Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Sterling Township

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
SterlingIllinois1Photo: KWayne1 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Sterling Township

Sterling Township spent more per resident in 2022 than 75% of similar towns

Sterling Township’s town government spent $1.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $83 per resident.

Town website
Next public meeting

Sterling Municipal Band

6:00 pm · Sterling City Hall Council Chambers, 212 3rd Avenue

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.4M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$83
In 2022: $83, more than 75% of 56 similar towns
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of 2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
9
full-time · 6 part-time · March payroll $43,317
Typical tax bill
$2,664
2.31% of home value · IL 2.01%

What stands out about how Sterling Township is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar townsIn 2022: $83 per resident, more than 75% of 56 similar towns.A shared school districtShares Sterling Community Unit District 5 with 6+ other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $2,664 a year: 2.31% of the home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Nov2
    City CouncilMonday · 6:30 pm · Sterling City Hall Council Chambers, 212 3rd AvenueCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct22
    Plan CommissionThursday · 6:30 pmPlan Commission /Zoning Board of AppealsAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct19
    City CouncilMonday · 6:30 pm · Sterling City Hall Council Chambers, 212 3rd AvenueCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Minutes ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct15
    Plan CommissionThursday · 6:30 pm · Sterling City Hall Council Chambers, 212 3rd AvenuePlan Commission MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Oct14
    GeneralWednesday · 5:15 pm · 212 3rd AvenueFire and Police CommissionMeeting page ↗
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 $83 per resident a year, or $0.23 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 49%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 69%From the state 24%Fees & charges 3%Interest, fines & other 3%

Revenue is well above spending. That usually means Sterling Township collects property taxes for the school district and county and passes them on, so only its own spending is counted.

Not in the receipt.Building projects $154,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $1.9 million.
Compared with similar places

$83 per resident in 2022: more than 75% of them

Sterling Township’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($83 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 56 Illinois towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $60, and the middle half spent $45–$82. Sterling Township spent more than 75% of them.

Middle half of the group, $45–$82Median $60Sterling Township

Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
56

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

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,664 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 2.31% of the home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Illinois$5,298
Palmyra Township$4,546
Jordan Township$3,226
Hopkins Township$3,127
Sterling Township$2,664
Sterling$2,588
Coloma Township$2,144
Rock Falls$2,112
$2,664
typical bill a year
2.31%
effective rate
$115,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Sterling Township

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

See ci.sterling.il.us for Sterling Township’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Sterling Township yet.ci.sterling.il.us ↗
Who works for Sterling Township

One full-time town employee for every 1,865 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 (16,782).

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

Roads & transportation4 + 3 pt
Administration & buildings4 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries0 + 2 pt
Health & welfare1
9
full-time
6
part-time
$43,317
payroll for March 2022
$519,804
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$53,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Sterling Township had 0.5 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 38 of the 56 Illinois towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 0.3: Sterling Township had more than 68% 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

Sterling Community Unit District 5

Sterling Township’s K–12 school district, shared with Coleta, Sterling, Hopkins Township, Jordan Township, Genesee Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Sterling Township →
$15,512
per pupil · IL $21,567
3,228
students
$34 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,512 per pupil, $9,753 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 37%State 55%Federal 8%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Sterling Township voted in 2024

Official results for Sterling Township’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President7,558 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat52.9%3,997 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican44.5%3,364 votes

Others: 2.6% (197 votes).

Most votes in Sterling Township: Kamala D Harris

Whiteside County: Trump 56.1%, Harris 41.4% · Illinois: Harris 54.4%, Trump 43.5%

Turnout
58%

of Sterling Township’s 13,128 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Illinois: 62%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. House · Illinois’s 17th District312,828 votes
Eric SorensenDemocrat54.4%
Joe McGrawRepublican45.6%

Most votes in the district: Eric Sorensen

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Sterling Township, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Sterling Township52.9%44.5%2.6%7,558
Whiteside County41.4%56.1%2.5%26,568
Illinois54.4%43.5%2.2%5,633,310
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 Sterling Township

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Sterling Township.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Officials: ci.sterling.il.us ↗
  2. 2
    Illinois HouseState representatives
    Brad Fritts
  3. 3
    Illinois SenateState senator
    Li Arellano
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    J. B. Pritzker
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Eric Sorensen
  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.

Next door

How Sterling Township compares with the towns next door

Sterling Township spent $83 per resident in 2022; the 6 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $30 to $1,484. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Coloma Township: $30 per resident (2022)Sterling: $1,484 per resident (2022)Hopkins Township: $268 per resident (2022)Jordan Township: $516 per resident (2022)Palmyra Township: $92 per resident (2022)Rock Falls: $1,099 per resident (2022)Coloma TownshipSterlingHopkins TownshipJordan TownshipPalmyra TownshipRock FallsSterling Township
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Coloma Township$30$2,144
Palmyra Township$92$4,546
Hopkins Township$268$3,127
Jordan Township$516$3,226
Rock Falls$1,099$2,112
Sterling$1,484$2,588
Sterling Township$83$2,664

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 Sterling Township’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteci.sterling.il.us ↗

Questions about Sterling Township’s government

How much does Sterling Township spend per resident?

About $83 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $83 was more than 75% of 56 Illinois towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Sterling Township?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,664 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 2.31% of the typical home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.sterling.il.us.

Who runs Sterling Township’s government?

See ci.sterling.il.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Sterling Township yet.

How did Sterling Township vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 52.9%, Donald J Trump 44.5% (7,558 votes, official results). Whiteside County: Trump 56.1%, Harris 41.4%. Illinois: Harris 54.4%, Trump 43.5%.

How many people work for Sterling Township?

9 full-time and 6 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $43,317 (about $519,804 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Sterling Township in the state legislature?

State Senate District 37 (Li Arellano) and State House District 74 (Brad Fritts). The House district also covers 82 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Sterling Township?

The next posted meeting is Sterling Municipal Band on Tuesday, November 10, at 6:00 pm in Sterling City Hall Council Chambers, 212 3rd Avenue, from the town’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Sterling Township’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 →