Photo: W.marsh · CC BY-SA 3.0Barbourville spent more per resident in 2022 than 96% of similar cities
Barbourville’s city government spent $5.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,812 per resident. Water and other utilities ($9 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Barbourville is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$2,213 per resident in 2022: more than 96% of them
Barbourville’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,213 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 85 Kentucky cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $686, and the middle half spent $519–$957. Barbourville spent more than 96% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.4 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 →
Kentucky cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Barbourville itself left out).
About $1,812 per resident a year, or $4.96 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 28%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is down 13% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Barbourville reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $2,213 · 2023: $2,147 · 2024: $1,812. Per resident it went from $2,213 to $1,812 (down 18%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 2,974 to 3,157.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $1,322 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.72% of the home’s value, vs 0.75% across Kentucky.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Barbourville’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 Barbourville’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Barbourville →
Who’s in charge in Barbourville
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Barbourville’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofbarbourville.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 83 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (3,157).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Barbourville Independent School District
Barbourville’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $11,895 per pupil, $7,434 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.
Kentucky districts overall: 37% local, 46% state, 17% federal.
Knox County School District · $16,392 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Barbourville’s votes are counted by county
Kentucky reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Barbourville alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Knox County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican85.0%11,178 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat13.8%1,821 votesOthers: 1.2% (157 votes).
Most votes in Knox County: Donald J Trump
Kentucky: Trump 64.5%, Harris 33.9%
100% of Barbourville lies in Knox County. Every 2024 race in Knox County is on the county’s page.
Knox County’s 2024 results →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 Barbourville.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofbarbourville.com ↗
- 2Kentucky HouseState representatives
- 3Kentucky SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Kentucky
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Barbourville’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Barbourville’s government
How much does Barbourville spend per resident?
About $1,812 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $2,213 was more than 96% of 85 Kentucky cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Barbourville?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,322 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.72% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.75% across Kentucky. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofbarbourville.com.
Who runs Barbourville’s government?
See cityofbarbourville.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Barbourville yet.
How did Barbourville vote in 2024?
Kentucky counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Barbourville alone. Knox County, where 100% of Barbourville lies, voted Trump 85.0%, Harris 13.8% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Barbourville?
38 full-time and 5 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $117,379 (about $1.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Barbourville in the state legislature?
State Senate District 25 (Robert Stivers) and State House District 86 (Tom Smith). The House district also covers parts of 1 neighboring town. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Barbourville’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 →