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Town Hall · Delphos

Delphos spent more per resident in 2022 than 85% of similar cities

Delphos’ city government spent $312,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $948 per resident. Water and other utilities ($107,000) are counted separately.

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General election in Kansas.

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Day-to-day spending, 2022
$312,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$948
In 2022: $948, more than 85% of 252 similar cities
Long-term debt
$1.1M
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
4
full-time · 22 part-time · March payroll $21,128
Typical tax bill
$1,301
2.06% of home value · KS 1.29%

What stands out about how Delphos is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $948 per resident, more than 85% of 252 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer32% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares North Ottawa County Unified School District 239 with 6+ other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $1,301 a year: 2.06% of the home’s value, vs 1.29% across Kansas.
Compared with similar places

$948 per resident in 2022: more than 85% of them

Delphos’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($948 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 252 Kansas cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $516, and the middle half spent $249–$749. Delphos spent more than 85% of them.

Middle half of the group, $249–$749Median $516Delphos

Includes sewer and trash ($28,000), 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
252

Kansas cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Delphos itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $948 per resident a year, or $2.60 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 54%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 34%Property taxes 26%Sales taxes 13%Fees & charges 10%From the federal government 7%Other taxes & licenses 6%From the state 3%Interest, fines & other 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $20,000; interest on debt $43,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $482,000.
About “Other”.32% of Delphos’ day-to-day spending ($100,000) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,301 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 2.06% of the home’s value, vs 1.29% across Kansas.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Kansas$2,798
Delphos$1,301
$1,301
typical bill a year
2.06%
effective rate
$63,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Delphos

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 82 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 (329).

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

Administration & buildings2 + 20 pt
Parks & libraries0 + 2 pt
Sewer & trash1
Water & other utilities1
4
full-time
22
part-time
$21,128
payroll for March 2022
$253,536
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$52,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Delphos had 12.2 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 226 of the 252 Kansas cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 5.0: Delphos had more than 89% 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

North Ottawa County Unified School District 239

Delphos’ K–12 school district, shared with Blaine Township, Fountain Township, Garfield Township, Grant Township, Logan Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Delphos →
$15,357
per pupil · KS $14,966
621
students
$10.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,357 per pupil, $9,884 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 20%State 75%Federal 5%

Kansas districts overall: 28% local, 61% state, 11% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Delphos’ votes are counted by county

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

President · Ottawa County’s results3,003 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican82.4%2,475 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat15.9%476 votes

Others: 1.7% (52 votes).

Most votes in Ottawa County: Donald J Trump

Kansas: Trump 57.2%, Harris 41.0%

The county’s page

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

Ottawa 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 Delphos

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Delphos.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Kansas HouseState representatives
    Dawn Wolf
  3. 3
    Kansas SenateState senator
    Elaine Bowers
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Laura Kelly
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Tracey Mann
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Kansas
    Jerry MoranRoger Marshall

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

Reach Delphos’ government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Delphos’ government

How much does Delphos spend per resident?

About $948 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 $948 was more than 85% of 252 Kansas cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Delphos?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,301 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 2.06% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.29% across Kansas. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who runs Delphos’ government?

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

How did Delphos vote in 2024?

Kansas counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Delphos alone. Ottawa County, where 100% of Delphos lies, voted Trump 82.4%, Harris 15.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Delphos?

4 full-time and 22 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $21,128 (about $253,536 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Delphos in the state legislature?

State Senate District 36 (Elaine Bowers) and State House District 107 (Dawn Wolf). The House district also covers 69 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Delphos’ 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 →