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Ed. M. Stotlar HouseEd. M. Stotlar House · Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
Town Hall · Marion

Marion spent more per resident in 2022 than 90% of similar cities

Marion’s city government spent $31.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to April 30, 2022, about $1,826 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($3 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Illinois.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$31.8M
year to April 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,826
In 2022: $1,826, more than 90% of 97 similar cities
Long-term debt
$15.6M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
205
full-time · 113 part-time · March payroll $1.1M
Typical tax bill
$2,761
1.74% of home value · IL 2.01%

What stands out about how Marion is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,826 per resident, more than 90% of 97 similar cities.A shared school districtShares Marion Community Unit School District 2 with 3 other towns.Split between districts2 State House districts cover Marion; your street decides yours.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Marion’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,826 per resident a year, or $5.00 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 24%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 33%From the state 29%Property taxes 13%Fees & charges 11%Utility sales 7%Interest, fines & other 3%From the federal government 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $4.7 million; interest on debt $486,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $40.6 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,826 per resident in 2022: more than 90% of them

Marion’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,826 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 97 Illinois cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,094, and the middle half spent $794–$1,484. Marion spent more than 90% of them.

Middle half of the group, $794–$1,484Median $1,094Marion

Includes sewer and trash ($2.4 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
97

Illinois cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Marion itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

Marion reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau (2024 is an estimate), so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,761 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.74% of the home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Illinois$5,298
Marion$2,761
$2,761
typical bill a year
1.74%
effective rate
$158,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Marion

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

See cityofmarionil.gov for Marion’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Marion yet.cityofmarionil.gov ↗
Who works for Marion

One full-time city employee for every 85 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 (17,417).

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

Parks & libraries33 + 95 pt
Police57
Fire25
Roads & transportation24
Administration & buildings17 + 6 pt
Health & welfare11 + 9 pt
Sewer & trash11 + 2 pt
Water & other utilities10 + 1 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections1
Other16
205
full-time
113
part-time
$1.1M
payroll for March 2022
$13.1M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$59,100
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
39
sworn police officers
24
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Marion had 11.8 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 77 of the 97 Illinois cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 5.6: Marion had more than 100% 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

Marion Community Unit School District 2

Marion’s K–12 school district, shared with Creal Springs, Pittsburg, Spillertown. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Marion →
$13,659
per pupil · IL $21,567
3,640
students
$15.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,659 per pupil, $8,527 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 51%State 38%Federal 11%

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

Also serving Marion

Carterville Community Unit School District 5 · $11,128 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Marion’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Williamson County’s results33,244 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican68.2%22,686 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat29.7%9,890 votes

Others: 2.0% (668 votes).

Most votes in Williamson County: Donald J Trump

Illinois: Harris 54.4%, Trump 43.5%

The county’s page

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

Williamson 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 Marion

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Marion.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofmarionil.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Illinois HouseMarion is split between 2 districts
    Scott DoodyPatrick 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
Find your state legislators by address ↗

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

Reach Marion’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofmarionil.gov ↗

Questions about Marion’s government

How much does Marion spend per resident?

About $1,826 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 $1,826 was more than 90% of 97 Illinois cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Marion?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,761 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.74% of the typical home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofmarionil.gov.

Who runs Marion’s government?

See cityofmarionil.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Marion yet.

How did Marion vote in 2024?

Illinois counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Marion alone. Williamson County, where 100% of Marion lies, voted Trump 68.2%, Harris 29.7% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Marion?

205 full-time and 113 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.1M (about $13.1M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Marion in the state legislature?

Marion is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Illinois Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 59 (Paul Jacobs). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Marion?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Monday, November 9, at 5:30 pm in 350 Tower Square Plaza, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Marion’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 →