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Town Hall · Montezuma

Montezuma spent more per resident in 2022 than 79% of similar cities

Montezuma’s city government spent $788,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $823 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.4 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$788,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$823
In 2022: $823, more than 79% of 252 similar cities
Long-term debt
$4.7M
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
8
full-time · 4 part-time · March payroll $35,644
Typical tax bill
$2,423
1.59% of home value · KS 1.29%

What stands out about how Montezuma is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$823 per resident in 2022: more than 79% of them

Montezuma’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($823 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. Montezuma spent more than 79% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($467,000), 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; Montezuma itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $823 per resident a year, or $2.25 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 59%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 54%Sales taxes 21%Fees & charges 16%From the state 9%Interest, fines & other <1%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $190,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $2.4 million.
About “Other”.32% of Montezuma’s day-to-day spending ($250,000) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,423 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.59% of the home’s value, vs 1.29% across Kansas.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Kansas$2,798
Montezuma$2,423
$2,423
typical bill a year
1.59%
effective rate
$152,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Montezuma

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

See MontezumaKS.us for Montezuma’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Montezuma yet.MontezumaKS.us ↗
Agendas

Montezuma’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on MontezumaKS.us ↗.

Who works for Montezuma

One full-time city employee for every 120 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 (958).

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

Water & other utilities5
Administration & buildings3 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries0 + 1 pt
Police0 + 1 pt
Other0 + 1 pt
8
full-time
4
part-time
$35,644
payroll for March 2022
$427,728
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$50,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Montezuma had 8.4 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: Montezuma had more than 73% 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

Montezuma Unified School District 371

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

Schools in Montezuma →
$25,673
per pupil · KS $14,966
147
students
$13 million
long-term debt

Of the $25,673 per pupil, $14,279 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 46%State 48%Federal 5%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Montezuma’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Gray County’s results2,193 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican83.8%1,837 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat14.8%324 votes

Others: 1.5% (32 votes).

Most votes in Gray County: Donald J Trump

Kansas: Trump 57.2%, Harris 41.0%

The county’s page

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

Gray 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 Montezuma

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Montezuma.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Kansas HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Kansas SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Kansas

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

Reach Montezuma’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Montezuma’s government

How much does Montezuma spend per resident?

About $823 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 $823 was more than 79% of 252 Kansas cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Montezuma?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,423 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.59% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.29% across Kansas. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see MontezumaKS.us.

Who runs Montezuma’s government?

See MontezumaKS.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Montezuma yet.

How did Montezuma vote in 2024?

Kansas counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Montezuma alone. Gray County, where 100% of Montezuma lies, voted Trump 83.8%, Harris 14.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Montezuma?

8 full-time and 4 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $35,644 (about $427,728 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Montezuma in the state legislature?

State Senate District 38 (Ron Ryckman) and State House District 115 (Gary White). The House district also covers 52 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Montezuma’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 →