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Orchard City, ColoradoPhoto: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0
Town Hall · Orchard City

Orchard City spent less per resident in 2022 than 100% of similar cities

Orchard City’s city government spent $275,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $85 per resident. Water and other utilities ($853,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$275,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$85
In 2022: $85, less than 100% of 54 similar cities
Long-term debt
$1.6M
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
14
full-time · 2 part-time · March payroll $63,957 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$1,107
0.34% of home value · CO 0.48%

What stands out about how Orchard City is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $85 per resident, less than 100% of 54 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer76% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Delta County School District 50J with 5 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,107 a year: 0.34% of the home’s value, vs 0.48% across Colorado.
Compared with similar places

$85 per resident in 2022: less than 100% of them

Orchard City’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($85 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 54 Colorado cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,533, and the middle half spent $1,060–$2,154. Orchard City spent less than 100% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,060–$2,154Median $1,533Orchard City

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

The group
54

Colorado cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Orchard City itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $85 per resident a year, or $0.23 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 25%.

Where the money comes from
From other local governments 37%Utility sales 32%From the state 28%Other taxes & licenses 3%Interest, fines & other <1%Sales taxes <1%Fees & charges <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.1 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $2.2 million.
About “Other”.53% of Orchard City’s day-to-day spending ($147,000) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,107 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.34% of the home’s value, vs 0.48% across Colorado.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Colorado$2,602
Orchard City$1,107
$1,107
typical bill a year
0.34%
effective rate
$324,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Orchard City’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 Orchard City’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Orchard City →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Orchard City

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

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

Orchard City’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ochardcityco.org ↗.

Who works for Orchard City

One full-time city employee for every 232 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (3,242).

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

Administration & buildings9
Water & other utilities5
Parks & libraries0 + 1 pt
Other0 + 1 pt
14
full-time
2
part-time
$63,957
payroll for March 2022
$767,484
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$52,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Estimates.Orchard City didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

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

Delta County School District 50J

Orchard City’s K–12 school district, shared with Cedaredge, Crawford, Delta, Hotchkiss, Paonia. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Orchard City →
$14,596
per pupil · CO $15,889
4,489
students
$28.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,596 per pupil, $8,364 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 34%State 51%Federal 15%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Orchard City’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Delta County’s results19,478 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican66.5%12,948 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat31.0%6,030 votes

Others: 2.6% (500 votes).

Most votes in Delta County: Donald J Trump

Colorado: Harris 54.1%, Trump 43.1%

The county’s page

100% of Orchard City lies in Delta County. Every 2024 race in Delta County is on the county’s page.

Delta 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 Orchard City

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Orchard City.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: ochardcityco.org ↗
  2. 2
    Colorado HouseState representatives
    Matt Soper
  3. 3
    Colorado SenateState senator
    Marc Catlin
  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 Orchard City’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteochardcityco.org ↗

Questions about Orchard City’s government

How much does Orchard City spend per resident?

About $85 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 $85 was less than 100% of 54 Colorado cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Orchard City?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,107 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.34% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.48% across Colorado. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ochardcityco.org.

Who runs Orchard City’s government?

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

How did Orchard City vote in 2024?

Colorado counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Orchard City alone. Delta County, where 100% of Orchard City lies, voted Trump 66.5%, Harris 31.0% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Orchard City?

14 full-time and 2 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $63,957 (about $767,484 a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Orchard City in the state legislature?

State Senate District 5 (Marc Catlin) and State House District 54 (Matt Soper). The House district also covers seven other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Orchard City’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 →