Elsmere spent less per resident in 2022 than 89% of similar cities
Elsmere’s city government spent $3.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $358 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau.
What stands out about how Elsmere is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$358 per resident in 2022: less than 89% of them
Elsmere’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($358 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 $695, and the middle half spent $524–$1,027. Elsmere spent less than 89% of 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; Elsmere itself left out).
About $358 per resident a year, or $0.98 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 46%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Elsmere reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau (2024 is an estimate), so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $1,700 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.99% 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 Elsmere’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 Elsmere’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Elsmere →
Who’s in charge in Elsmere
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Elsmere’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofelsmere.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 360 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 (8,646).
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.
Kenton County School District
Elsmere’s K–12 school district, shared with Crescent Springs, Fairview, Independence, Kenton Vale, Ryland Heights and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $12,024 per pupil, $7,158 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.
Erlanger-Elsmere Independent School District · $14,990 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Elsmere’s votes are counted by county
Kentucky reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Elsmere alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Kenton County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican59.8%48,444 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat38.1%30,859 votesOthers: 2.0% (1,645 votes).
Most votes in Kenton County: Donald J Trump
Kentucky: Trump 64.5%, Harris 33.9%
100% of Elsmere lies in Kenton County. Every 2024 race in Kenton County is on the county’s page.
Kenton 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 Elsmere.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofelsmere.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.
How Elsmere compares with the towns next door
Elsmere spent $358 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $203 to $680. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Independence | $203 | $2,527 |
| Erlanger | $680 | $2,017 |
| Elsmere | $358 | $1,700 |
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 Elsmere’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Elsmere’s government
How much does Elsmere spend per resident?
About $358 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $358 was less than 89% of 85 Kentucky cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Elsmere?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,700 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.99% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.75% across Kentucky. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofelsmere.com.
Who runs Elsmere’s government?
See cityofelsmere.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Elsmere yet.
How did Elsmere vote in 2024?
Kentucky counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Elsmere alone. Kenton County, where 100% of Elsmere lies, voted Trump 59.8%, Harris 38.1% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Elsmere?
24 full-time and 7 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $196,225 (about $2.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Elsmere in the state legislature?
State Senate District 23 (Chris McDaniel) and State House District 69 (Steven Doan). The House district also covers parts of four other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Elsmere’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 →