales 19%
  • Fees & charges 17%
  • From the federal government 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%
Town workforce · Census estimate

Who works for Colstrip

Full-time staff
15
13 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$98,600
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
6
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
9 full-time1 part
Administration & buildings
1 full-time7 part
Roads & transportation
2 full-time
Sewer & trash
2 full-time
Fire
0 full-time3 part
Courts, inspections & corrections
0 full-time2 part
Water & other utilities
1 full-time

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate. Colstrip didn't report its staffing to the Census Bureau, so these are the Bureau's estimates.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Colstrip Elementary School District

Colstrip's elementary school district. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$18,940
Montana: $13,570
Students
351
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$126,000
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Montana districts overall: 44% local, 39% state, 17% federal

  • Local 46%
  • State 36%
  • Federal 18%

Of the $18,940 per pupil, $9,293 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.

Also serving Colstrip: Colstrip High School District ($25,962 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Colstrip pay

Typical tax bill
$1,098
a year · Montana typical $2,693
Effective rate
0.56%
of home value · Montana 0.72%
Typical home value
$194,900
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. In a town this small the survey estimate has a wide margin.

Local

Contact Colstrip's government

🏛️ Official websitecityofcolstrip.com ↗

Town hall & decisions in Colstrip →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Colstrip

Colstrip is represented in Congress by Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy and Representative Troy Downing. Greg Gianforte is governor.

All of Colstrip'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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Colstrip

Montana · MT
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