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Eldorado IL Grand 1939Photo: Arthur Rothstein · Public domain
Town Hall · Eldorado

Eldorado spent less per resident in 2022 than 65% of similar cities

Eldorado’s city government spent $3 million on day-to-day services in the year to April 30, 2022, about $775 per resident. Water and other utilities ($965,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Illinois.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$3.0M
year to April 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$775
In 2022: $775, less than 65% of 166 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
28
full-time · 9 part-time · March payroll $105,620
Typical tax bill
$1,103
1.67% of home value · IL 2.01%

What stands out about how Eldorado is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $775 per resident, less than 65% of 166 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer52% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Eldorado Community Unit School District 4 with 6+ other towns.Its own police and fire7 sworn officers and 1 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
Compared with similar places

$775 per resident in 2022: less than 65% of them

Eldorado’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($775 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 166 Illinois cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $884, and the middle half spent $696–$1,158. Eldorado spent less than 65% of them.

Middle half of the group, $696–$1,158Median $884Eldorado

Includes sewer and trash ($1.1 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
166

Illinois cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Eldorado itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $775 per resident a year, or $2.12 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 38%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 30%Utility sales 19%Interest, fines & other 15%Fees & charges 14%From the federal government 10%Property taxes 7%Sales taxes 3%Other taxes & licenses 2%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $11,000; payments to other governments $7,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $4 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,103 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.67% of the home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Illinois$5,298
Eldorado$1,103
$1,103
typical bill a year
1.67%
effective rate
$66,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Eldorado

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 137 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 (3,837).

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

Police11 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings4 + 6 pt
Roads & transportation4
Sewer & trash4
Water & other utilities4
Fire1
Other0 + 1 pt
28
full-time
9
part-time
$105,620
payroll for March 2022
$1.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$43,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
7
sworn police officers
1
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Eldorado had 7.3 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 135 of the 166 Illinois cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 5.4: Eldorado had more than 76% 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

Eldorado Community Unit School District 4

Eldorado’s K–12 school district, shared with Broughton, East Eldorado Township, Rector Township, Raleigh, Long Branch Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Eldorado →
$19,482
per pupil · IL $21,567
1,086
students
$3.2 million
long-term debt

Of the $19,482 per pupil, $9,707 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 21%State 63%Federal 16%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Eldorado’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Saline County’s results10,632 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican73.6%7,830 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat24.8%2,634 votes

Others: 1.6% (168 votes).

Most votes in Saline County: Donald J Trump

Illinois: Harris 54.4%, Trump 43.5%

The county’s page

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

Saline 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 Eldorado

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Eldorado.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Illinois HouseState representatives
    Patrick Windhorst
  3. 3
    Illinois SenateState senator
    Paul Jacobs
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    J. B. Pritzker
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Mike Bost
  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 Eldorado’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Eldorado’s government

How much does Eldorado spend per resident?

About $775 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 $775 was less than 65% of 166 Illinois cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Eldorado?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,103 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.67% of the typical home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who runs Eldorado’s government?

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

How did Eldorado vote in 2024?

Illinois counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Eldorado alone. Saline County, where 100% of Eldorado lies, voted Trump 73.6%, Harris 24.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Eldorado?

28 full-time and 9 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $105,620 (about $1.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Eldorado in the state legislature?

State Senate District 59 (Paul Jacobs) and State House District 117 (Patrick Windhorst). The House district also covers 82 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Eldorado’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 →