Town Hall · Columbus

Columbus, MT town hall & government

Columbus spent $3.8 million in the year to June 30, 2023, about $2,044 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Columbus's money goes

Spent
$3.8 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2023
Per resident
$2,044
typical Montana cities: $1,930
Long-term debt
$2.8 million
$1,525 per resident
Sewer & trash
$697,00018%
Police
$648,00017%
Water & other utilities
$394,00010%
Administration & buildings
$354,0009%
Roads & transportation
$297,0008%
Parks & libraries
$208,0005%
Fire
$128,0003%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$108,0003%
Interest on debt
$82,0002%
Other
$877,00023%

Where the money comes from

  • From the state 43%
  • Property taxes 33%
  • Fees & charges 11%
  • Utility sales 8%
  • Interest, fines & other 3%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%
Town workforce · Census estimate

Who works for Columbus

Full-time staff
8
4 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$71,600
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
4
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
4 full-time1 part
Administration & buildings
1 full-time1 part
Sewer & trash
1 full-time1 part
Roads & transportation
1 full-time
Water & other utilities
1 full-time
Courts, inspections & corrections
0 full-time1 part

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

Schools · school year 2023–24

Columbus Elementary School District

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

Spending per pupil
$11,274
Montana: $13,570
Students
496
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$9.4 million
at year end

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

  • Local 59%
  • State 32%
  • Federal 9%

Of the $11,274 per pupil, $6,442 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 Columbus: Columbus High School District ($13,808 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Columbus pay

Typical tax bill
$1,777
a year · Montana typical $2,693
Effective rate
0.63%
of home value · Montana 0.72%
Typical home value
$282,800
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 Columbus's government

🏛️ Official websitetownofcolumbus.com ↗

Town hall & decisions in Columbus →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Columbus

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

All of Columbus'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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Columbus

Montana · MT
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