Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Paul

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Town Hall · Paul

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

Paul’s city government spent $1.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $738 per resident. Water and other utilities ($283,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Idaho.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.1M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$738
In 2022: $738, more than 71% of 85 similar cities
Long-term debt
$1.3M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
5
full-time · 1 part-time · March payroll $24,536
Typical tax bill
$1,266
0.47% of home value · ID 0.49%

What stands out about how Paul is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $738 per resident, more than 71% of 85 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer54% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Minidoka County Joint School District 331 with 4 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,266 a year: 0.47% of the home’s value, vs 0.49% across Idaho.
Compared with similar places

$738 per resident in 2022: more than 71% of them

Paul’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($738 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 85 Idaho cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $558, and the middle half spent $299–$814. Paul spent more than 71% of them.

Middle half of the group, $299–$814Median $558Paul

Includes sewer and trash ($453,000), 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
85

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $738 per resident a year, or $2.02 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 42%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 42%Utility sales 15%Property taxes 12%From the state 12%From the federal government 8%Sales taxes 7%Interest, fines & other 3%From other local governments 1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1,000; interest on debt $54,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $1.4 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,266 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.47% of the home’s value, vs 0.49% across Idaho.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Idaho$2,038
Paul$1,266
$1,266
typical bill a year
0.47%
effective rate
$268,100
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Paul

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 293 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 (1,464).

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

Administration & buildings2 + 1 pt
Other3
5
full-time
1
part-time
$24,536
payroll for March 2022
$294,432
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$57,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Paul had 3.4 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 72 of the 85 Idaho cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 3.9: Paul had fewer than 53% 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

Minidoka County Joint School District 331

Paul’s K–12 school district, shared with Acequia, Heyburn, Minidoka, Rupert. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Paul →
$9,975
per pupil · ID $11,119
4,394
students
$6 million
long-term debt

Of the $9,975 per pupil, $5,866 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 11%State 75%Federal 14%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Paul’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Minidoka County’s results7,948 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican80.5%6,401 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat17.3%1,373 votes

Others: 2.2% (174 votes).

Most votes in Minidoka County: Donald J Trump

Idaho: Trump 66.9%, Harris 30.4%

The county’s page

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

Minidoka 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 Paul

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Paul.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Idaho HouseState representatives
    Clay HandyDoug Pickett
  3. 3
    Idaho SenateState senator
    Kelly Anthon
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Brad Little
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Michael K. Simpson
  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 Paul’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Paul’s government

How much does Paul spend per resident?

About $738 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $738 was more than 71% of 85 Idaho cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Paul?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,266 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.47% 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 Paul’s government?

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

How did Paul vote in 2024?

Idaho counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Paul alone. Minidoka County, where 100% of Paul lies, voted Trump 80.5%, Harris 17.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Paul?

5 full-time and 1 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $24,536 (about $294,432 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Paul in the state legislature?

State Senate District 27 (Kelly Anthon) and State House District 27 (Clay Handy and Doug Pickett). The House district also covers 10 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Paul’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 →