Watseka Union Depot · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainWatseka runs its own hospital
Watseka’s city government spent $5.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to April 30, 2022, about $1,159 per resident. It also runs a hospital ($348,000) and water utilities ($1.4 million), counted separately. Census Bureau figures.
What stands out about how Watseka is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
About $1,159 per resident a year, or $3.18 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 34%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$1,159 per resident in 2022: more than 75% of them
Watseka’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,159 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 $880, and the middle half spent $696–$1,154. Watseka spent more than 75% of 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; Watseka itself left out).
No trend yet
Watseka reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $2,393 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.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Watseka’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 Watseka’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Watseka →
Who’s in charge in Watseka
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Watseka’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on watsekacity.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 181 residents, not counting hospital, health & welfare staff
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 (4,694).
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.
Iroquois County Community Unit School District 9
Watseka’s K–12 school district, shared with Woodland, Middleport Township, Belmont Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $16,974 per pupil, $10,706 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.
Watseka’s votes are counted by county
Illinois reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Watseka alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Iroquois County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican77.6%10,376 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat20.5%2,747 votesOthers: 1.9% (248 votes).
Most votes in Iroquois County: Donald J Trump
Illinois: Harris 54.4%, Trump 43.5%
100% of Watseka lies in Iroquois County. Every 2024 race in Iroquois County is on the county’s page.
Iroquois 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 Watseka.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: watsekacity.com ↗
- 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 Watseka’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Watseka’s government
How much does Watseka spend per resident?
About $1,159 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to April 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. Watseka also runs a hospital ($348,000), counted separately. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,159 was more than 75% of 166 Illinois cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Watseka?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,393 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 watsekacity.com.
Who runs Watseka’s government?
See watsekacity.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Watseka yet.
How did Watseka vote in 2024?
Illinois counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Watseka alone. Iroquois County, where 100% of Watseka lies, voted Trump 77.6%, Harris 20.5% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Watseka?
26 full-time and 19 part-time employees in March 2022 (plus 0 full-time hospital, health & welfare staff), with a March payroll of $156,366 (about $1.9M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Watseka in the state legislature?
State Senate District 53 (Chris Balkema) and State House District 106 (Jason Bunting). The House district also covers 144 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Watseka’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 →