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Palestine Commercial Historic DistrictPhoto: Nyttend · Public domain
Town Hall · Palestine

How is Palestine run?

Palestine’s village government spent $747,000 on day-to-day services in the year to April 30, 2022, about $591 per resident.

Election Day

Today

General election in Illinois.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$747,000
year to April 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$591
In 2022: $591, more than 61% of 637 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
Village staff, 2022
7
full-time · 2 part-time · March payroll $24,975 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$1,556
1.91% of home value · IL 2.01%

What stands out about how Palestine is run

Read from the village’s budget and official records.

★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $591 per resident a year, or $1.62 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 28%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 50%Property taxes 15%Fees & charges 14%From the federal government 9%Interest, fines & other 9%Sales taxes 1%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $34,000. With these, the whole budget was $781,000.
Compared with similar places

$591 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Palestine’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($591 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 $501, and the middle half spent $342–$713. Palestine spent more than 61% of them.

Middle half of the group, $342–$713Median $501Palestine

Includes sewer and trash ($154,000), 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; Palestine itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,556 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.91% of the home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Illinois$5,298
Palestine$1,556
$1,556
typical bill a year
1.91%
effective rate
$81,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Palestine

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

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

One full-time village employee for every 180 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (1,263).

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

Roads & transportation3
Police2 + 1 pt
Administration & buildings2
Other0 + 1 pt
7
full-time
2
part-time
$24,975
payroll for March 2022
$299,700
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$40,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
2
sworn police officers
Estimates.Palestine didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

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

Palestine Community Unit School District 3

Palestine’s K–12 school district, shared with Lamotte Township, Montgomery Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Palestine →
$15,464
per pupil · IL $21,567
345
students
$478,000
long-term debt

Of the $15,464 per pupil, $8,470 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 36%State 50%Federal 14%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Palestine’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Crawford County’s results8,962 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican75.1%6,727 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat22.9%2,048 votes

Others: 2.1% (187 votes).

Most votes in Crawford County: Donald J Trump

Illinois: Harris 54.4%, Trump 43.5%

The county’s page

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

Crawford 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 Palestine

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Palestine.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Illinois HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Illinois SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Illinois

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

Reach Palestine’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Palestine’s government

How much does Palestine spend per resident?

About $591 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 $591 was more than 61% of 637 Illinois cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Palestine?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,556 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.91% 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 Palestine’s government?

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

How did Palestine vote in 2024?

Illinois counts votes by county and precinct, not by village, so there are no official results for Palestine alone. Crawford County, where 100% of Palestine lies, voted Trump 75.1%, Harris 22.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Palestine?

7 full-time and 2 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $24,975 (about $299,700 a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Palestine in the state legislature?

State Senate District 51 (Chapin Rose) and State House District 102 (Adam Niemerg). The House district also covers 138 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Palestine’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 →