Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOlney spent less per resident in 2022 than 68% of similar cities
Olney’s city government spent $7 million on day-to-day services in the year to April 30, 2024, about $826 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.5 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Olney is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$758 per resident in 2022: less than 68% of them
Olney’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($758 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. Olney spent less than 68% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.3 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 →
Illinois cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Olney itself left out).
About $826 per resident a year, or $2.26 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 22%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 7% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Olney reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $758 · 2024: $826.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $1,893 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.90% 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 Olney’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 Olney’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Olney →
Who’s in charge in Olney
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Olney’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.olney.il.us ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 157 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (8,487).
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.
Richland County Community Unit School District 1
Olney’s K–12 school district, shared with Calhoun, Claremont Township, Claremont, Decker Township, German Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $13,952 per pupil, $7,912 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.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Olney’s votes are counted by county
Illinois reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Olney alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Richland County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican75.7%5,889 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat22.4%1,747 votesOthers: 1.9% (148 votes).
Most votes in Richland County: Donald J Trump
Illinois: Harris 54.4%, Trump 43.5%
100% of Olney lies in Richland County. Every 2024 race in Richland County is on the county’s page.
Richland County’s 2024 results →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 Olney.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: ci.olney.il.us ↗
- 2Illinois HouseState representatives
- 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.
Reach Olney’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Olney’s government
How much does Olney spend per resident?
About $826 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to April 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $758 was less than 68% of 166 Illinois cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Olney?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,893 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.90% of the typical home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.olney.il.us.
Who runs Olney’s government?
See ci.olney.il.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Olney yet.
How did Olney vote in 2024?
Illinois counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Olney alone. Richland County, where 100% of Olney lies, voted Trump 75.7%, Harris 22.4% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Olney?
54 full-time and 15 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $291,337 (about $3.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Olney in the state legislature?
State Senate District 55 (Jason Plummer) and State House District 110 (Blaine Wilhour). The House district also covers 118 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Olney’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 →