Photo: Aaron Lucas · CC BY-SA 4.0Benton Township spent less per resident in 2022 than 71% of similar towns
Benton Township’s town government spent $580,000 on day-to-day services in the year to March 31, 2022, about $68 per resident.
What stands out about how Benton Township is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$68 per resident in 2022: less than 71% of them
Benton Township’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($68 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 195 Illinois towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $88, and the middle half spent $62–$122. Benton Township spent less than 71% of them.
Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Illinois towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Benton Township itself left out).
About $68 per resident a year, or $0.19 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 48%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Revenue is well above spending. That usually means Benton Township collects property taxes for the school district and county and passes them on, so only its own spending is counted.
No trend yet
Benton Township reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $1,393 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.65% of the home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Benton Township’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 Benton Township’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Benton Township →
Who’s in charge in Benton Township
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Benton Township’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on bentonil.com ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 1,717 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 (8,587).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Benton Consolidated High School District 103
Benton Township’s high school district, shared with Barren Township, Benton, Browning Township, Eastern Township, Ewing Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $19,692 per pupil, $11,598 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.
Illinois districts overall: 52% local, 38% state, 10% federal.
Benton Community Consolidated School District 47 · $15,517 per pupil
Akin Community Consolidated School District 91 · $18,795 per pupil
Ewing Northern Community Consolidated District 115 · $15,444 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Benton Township voted in 2024
Official results for Benton Township’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Donald J TrumpRepublican72.8%2,845 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat25.4%992 votesOthers: 1.8% (72 votes).
Most votes in Benton Township: Donald J Trump
Franklin County: Trump 74.4%, Harris 24.0% · Illinois: Harris 54.4%, Trump 43.5%
of Benton Township’s 6,814 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Illinois: 62%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in the district: Mike Bost
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Benton Township, its county and the state
| Trump | Harris | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton Township | 72.8% | 25.4% | 1.8% | 3,909 |
| Franklin County | 74.4% | 24.0% | 1.6% | 17,746 |
| Illinois | 43.5% | 54.4% | 2.2% | 5,633,310 |
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.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Benton Township.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: bentonil.com ↗
- 2Illinois HouseBenton Township is split between 2 districts
- 3Illinois SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Illinois
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Benton Township compares with the towns next door
Benton Township spent $68 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $67 to $1,173. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Frankfort Township | $67 | $1,661 |
| Browning Township | $144 | $1,484 |
| Hanaford | $342 | $556 |
| Eastern Township | $1,173 | $1,319 |
| Ewing Township | estimate | $2,347 |
| Benton Township | $68 | $1,393 |
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 Benton Township’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Benton Township’s government
How much does Benton Township spend per resident?
About $68 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 $68 was less than 71% of 195 Illinois towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Benton Township?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,393 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.65% of the typical home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see bentonil.com.
Who runs Benton Township’s government?
See bentonil.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Benton Township yet.
How did Benton Township vote in 2024?
For president, Donald J Trump 72.8%, Kamala D Harris 25.4% (3,909 votes, official results). Franklin County: Trump 74.4%, Harris 24.0%. Illinois: Harris 54.4%, Trump 43.5%.
How many people work for Benton Township?
5 full-time and 11 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $22,362 (about $268,344 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Benton Township in the state legislature?
Benton Township is split among 2 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Illinois Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Benton Township’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
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 →