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Dr. Charles M. Wright HouseDr. Charles M. Wright House · Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
Town Hall · Altamont

How is Altamont run?

Altamont’s city government spent $1.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to April 30, 2022, about $603 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.3 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Illinois.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.4M
year to April 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$603
In 2022: $603, more than 63% of 637 similar cities
Long-term debt
$950,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
20
full-time · 6 part-time · March payroll $88,937
Typical tax bill
$1,798
1.39% of home value · IL 2.01%

What stands out about how Altamont is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $603 per resident a year, or $1.65 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 28%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 50%From the state 19%Fees & charges 14%Property taxes 8%Interest, fines & other 8%Sales taxes 1%Other taxes & licenses 1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $81,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $4.8 million.
Compared with similar places

$603 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Altamont’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($603 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 637 Illinois cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $501, and the middle half spent $342–$713. Altamont spent more than 63% of them.

Middle half of the group, $342–$713Median $501Altamont

Includes sewer and trash ($396,000), 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
637

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

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,798 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.39% of the home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Illinois$5,298
Altamont$1,798
$1,798
typical bill a year
1.39%
effective rate
$129,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Altamont

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

See altamontil.net for Altamont’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Altamont yet.altamontil.net ↗
Agendas

Altamont’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on altamontil.net ↗.

Who works for Altamont

One full-time city employee for every 118 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 (2,350).

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

Water & other utilities8
Police4 + 3 pt
Roads & transportation4
Administration & buildings2
Parks & libraries0 + 3 pt
Sewer & trash1
Other1
20
full-time
6
part-time
$88,937
payroll for March 2022
$1.1M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$51,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
4
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Altamont had 8.5 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 472 of the 637 Illinois cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 2.1: Altamont had more than 90% 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

Altamont Community Unit School District 10

Altamont’s K–12 school district, shared with Mound Township, West Township, Moccasin Township, Jackson Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Altamont →
$13,573
per pupil · IL $21,567
689
students
$6.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,573 per pupil, $7,763 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 39%State 54%Federal 7%

Illinois districts overall: 52% local, 38% state, 10% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Altamont’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Effingham County’s results19,177 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican78.9%15,124 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat18.9%3,617 votes

Others: 2.3% (436 votes).

Most votes in Effingham County: Donald J Trump

Illinois: Harris 54.4%, Trump 43.5%

The county’s page

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

Effingham 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 Altamont

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Altamont.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Illinois HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Illinois SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Illinois

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

Reach Altamont’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Altamont’s government

How much does Altamont spend per resident?

About $603 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to April 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $603 was more than 63% of 637 Illinois cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Altamont?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,798 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.39% of the typical home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see altamontil.net.

Who runs Altamont’s government?

See altamontil.net for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Altamont yet.

How did Altamont vote in 2024?

Illinois counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Altamont alone. Effingham County, where 100% of Altamont lies, voted Trump 78.9%, Harris 18.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Altamont?

20 full-time and 6 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $88,937 (about $1.1M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Altamont in the state legislature?

State Senate District 54 (Steve McClure) and State House District 107 (Brad Halbrook). The House district also covers 96 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Altamont’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 →