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Waterville Opera HousePhoto: Bhall87 at en.wikipedia · CC BY 3.0
Town Hall · Waterville

Waterville spent more per resident in 2022 than 99% of similar cities

Waterville’s city government spent $1.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $2,085 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.1 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Kansas.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.3M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$2,085
In 2022: $2,085, more than 99% of 252 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
6
full-time · 15 part-time · March payroll $33,342
Typical tax bill
$1,435
1.57% of home value · KS 1.29%

What stands out about how Waterville is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $2,085 per resident, more than 99% of 252 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer73% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Valley Heights Unified School District 498 with 6+ other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $1,435 a year: 1.57% of the home’s value, vs 1.29% across Kansas.
Compared with similar places

$2,085 per resident in 2022: more than 99% of them

Waterville’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,085 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. Waterville spent more than 99% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($130,000), 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; Waterville itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $2,085 per resident a year, or $5.71 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 11%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 64%Property taxes 17%Sales taxes 5%Fees & charges 5%From the federal government 4%Other taxes & licenses 3%From the state 1%Interest, fines & other 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $36,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $4.5 million.
About “Other”.47% of Waterville’s day-to-day spending ($624,000) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,435 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.57% of the home’s value, vs 1.29% across Kansas.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Kansas$2,798
Waterville$1,435
$1,435
typical bill a year
1.57%
effective rate
$91,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Waterville

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

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

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

Who works for Waterville

One full-time city employee for every 106 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 (633).

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

Health & welfare0 + 13 pt
Water & other utilities3
Administration & buildings1
Roads & transportation1
Police1
Courts, inspections & corrections0 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries0 + 1 pt
6
full-time
15
part-time
$33,342
payroll for March 2022
$400,104
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$52,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
1
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Waterville had 9.5 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: Waterville had more than 77% 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

Valley Heights Unified School District 498

Waterville’s K–12 school district, shared with Blue Rapids, Blue Rapids Township, Waterville Township, Cottage Hill Township, Blue Rapids City Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Waterville →
$17,436
per pupil · KS $14,966
406
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $17,436 per pupil, $9,182 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 21%State 73%Federal 7%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Waterville’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Marshall County’s results4,968 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican73.3%3,644 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat24.3%1,205 votes

Others: 2.4% (119 votes).

Most votes in Marshall County: Donald J Trump

Kansas: Trump 57.2%, Harris 41.0%

The county’s page

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

Marshall 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 Waterville

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Waterville.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: WatervilleKansas.com ↗
  2. 2
    Kansas HouseState representatives
    Lisa Moser
  3. 3
    Kansas SenateState senator
    Craig Bowser
  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 Waterville’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteWatervilleKansas.com ↗

Questions about Waterville’s government

How much does Waterville spend per resident?

About $2,085 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 $2,085 was more than 99% of 252 Kansas cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Waterville?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,435 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.57% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.29% across Kansas. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see WatervilleKansas.com.

Who runs Waterville’s government?

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

How did Waterville vote in 2024?

Kansas counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Waterville alone. Marshall County, where 100% of Waterville lies, voted Trump 73.3%, Harris 24.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Waterville?

6 full-time and 15 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $33,342 (about $400,104 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Waterville in the state legislature?

State Senate District 1 (Craig Bowser) and State House District 106 (Lisa Moser). The House district also covers 130 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Waterville’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 →