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Downtown Emporia, KSPhoto: Ethan James Scherrer · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Emporia

Emporia spent more per resident in 2022 than 67% of similar cities

Emporia’s city government spent $39.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,657 per resident. Water and other utilities ($9.3 million) and the airport ($848,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

Multi-Use-Path Planning Board

12:00 pm · Lyon County Annex, Meeting Room 114

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$39.7M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,657
In 2022: $1,193, more than 67% of 49 similar cities
Long-term debt
$70.7M
end of 2024, reported
City staff, 2025
244
full-time · 43 part-time · March payroll $1.5M
Typical tax bill
$2,257
1.70% of home value · KS 1.29%

What stands out about how Emporia is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,193 per resident, more than 67% of 49 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer56% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Emporia Unified School District 253 with 3 other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Nov4
    City Commission MeetingsWednesday · 11:00 am · 518 Mechanic Street, Municipal CourtCommission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct21
    City Commission MeetingsWednesday · 11:00 am · 518 Mechanic Street, Municipal CourtCity Commission Action MeetingAgenda ↗Minutes ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    Transient Guest Tax Advisory BoardTuesday · 12:00 pm · 516 Mechanic Street, Evora Wheeler Conference RoomAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    Emporia Planning Commission / Board of Zoning AppealsTuesday · 6:00 pm · 518 Mechanic Street, Municipal CourtMeeting page ↗
  • Oct7
    City Commission MeetingsWednesday · 11:00 am · 518 Mechanic Street, Municipal CourtCity Commission Action MeetingAgenda ↗Minutes ↗Meeting 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 2024 budget

About $1,657 per resident a year, or $4.54 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 47%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 27%Property taxes 24%Sales taxes 22%Utility sales 18%Interest, fines & other 6%From the state 2%From other local governments 1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $4.4 million; interest on debt $2.5 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $56.8 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,193 per resident in 2022: more than 67% of them

Emporia’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,193 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 49 Kansas cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,012, and the middle half spent $786–$1,331. Emporia spent more than 67% of them.

Middle half of the group, $786–$1,331Median $1,012Emporia

Includes sewer and trash ($8.2 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
49

Kansas cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Emporia itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 36% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Emporia reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$29.2 million
2023$26.4 million
2024$39.7 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,193 · 2023: $1,101 · 2024: $1,657.

City staff
244

full-time in March 2025, up from 236 in 2022.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,257 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.70% of the home’s value, vs 1.29% across Kansas.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Pike Township$4,174
Emporia Township$4,000
Fremont Township$2,962
Kansas$2,798
Emporia$2,257
$2,257
typical bill a year
1.70%
effective rate
$132,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Emporia

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

See emporia-kansas.gov for Emporia’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Emporia yet.emporia-kansas.gov ↗
Who works for Emporia

One full-time city employee for every 98 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (23,941).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Fire49 + 1 pt
Police46 + 1 pt
Sewer & trash45
Parks & libraries24 + 23 pt
Administration & buildings20 + 7 pt
Water & other utilities20 + 1 pt
Roads & transportation11
Housing & development8
Courts, inspections & corrections6 + 1 pt
Other15 + 9 pt
244
full-time
43
part-time
$1.5M
payroll for March 2025
$18.1M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$72,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
37
sworn police officers
48
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Emporia had 9.6 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 44 of the 49 Kansas cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 9.0: Emporia had more than 52% 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

Emporia Unified School District 253

Emporia’s K–12 school district, shared with Pike Township, Emporia Township, Fremont Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Emporia →
$16,202
per pupil · KS $14,966
4,399
students
$74.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,202 per pupil, $9,661 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 27%State 62%Federal 11%

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

Also serving Emporia

Southern Lyon County Unified School District 252 · $17,428 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Emporia’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Lyon County’s results13,256 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican56.3%7,462 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat41.6%5,515 votes

Others: 2.1% (279 votes).

Most votes in Lyon County: Donald J Trump

Kansas: Trump 57.2%, Harris 41.0%

The county’s page

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

Lyon 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 Emporia

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Emporia.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: emporia-kansas.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Kansas HouseEmporia is split between 3 districts
    Mark SchreiberDuane DrogeBrad Barrett
  3. 3
    Kansas SenateState senator
    Mike Argabright
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Laura Kelly
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Derek Schmidt
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Kansas
    Jerry MoranRoger Marshall
Find your state legislators by address ↗

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

Next door

How Emporia compares with the towns next door

Emporia spent $1,193 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Emporia Township: no reported 2022 figuresPike Township: no reported 2022 figuresFremont Township: no reported 2022 figuresEmporia TownshipPike TownshipFremont TownshipEmporia
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Emporia Townshipestimate$4,000
Pike Townshipestimate$4,174
Fremont Townshipestimate$2,962
Emporia$1,193$2,257

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 Emporia’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteemporia-kansas.gov ↗

Questions about Emporia’s government

How much does Emporia spend per resident?

About $1,657 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,193 was more than 67% of 49 Kansas cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Emporia?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,257 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.70% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.29% across Kansas. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see emporia-kansas.gov.

Who runs Emporia’s government?

See emporia-kansas.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Emporia yet.

How did Emporia vote in 2024?

Kansas counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Emporia alone. Lyon County, where 100% of Emporia lies, voted Trump 56.3%, Harris 41.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Emporia?

244 full-time and 43 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.5M (about $18.1M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Emporia in the state legislature?

Emporia is split among 3 State House districts, so your address decides. The Kansas Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 17 (Mike Argabright). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Emporia?

The next posted meeting is Multi-Use-Path Planning Board on Tuesday, November 10, at 12:00 pm in Lyon County Annex, Meeting Room 114, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Emporia’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 →