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Commercial Building (Caldwell, Idaho)Photo: Tamanoeconomico · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Caldwell

Caldwell spent more per resident in 2022 than 71% of similar cities

Caldwell’s city government spent $71.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, about $1,082 per resident. Water and other utilities ($6.9 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Idaho.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$71.3M
year to September 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,082
In 2022: $823, more than 71% of 118 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
411
full-time · 10 part-time · March payroll $2.5M
Typical tax bill
$1,952
0.53% of home value · ID 0.49%

What stands out about how Caldwell is run

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

★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Nov2
    City CouncilMonday · 6:00 pm · Caldwell City Hall Council Chambers, 205 S 6th AveCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct29
    Caldwell Urban Renewal AgencyThursday · 6:00 pm · City Hall, Council Chambers, 205 S 6th Ave10.29/2026 URA Special MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct26
    Caldwell Urban Renewal AgencyMonday · 4:00 pm · City Hall, Council Chambers, 205 S 6th AveUrban Renewal Agency Special MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct19
    City CouncilMonday · 6:00 pm · Caldwell City Hall Council Chambers, 205 S 6th AveCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct12
    Caldwell Urban Renewal AgencyMonday · 6:00 pm · Caldwell City Hall Council ChambersCaldwell Urban Renewal Agency MeetingAgenda ↗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 $1,082 per resident a year, or $2.96 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 21%.

Where the money comes from
From other local governments 25%Fees & charges 25%Property taxes 19%From the state 11%Utility sales 7%Interest, fines & other 6%Other taxes & licenses 4%From the federal government 2%Sales taxes 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $30.3 million; payments to other governments $523,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $109.9 million.
Compared with similar places

$823 per resident in 2022: more than 71% of them

Caldwell’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($823 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 118 Idaho cities that don’t run their own schools: the median was $668, and the middle half spent $339–$898. Caldwell spent more than 71% of them.

Middle half of the group, $339–$898Median $668Caldwell

Includes sewer and trash ($12.9 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
118

Idaho cities that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Caldwell itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 43% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$49.9 million
2023$62.6 million
2024$71.3 million

Per resident: 2022: $823 · 2023: $984 · 2024: $1,082. Per resident it went from $823 to $1,082 (up 31%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 60,674 to 65,920.

City staff
411

full-time in March 2025, up from 285 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 $1,952 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.53% of the home’s value, vs 0.49% across Idaho.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Idaho$2,038
Caldwell$1,952
Nampa$1,890
$1,952
typical bill a year
0.53%
effective rate
$367,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Caldwell

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

See cityofcaldwell.com for Caldwell’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Caldwell yet.cityofcaldwell.com ↗
Who works for Caldwell

One full-time city employee for every 160 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 (65,920).

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

Police99
Fire73
Parks & libraries60 + 1 pt
Administration & buildings47 + 9 pt
Water & other utilities36
Roads & transportation26
Sewer & trash25
Housing & development2
Courts, inspections & corrections1
Other42
411
full-time
10
part-time
$2.5M
payroll for March 2025
$30.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$73,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
86
sworn police officers
61
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Caldwell had 4.7 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 102 of the 118 Idaho cities that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 4.8: Caldwell had fewer than 52% 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

Vallivue School District 139

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

Schools in Caldwell →
$9,551
per pupil · ID $11,119
10,014
students
$182.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $9,551 per pupil, $5,772 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 22%State 66%Federal 11%

Idaho districts overall: 21% local, 67% state, 12% federal.

Also serving Caldwell

Caldwell School District 132 · $12,039 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Caldwell’s votes are counted by county

Idaho reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Caldwell alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Canyon County’s results.

President · Canyon County’s results101,030 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican72.0%72,755 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat25.4%25,669 votes

Others: 2.6% (2,606 votes).

Most votes in Canyon County: Donald J Trump

Idaho: Trump 66.9%, Harris 30.4%

The county’s page

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

Canyon 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 Caldwell

From town hall to Washington

Caldwell sends 8 representatives to the Idaho House alone.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Idaho HouseCaldwell is split between 4 districts
  3. 3
    Idaho SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Idaho

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

Next door

How Caldwell compares with the towns next door

Caldwell spent $823 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Nampaestimate$1,890
Caldwell$823$1,952

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 Caldwell’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Caldwell’s government

How much does Caldwell spend per resident?

About $1,082 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $823 was more than 71% of 118 Idaho cities that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Caldwell?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,952 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.53% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.49% across Idaho. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofcaldwell.com.

Who runs Caldwell’s government?

See cityofcaldwell.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Caldwell yet.

How did Caldwell vote in 2024?

Idaho counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Caldwell alone. Canyon County, where 100% of Caldwell lies, voted Trump 72.0%, Harris 25.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Caldwell?

411 full-time and 10 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $2.5M (about $30.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Caldwell in the state legislature?

Caldwell is split among 4 State House districts and 4 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Idaho Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Caldwell?

The next posted meeting is Caldwell Urban Renewal Agency on Monday, November 9, at 6:00 pm in Caldwell City Hall Council Chambers, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Caldwell’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 →