Town Hall · Columbus

Columbus, OH town hall & government

Columbus spent $2.9 billion in the year to December 31, 2024, about $3,172 per resident.

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

Local leadership

Who runs Columbus

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 If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.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 Columbus's money goes

Spent
$2.9 billion
fiscal year to December 31, 2024
Per resident
$3,172
typical Ohio cities: $2,228
Long-term debt
None
none outstanding at year end
Police
$394.5 million14%
Sewer & trash
$384.5 million13%
Water & other utilities
$368.6 million13%
Roads & transportation
$318 million11%
Fire
$313.1 million11%
Parks & libraries
$280.8 million10%
Administration & buildings
$205.8 million7%
Interest on debt
$129.3 million4%
Housing & development
$118.9 million4%
Health & welfare
$81.4 million3%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$66.4 million2%
Other
$218.4 million8%

Where the money comes from

  • Income taxes 42%
  • Fees & charges 20%
  • Utility sales 12%
  • Interest, fines & other 9%
  • From the federal government 7%
  • Property taxes 3%
  • From the state 3%
  • From other local governments 2%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
  • Sales taxes 1%
Town workforce

Who works for Columbus

Full-time staff
8,612
716 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$83,200
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
1,964
and 1,644 full-time firefighters
Police
2,311 full-time31 part
Fire
1,696 full-time42 part
Administration & buildings
884 full-time30 part
Health & welfare
823 full-time140 part
Sewer & trash
601 full-time1 part
Courts, inspections & corrections
538 full-time34 part
Parks & libraries
328 full-time399 part
Water & other utilities
480 full-time6 part
Roads & transportation
464 full-time5 part
Housing & development
79 full-time1 part
Other
408 full-time27 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

Columbus City School District

Columbus's K–12 school district, shared with Clinton and Valleyview. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$22,456
Ohio: $16,610
Students
45,181
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$321.8 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Ohio districts overall: 53% local, 35% state, 12% federal

  • Local 61%
  • State 18%
  • Federal 21%

Of the $22,456 per pupil, $10,503 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: South-Western City School District ($15,011 per pupil) · Hilliard City School District ($15,449 per pupil) · Groveport Madison Local School District ($15,553 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Columbus pay

Typical tax bill
$3,341
a year · Ohio typical $2,822
Effective rate
1.32%
of home value · Ohio 1.31%
Typical home value
$252,900
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.

Local

Contact Columbus's government

🏛️ Official websitecolumbus.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Columbus →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Columbus

Columbus is represented in Congress by Senators Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted and Representatives Joyce Beatty, Mike Carey and Jim Jordan. Mike DeWine 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

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