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Moscow Downtown Historic DistrictMoscow Downtown Historic District · Photo: Candy29c · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Moscow

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

Moscow’s city government spent $30.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, about $1,165 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.9 million) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Idaho.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$30.6M
year to September 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,165
In 2022: $1,031, more than 81% of 118 similar cities
Long-term debt
$15.4M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
156
full-time · 28 part-time · March payroll $996,634
Typical tax bill
$2,856
0.76% of home value · ID 0.49%

What stands out about how Moscow 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: $1,031 per resident, more than 81% of 118 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer37% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).Its own police and fire28 sworn officers and 6 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Nov2
    City CouncilMonday · 7:00 pm · 206 E 3rd St, Council Chambers, Second FloorCity Council Regular MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Nov2
    Board of AdjustmentMonday · 5:30 pm · Council Chambers, 206 E Third StreetBoard of Adjustment Public MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct29
    Farmers Market CommissionThursday · 2:00 pm · 504 S. Washington Street, First Floor Conference roomFarmers Market Commission Craft & Food Jury Subcommittee MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct29
    Farmers Market CommissionThursday · 9:30 am · 504 S. Washington Street, First Floor Conference roomFarmers Market Commission Policy Subommittee MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct28
    Planning and Zoning CommissionWednesday · 7:00 pm · Council Chambers, 206 E Third StreetPlanning & Zoning Commission Regular 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 $1,165 per resident a year, or $3.19 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 31%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 37%Property taxes 18%Utility sales 15%Interest, fines & other 8%From the federal government 8%From the state 7%From other local governments 3%Sales taxes 3%Other taxes & licenses 2%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $15.9 million; interest on debt $422,000; payments to other governments $173,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $50 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,031 per resident in 2022: more than 81% of them

Moscow’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,031 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–$872. Moscow spent more than 81% of them.

Middle half of the group, $339–$872Median $668Moscow

Includes sewer and trash ($8 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; Moscow itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 14% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$27 million
2023$29.9 million
2024$30.6 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,031 · 2023: $1,157 · 2024: $1,165.

City staff
156

full-time in March 2025, down from 158 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 $2,856 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.76% of the home’s value, vs 0.49% across Idaho.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Moscow$2,856
Idaho$2,038
$2,856
typical bill a year
0.76%
effective rate
$376,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Moscow

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 168 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 (26,249).

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

Police34 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries19 + 20 pt
Roads & transportation24 + 1 pt
Administration & buildings23
Water & other utilities19
Sewer & trash13
Fire9 + 5 pt
Housing & development7
Courts, inspections & corrections4
Health & welfare1
Other3 + 1 pt
156
full-time
28
part-time
$996,634
payroll for March 2025
$12.0M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$75,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
28
sworn police officers
6
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Moscow had 6.0 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 4.7: Moscow had more than 55% 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

Moscow School District 281

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

Schools in Moscow →
$14,255
per pupil · ID $11,119
2,333
students
$6.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,255 per pupil, $8,157 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 54%Federal 11%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Moscow’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Latah County’s results20,461 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican52.1%10,669 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat44.2%9,039 votes

Others: 3.7% (753 votes).

Most votes in Latah County: Donald J Trump

Idaho: Trump 66.9%, Harris 30.4%

The county’s page

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

Latah 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 Moscow

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Moscow.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Idaho HouseState representatives
    Brandon MitchellLori McCann
  3. 3
    Idaho SenateState senator
    Dan Foreman
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Brad Little
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Russ Fulcher
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Idaho
    Mike CrapoJames E. Risch

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

Reach Moscow’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Moscow’s government

How much does Moscow spend per resident?

About $1,165 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 $1,031 was more than 81% of 118 Idaho cities that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Moscow?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,856 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.76% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.49% across Idaho. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who runs Moscow’s government?

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

How did Moscow vote in 2024?

Idaho counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Moscow alone. Latah County, where 100% of Moscow lies, voted Trump 52.1%, Harris 44.2% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Moscow?

156 full-time and 28 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $996,634 (about $12.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Moscow in the state legislature?

State Senate District 6 (Dan Foreman) and State House District 6 (Brandon Mitchell and Lori McCann). The House district also covers 17 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Moscow?

The next posted meeting is Farmers Market Commission on Tuesday, November 3, at 4:00 pm in 206 E. Third Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Moscow’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 →