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Town Hall · Zeigler

Zeigler spent more per resident in 2022 than 77% of similar cities

Zeigler’s city government spent $1.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to March 31, 2022, about $737 per resident. Water and other utilities ($212,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.2M
year to March 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$737
In 2022: $737, more than 77% of 637 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
10
full-time · 20 part-time · March payroll $49,468
Typical tax bill
$930
1.62% of home value · IL 2.01%

What stands out about how Zeigler is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$737 per resident in 2022: more than 77% of them

Zeigler’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($737 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. Zeigler spent more than 77% of them.

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

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; Zeigler itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $737 per resident a year, or $2.02 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 37%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 46%Property taxes 19%Utility sales 13%Fees & charges 12%Interest, fines & other 7%Sales taxes 4%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $135,000; interest on debt $49,000; payments to other governments $7,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $1.6 million.
About “Other”.29% of Zeigler’s day-to-day spending ($354,000) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $930 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.62% of the home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Illinois$5,298
Zeigler$930
$930
typical bill a year
1.62%
effective rate
$57,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Zeigler

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

See zeigleril.com for Zeigler’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Zeigler yet.zeigleril.com ↗
Agendas

Zeigler’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on zeigleril.com ↗.

Who works for Zeigler

One full-time city employee for every 167 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 (1,671).

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

Fire0 + 15 pt
Police6
Administration & buildings1 + 5 pt
Roads & transportation2
Water & other utilities1
10
full-time
20
part-time
$49,468
payroll for March 2022
$593,616
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$50,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
5
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Zeigler had 6.0 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 472 of the 637 Illinois cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 2.1: Zeigler had more than 82% 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

Zeigler-Royalton Community Unit School District 188

Zeigler’s K–12 school district, shared with Royalton, Six Mile Township, Denning Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Zeigler →
$18,236
per pupil · IL $21,567
484
students
$3.2 million
long-term debt

Of the $18,236 per pupil, $11,680 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 15%State 68%Federal 17%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Zeigler’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Franklin County’s results17,746 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican74.4%13,200 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat24.0%4,257 votes

Others: 1.6% (289 votes).

Most votes in Franklin County: Donald J Trump

Illinois: Harris 54.4%, Trump 43.5%

The county’s page

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

Franklin 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 Zeigler

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Zeigler.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  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 Zeigler’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Zeigler’s government

How much does Zeigler spend per resident?

About $737 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to March 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $737 was more than 77% of 637 Illinois cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Zeigler?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $930 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.62% of the typical home’s value, vs 2.01% across Illinois. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see zeigleril.com.

Who runs Zeigler’s government?

See zeigleril.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Zeigler yet.

How did Zeigler vote in 2024?

Illinois counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Zeigler alone. Franklin County, where 100% of Zeigler lies, voted Trump 74.4%, Harris 24.0% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Zeigler?

10 full-time and 20 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $49,468 (about $593,616 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Zeigler in the state legislature?

State Senate District 59 (Paul Jacobs) and State House District 117 (Patrick Windhorst). The House district also covers 82 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Zeigler’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 →