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Town Hall · Crestone

Crestone spent more per resident in 2022 than 85% of similar cities

Crestone’s town government spent $415,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $3,007 per resident. Water and other utilities ($100,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Colorado.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$415,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$3,007
In 2022: $3,007, more than 85% of 150 similar cities
Long-term debt
$56,000
end of 2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
3
full-time · 2 part-time · March payroll $20,274
Typical tax bill
$1,441
a year

What stands out about how Crestone is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $3,007 per resident, more than 85% of 150 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer19% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Moffat School District 2 with 1 other town.
Compared with similar places

$3,007 per resident in 2022: more than 85% of them

Crestone’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,007 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 150 Colorado cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $990, and the middle half spent $624–$1,732. Crestone spent more than 85% of them.

Middle half of the group, $624–$1,732Median $990Crestone

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

The group
150

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $3,007 per resident a year, or $8.24 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 19%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 71%Utility sales 11%From the state 8%Other taxes & licenses 5%Interest, fines & other 2%Fees & charges 2%Property taxes 2%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $46,000; interest on debt $4,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $565,000.
About “Other”.70% of Crestone’s day-to-day spending ($289,000) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,441 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Colorado$2,602
Crestone$1,441
$1,441
typical bill a year
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Crestone’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

Tax bills are one input to Crestone’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Crestone →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Crestone

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

See townofcrestone.org for Crestone’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Crestone yet.townofcrestone.org ↗
Agendas

Crestone’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on townofcrestone.org ↗.

Who works for Crestone

One full-time town employee for every 46 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 (138).

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

Roads & transportation2 + 1 pt
Administration & buildings1 + 1 pt
3
full-time
2
part-time
$20,274
payroll for March 2022
$243,288
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$67,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Crestone had 21.7 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 112 of the 150 Colorado cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 8.6: Crestone had more than 88% 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

Moffat School District 2

Crestone’s K–12 school district, shared with Moffat. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Crestone →
$27,397
per pupil · CO $15,889
189
students
$3 million
long-term debt

Of the $27,397 per pupil, $13,513 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 35%State 48%Federal 17%

Colorado districts overall: 55% local, 37% state, 8% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Crestone’s votes are counted by county

Colorado reports official results by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Crestone alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Saguache County’s results.

President · Saguache County’s results3,401 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat50.1%1,704 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican46.4%1,577 votes

Others: 3.5% (120 votes).

Most votes in Saguache County: Kamala D Harris

Colorado: Harris 54.1%, Trump 43.1%

The county’s page

100% of Crestone lies in Saguache County. Every 2024 race in Saguache County is on the county’s page.

Saguache County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Crestone

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Crestone.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Officials: townofcrestone.org ↗
  2. 2
    Colorado HouseState representatives
    Matt Martinez
  3. 3
    Colorado SenateState senator
    Cleave Simpson
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Jared Polis
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Jeff Hurd
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Colorado
    Michael F. BennetJohn W. Hickenlooper

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

Reach Crestone’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websitetownofcrestone.org ↗

Questions about Crestone’s government

How much does Crestone spend per resident?

About $3,007 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $3,007 was more than 85% of 150 Colorado cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

Who runs Crestone’s government?

See townofcrestone.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Crestone yet.

How did Crestone vote in 2024?

Colorado counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Crestone alone. Saguache County, where 100% of Crestone lies, voted Harris 50.1%, Trump 46.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Crestone?

3 full-time and 2 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $20,274 (about $243,288 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Crestone in the state legislature?

State Senate District 6 (Cleave Simpson) and State House District 62 (Matt Martinez). The House district also covers 17 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Crestone’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 →