Photo: Richard Bauer · CC BY 2.0Colby spent more per resident in 2022 than 73% of similar cities
Colby’s city government spent $7.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,331 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($5.2 million) and the airport ($176,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Colby is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,331 per resident in 2022: more than 73% of them
Colby’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,331 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 30 Kansas cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $949, and the middle half spent $786–$1,335. Colby spent more than 73% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.3 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 →
Kansas cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Colby itself left out).
About $1,331 per resident a year, or $3.65 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 19%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Colby reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau (2023, 2024 are estimates), so there is no trend yet.
full-time in March 2025, up from 64 in 2022.
The typical homeowner pays $2,573 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.58% of the home’s value, vs 1.29% across Kansas.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Colby’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 Colby’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Colby →
Who’s in charge in Colby
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Colby’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on CityOfColby.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 73 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (5,315).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Colby Public Schools Unified School District 315
Colby’s K–12 school district, shared with Gem, Rovohl Township, Morgan Township, Lacey Township, North Randall Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $14,841 per pupil, $8,679 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.
Kansas districts overall: 28% local, 61% state, 11% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Colby voted in 2024
Official results for Colby’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Donald J TrumpRepublican78.9%1,857 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat19.3%454 votesOthers: 1.8% (43 votes).
Most votes in Colby: Donald J Trump
Thomas County: Trump 82.1%, Harris 16.3% · Kansas: Trump 57.2%, Harris 41.0%
of Colby’s 3,690 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Kansas: 62%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in the district: Tracey Mann
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Colby, its county and the state
| Trump | Harris | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colby | 78.9% | 19.3% | 1.8% | 2,354 |
| Thomas County | 82.1% | 16.3% | 1.6% | 3,664 |
| Kansas | 57.2% | 41.0% | 1.8% | 1,327,591 |
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 Colby.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: CityOfColby.com ↗
- 2Kansas HouseState representatives
- 3Kansas SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Kansas
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Colby’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Colby’s government
How much does Colby spend per resident?
About $1,331 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 $1,331 was more than 73% of 30 Kansas cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Colby?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,573 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.58% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.29% across Kansas. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see CityOfColby.com.
Who runs Colby’s government?
See CityOfColby.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Colby yet.
How did Colby vote in 2024?
For president, Donald J Trump 78.9%, Kamala D Harris 19.3% (2,354 votes, official results). Thomas County: Trump 82.1%, Harris 16.3%. Kansas: Trump 57.2%, Harris 41.0%.
How many people work for Colby?
73 full-time and 1 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $331,718 (about $4.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Colby in the state legislature?
State Senate District 40 (Rick Billinger) and State House District 120 (Adam Smith). The House district also covers 86 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Colby’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 →