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Kivalina 2Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/shorezone/ · CC BY 2.0
Town Hall · Kivalina

Kivalina spent more per resident in 2022 than 72% of similar cities

Kivalina’s city government spent $974,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $2,570 per resident. Water and other utilities ($96,000) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$974,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$2,570
In 2022: $2,570, more than 72% of 67 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
4
full-time · 13 part-time · March payroll $34,346

What stands out about how Kivalina is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $2,570 per resident, more than 72% of 67 similar cities.A shared school districtShares Northwest Arctic Borough School District with 6+ other towns.
Compared with similar places

$2,570 per resident in 2022: more than 72% of them

Kivalina’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,570 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 67 Alaska cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,751, and the middle half spent $992–$2,776. Kivalina spent more than 72% of them.

Middle half of the group, $992–$2,776Median $1,751Kivalina

Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
67

Alaska cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Kivalina itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $2,570 per resident a year, or $7.04 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 98%.

Where the money comes from
Interest, fines & other 77%Utility sales 8%From the state 7%Sales taxes 4%From other local governments 2%Fees & charges 2%
Not in the receipt.With the enterprises, the whole budget was $1.1 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

Kivalina reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Kivalina

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

Check Kivalina’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Kivalina yet.
Who works for Kivalina

One full-time city employee for every 95 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (379).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Administration & buildings1 + 6 pt
Parks & libraries0 + 7 pt
Water & other utilities3
4
full-time
13
part-time
$34,346
payroll for March 2022
$412,152
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$51,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Kivalina had 10.6 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 39 of the 67 Alaska cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 18.1: Kivalina had fewer than 69% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Northwest Arctic Borough School District

Kivalina’s K–12 school district, shared with Ambler, Buckland, Deering, Kiana, Kobuk and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Kivalina →
$44,063
per pupil · AK $21,070
2,009
students
$1.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $44,063 per pupil, $14,647 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 13%State 52%Federal 35%

Alaska districts overall: 24% local, 55% state, 21% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Who represents Kivalina

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Kivalina.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Alaska HouseState representatives
    Robyn Frier
  3. 3
    Alaska SenateState senator
    Donny Olson
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Mike Dunleavy
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Nicholas J. Begich III
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Alaska
    Lisa MurkowskiDan Sullivan

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Reach Kivalina’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Kivalina’s government

How much does Kivalina spend per resident?

About $2,570 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $2,570 was more than 72% of 67 Alaska cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

Who runs Kivalina’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Kivalina yet.

How many people work for Kivalina?

4 full-time and 13 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $34,346 (about $412,152 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Kivalina in the state legislature?

State Senate District T (Donny Olson) and State House District 40 (Robyn Frier). The House district also covers 16 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Kivalina’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →