Town Hall · Watertown

Watertown, WI town hall & government

Watertown spent $41 million in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,799 per resident.

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

Local leadership

Who runs Watertown

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 If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.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

Spent
$41 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2024
Per resident
$1,799
typical Wisconsin cities: $2,362
Long-term debt
$49.3 million
$2,165 per resident
Roads & transportation
$8.6 million21%
Sewer & trash
$6.3 million15%
Police
$6.2 million15%
Parks & libraries
$4.5 million11%
Water & other utilities
$4.1 million10%
Fire
$4 million10%
Administration & buildings
$1.5 million4%
Interest on debt
$1.2 million3%
Health & welfare
$834,0002%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$667,0002%
Housing & development
$7,000<1%
Other
$3.1 million8%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 34%
  • Fees & charges 23%
  • From the state 14%
  • Utility sales 12%
  • Interest, fines & other 11%
  • From the federal government 3%
  • From other local governments 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
  • Sales taxes <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Watertown

Full-time staff
187
70 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$62,500
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
39
and 23 full-time firefighters
Police
53 full-time13 part
Parks & libraries
19 full-time46 part
Fire
26 full-time1 part
Roads & transportation
25 full-time
Sewer & trash
17 full-time
Administration & buildings
12 full-time1 part
Water & other utilities
12 full-time
Health & welfare
10 full-time3 part
Courts, inspections & corrections
3 full-time1 part
Housing & development
1 full-time
Other
9 full-time5 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

Watertown School District

Watertown's K–12 school district, shared with Emmet, Shields, Watertown, Lebanon, Concord and Ixonia. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$16,044
Wisconsin: $16,459
Students
3,231
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$8.3 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Wisconsin districts overall: 39% local, 50% state, 11% federal

  • Local 32%
  • State 57%
  • Federal 11%

Of the $16,044 per pupil, $9,664 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 Watertown pay

Typical tax bill
$3,706
a year · Wisconsin typical $3,792
Effective rate
1.67%
of home value · Wisconsin 1.42%
Typical home value
$222,100
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 Watertown's government

🏛️ Official websiteci.watertown.wi.us ↗

Town hall & decisions in Watertown →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Watertown

Watertown is represented in Congress by Senators Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin and Representative Scott Fitzgerald. Tony Evers is governor.

All of Watertown'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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Watertown

Wisconsin · WI
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