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Town Hall · Grand Junction

Grand Junction spent more per resident in 2022 than 81% of similar cities

Grand Junction’s city government spent $167.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $2,468 per resident. Water and other utilities ($6.7 million) are counted separately.

Next public meeting

General

2:00 pm · Municipal Hearing Room, City Hall, 250 N. 5th Street

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$167.9M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$2,468
In 2022: $2,135, more than 81% of 21 similar cities
Long-term debt
$141.7M
end of 2024, reported
City staff, 2025
833
full-time · 162 part-time · March payroll $6.6M
Typical tax bill
$1,463
0.38% of home value · CO 0.48%

What stands out about how Grand Junction is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $2,135 per resident, more than 81% of 21 similar cities.A shared school districtShares Mesa County Valley School District 51 with 2 other towns.Split between districts2 State House districts cover Grand Junction; your street decides yours.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Grand Junction’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Nov3
    Historic Preservation BoardTuesday · 4:00 pm · 250 North 5th StreetHistoric Preservation Board - 2026 - November 3 - Regular Meeting - CANCELEDAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Nov3
    GeneralTuesday · 8:30 am · 250 N 5th StreetCannabis Licensing Authority - 2026 - November 3Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Nov2
    City CouncilMonday · 5:30 pm · 625 Ute AvenueCity Council - 2026 - November 2 - Workshop - CANCELLEDAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct29
    GeneralThursday · 3:30 pm · Human Resources Training Room, 250 North 5th StreetHousing Affordability Code Task ForceAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct28
    Arts & CultureWednesday · 4:30 pm · Lincoln Park Hospitality Suite, 1307 North AvenueGJCAC Regular MeetingAgenda ↗Minutes ↗Meeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $2,468 per resident a year, or $6.76 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 23%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 42%Fees & charges 25%Interest, fines & other 7%From other local governments 6%Property taxes 6%From the federal government 5%Utility sales 4%From the state 3%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $61.4 million; interest on debt $4.6 million; payments to other governments $365,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $241.7 million.
Compared with similar places

$2,135 per resident in 2022: more than 81% of them

Grand Junction’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,135 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 21 Colorado cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,239, and the middle half spent $1,054–$1,691. Grand Junction spent more than 81% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,054–$1,691Median $1,239Grand Junction

Includes sewer and trash ($13.9 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
21

Colorado cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Grand Junction itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 24% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Grand Junction reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$135.5 million
2023$148 million
2024$167.9 million

Per resident: 2022: $2,135 · 2023: $2,210 · 2024: $2,468. Per resident it went from $2,135 to $2,468 (up 16%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 63,447 to 68,034.

City staff
833

full-time in March 2025, up from 703 in 2022.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,463 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.38% of the home’s value, vs 0.48% across Colorado.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Colorado$2,602
Redlands$1,869
Grand Junction$1,463
Orchard Mesa$1,417
Fruitvale$1,303
Clifton$975
$1,463
typical bill a year
0.38%
effective rate
$389,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Grand Junction

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 82 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (68,034).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Police238 + 4 pt
Fire191 + 3 pt
Parks & libraries79 + 125 pt
Administration & buildings86 + 11 pt
Roads & transportation72 + 8 pt
Sewer & trash72 + 2 pt
Water & other utilities31
Housing & development22 + 1 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections5 + 3 pt
Other37 + 5 pt
833
full-time
162
part-time
$6.6M
payroll for March 2025
$79.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$92,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
136
sworn police officers
187
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Grand Junction had 11.1 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 9 of the 21 Colorado cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 8.1: Grand Junction had more than 89% 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

Mesa County Valley School District 51

Grand Junction’s K–12 school district, shared with Fruita, Palisade. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Grand Junction →
$13,648
per pupil · CO $15,889
20,078
students
$238.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,648 per pupil, $7,334 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 43%State 46%Federal 12%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Grand Junction’s votes are counted by county

Colorado reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Grand Junction alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Mesa County’s results.

President · Mesa County’s results91,620 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican60.9%55,839 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat36.6%33,573 votes

Others: 2.4% (2,208 votes).

Most votes in Mesa County: Donald J Trump

Colorado: Harris 54.1%, Trump 43.1%

The county’s page

100% of Grand Junction lies in Mesa County. Every 2024 race in Mesa County is on the county’s page.

Mesa 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 Grand Junction

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Grand Junction.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Colorado HouseGrand Junction is split between 2 districts
    Rick TaggartMatt Soper
  3. 3
    Colorado SenateState senator
    Janice Rich
  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
Find your state legislators by address ↗

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

Next door

How Grand Junction compares with the towns next door

Grand Junction spent $2,135 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Redlands: unincorporated, no town budgetOrchard Mesa: unincorporated, no town budgetClifton: unincorporated, no town budgetFruitvale: unincorporated, no town budgetRedlandsOrchard MesaCliftonFruitvaleGrand Junction
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Grand Junction$2,135$1,463

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Grand Junction’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Grand Junction’s government

How much does Grand Junction spend per resident?

About $2,468 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $2,135 was more than 81% of 21 Colorado cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Grand Junction?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,463 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.38% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.48% across Colorado. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who runs Grand Junction’s government?

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

How did Grand Junction vote in 2024?

Colorado counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Grand Junction alone. Mesa County, where 100% of Grand Junction lies, voted Trump 60.9%, Harris 36.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Grand Junction?

833 full-time and 162 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $6.6M (about $79.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Grand Junction in the state legislature?

Grand Junction is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Colorado Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 7 (Janice Rich). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Grand Junction?

The next posted meeting is General on Wednesday, November 4, at 2:00 pm in Municipal Hearing Room, City Hall, 250 N. 5th Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Grand Junction’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 →