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Altona Library HallPhoto: No machine-readable author provided. Kelly Martin assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Altona

Altona spent less per resident in 2022 than 69% of similar cities

Altona’s village government spent $188,000 on day-to-day services in the year to March 31, 2022, about $384 per resident. Water and other utilities ($61,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Illinois.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$188,000
year to March 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$384
In 2022: $384, less than 69% of 637 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
Village staff, 2022
0
full-time · 13 part-time · March payroll $5,710 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$1,896
1.86% of home value · IL 2.01%

What stands out about how Altona is run

Read from the village’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $384 per resident, less than 69% of 637 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer47% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares ROWVA Community Unit School District 208 with 6+ other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,896 a year: 1.86% of the home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois.
Compared with similar places

$384 per resident in 2022: less than 69% of them

Altona’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($384 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 $503, and the middle half spent $342–$713. Altona spent less than 69% of them.

Middle half of the group, $342–$713Median $503Altona

Includes sewer and trash ($57,000), 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; Altona itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $384 per resident a year, or $1.05 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 30%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 39%Fees & charges 20%Utility sales 19%From the federal government 11%Property taxes 7%Interest, fines & other 3%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $137,000; interest on debt $2,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $388,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,896 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.86% of the home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Illinois$5,298
Altona$1,896
$1,896
typical bill a year
1.86%
effective rate
$102,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Altona

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

Check Altona’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Altona yet.
The school district

ROWVA Community Unit School District 208

Altona’s K–12 school district, shared with Copley Township, Oneida, Rio, Victoria, Wataga and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Altona →
$16,326
per pupil · IL $21,567
611
students
$13.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,326 per pupil, $10,517 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 55%State 39%Federal 6%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Altona’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Knox County’s results22,310 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican53.4%11,917 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat44.1%9,838 votes

Others: 2.5% (555 votes).

Most votes in Knox County: Donald J Trump

Illinois: Harris 54.4%, Trump 43.5%

The county’s page

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

Knox 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 Altona

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Altona.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Illinois HouseState representatives
    Travis Weaver
  3. 3
    Illinois SenateState senator
    Neil Anderson
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    J. B. Pritzker
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Eric Sorensen
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Illinois
    Richard J. DurbinTammy Duckworth

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

Reach Altona’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Altona’s government

How much does Altona spend per resident?

About $384 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to March 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $384 was less than 69% of 637 Illinois cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Altona?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,896 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.86% of the typical home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the village’s assessor.

Who runs Altona’s government?

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

How did Altona vote in 2024?

Illinois counts votes by county and precinct, not by village, so there are no official results for Altona alone. Knox County, where 100% of Altona lies, voted Trump 53.4%, Harris 44.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Altona?

0 full-time and 13 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $5,710 (about $68,520 a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Altona in the state legislature?

State Senate District 47 (Neil Anderson) and State House District 93 (Travis Weaver). The House district also covers 82 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Altona’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 →