Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Wauconda

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
Wauconda Illinois downtown aerial viewPhoto: Transport6087 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Wauconda

Wauconda spent less per resident in 2022 than 76% of similar cities

Wauconda’s village government spent $10.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to April 30, 2022, about $786 per resident. Water and other utilities ($4.3 million) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Illinois.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$10.6M
year to April 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$786
In 2022: $786, less than 76% of 97 similar cities
Long-term debt
$27.0M
end of FY2022, reported
Village staff, 2022
75
full-time · 4 part-time · March payroll $565,126
Typical tax bill
$7,525
2.70% of home value · IL 2.01%

What stands out about how Wauconda is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $786 per resident, less than 76% of 97 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer41% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Mundelein Consolidated High School District 120 with 5 other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Nov2
    Committee of the WholeMonday · 6:15 pm · Village Hall Board Room, 101 North Main StreetMeeting page ↗
  • Nov2
    Village BoardMonday · 6:00 pm · 101 North Main St, 101 North Main StRegular Village BoardMeeting page ↗
  • Nov2
    Village Services CommitteeMonday · 4:30 pm · Village Hall Board Room, 101 North Main StreetMeeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    Village BoardTuesday · 6:00 pm · Village Hall Board Room, 101 North Main StreetRegular Village BoardMeeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    Economic Development CommissionTuesday · 4:30 pm · Village Hall Board Room, 101 North Main StreetMeeting 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 $786 per resident a year, or $2.15 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 43%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 31%Property taxes 30%Fees & charges 16%Utility sales 14%Interest, fines & other 5%Sales taxes 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%From the federal government 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1 million; interest on debt $793,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $16.7 million.
Compared with similar places

$786 per resident in 2022: less than 76% of them

Wauconda’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($786 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 $1,105, and the middle half spent $796–$1,485. Wauconda spent less than 76% of them.

Middle half of the group, $796–$1,485Median $1,105Wauconda

Includes sewer and trash ($1.8 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; Wauconda itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $7,525 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 2.70% of the home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Fremont Township$9,744
Lake Barrington$9,110
Wauconda Township$7,832
Wauconda$7,525
Illinois$5,298
$7,525
typical bill a year
2.70%
effective rate
$278,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Wauconda

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

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

One full-time village employee for every 179 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 (13,432).

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

Police45 + 4 pt
Roads & transportation12
Administration & buildings9
Water & other utilities9
75
full-time
4
part-time
$565,126
payroll for March 2022
$6.8M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$89,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
41
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Wauconda had 5.6 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: Wauconda had fewer than 51% 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

Mundelein Consolidated High School District 120

Wauconda’s high school district, shared with Mundelein, Fremont Township, Hawthorn Woods, Indian Creek, Round Lake Park. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Wauconda →
$24,690
per pupil · IL $21,567
2,261
students
$50.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $24,690 per pupil, $14,659 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 70%State 25%Federal 5%

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

Also serving Wauconda

Wauconda Community Unit School District 118 · $21,475 per pupil

Fremont School District 79 · $19,615 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Wauconda’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Lake County’s results315,148 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat58.6%184,642 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican38.2%120,402 votes

Others: 3.2% (10,104 votes).

Most votes in Lake County: Kamala D Harris

Illinois: Harris 54.4%, Trump 43.5%

The county’s page

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

Lake 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 Wauconda

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Wauconda.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Illinois HouseState representatives
    Marty McLaughlin
  3. 3
    Illinois SenateState senator
    Darby Hills
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    J. B. Pritzker
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseSplit between districts
    Bill FosterJanice D. Schakowsky
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Illinois
    Richard J. DurbinTammy Duckworth
Find your House district by ZIP code ↗

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

Next door

How Wauconda compares with the towns next door

Wauconda spent $786 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are townships, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar cities, above. Tap a town to see its page.

Wauconda Township: $76 per resident (2022)Fremont Township: $72 per resident (2022)Lake Barrington: $702 per resident (2022)Wauconda TownshipFremont TownshipLake BarringtonWauconda
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Fremont Township$72$9,744
Wauconda Township$76$7,832
Lake Barrington$702$9,110
Wauconda$786$7,525

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 Wauconda’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Wauconda’s government

How much does Wauconda spend per resident?

About $786 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 $786 was less than 76% of 97 Illinois cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Wauconda?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $7,525 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 2.70% 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 Wauconda’s government?

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

How did Wauconda vote in 2024?

Illinois counts votes by county and precinct, not by village, so there are no official results for Wauconda alone. Lake County, where 100% of Wauconda lies, voted Harris 58.6%, Trump 38.2% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Wauconda?

75 full-time and 4 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $565,126 (about $6.8M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Wauconda in the state legislature?

State Senate District 26 (Darby Hills) and State House District 52 (Marty McLaughlin). The House district also covers 30 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Wauconda?

The next posted meeting is Zoning Board of Appeals/Plan Commission on Wednesday, November 4, at 6:00 pm in Village Hall Board Room, 101 North Main Street, from the village’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Wauconda’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 →