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Carter County, Kentucky courthousePhoto: W.marsh · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Grayson

Grayson spent more per resident in 2022 than 85% of similar cities

Grayson’s city government spent $5.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,406 per resident. Water and other utilities ($4.4 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Kentucky.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$5.4M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,406
In 2022: $1,318, more than 85% of 85 similar cities
Long-term debt
$14.8M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2022
48
full-time · 21 part-time · March payroll $193,455 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$872
0.64% of home value · KY 0.75%

What stands out about how Grayson is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$1,318 per resident in 2022: more than 85% of them

Grayson’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,318 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. Grayson spent more than 85% of them.

Middle half of the group, $519–$957Median $686Grayson

Includes sewer and trash ($1.7 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
85

Kentucky cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Grayson itself left out).

Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,406 per resident a year, or $3.85 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 46%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 36%Fees & charges 26%Sales taxes 14%Income taxes 10%Property taxes 4%From the federal government 4%Other taxes & licenses 3%From the state 2%Interest, fines & other 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $902,000; interest on debt $550,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $11.2 million.
Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 6% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$5.1 million
2024$5.4 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,318 · 2024: $1,406.

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 $872 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.64% of the home’s value, vs 0.75% across Kentucky.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Kentucky$1,544
Grayson$872
$872
typical bill a year
0.64%
effective rate
$136,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Grayson

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

See graysonky.net for Grayson’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Grayson yet.graysonky.net ↗
Agendas

Grayson’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on graysonky.net ↗.

Who works for Grayson

One full-time city employee for every 80 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (3,820).

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

Water & other utilities13 + 3 pt
Police12 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings4 + 12 pt
Roads & transportation4
Sewer & trash4
Fire0 + 2 pt
Other11 + 2 pt
48
full-time
21
part-time
$193,455
payroll for March 2022
$2.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$44,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
12
sworn police officers
Estimates.Grayson didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

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

Carter County School District

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

Schools in Grayson →
$12,494
per pupil · KY $14,752
4,079
students
$16.9 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,494 per pupil, $7,582 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 17%State 53%Federal 30%

Kentucky districts overall: 37% local, 46% state, 17% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Grayson’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Carter County’s results11,422 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican78.6%8,981 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat20.2%2,305 votes

Others: 1.2% (136 votes).

Most votes in Carter County: Donald J Trump

Kentucky: Trump 64.5%, Harris 33.9%

The county’s page

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

Carter 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 Grayson

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Grayson.

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

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

Reach Grayson’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Grayson’s government

How much does Grayson spend per resident?

About $1,406 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 $1,318 was more than 85% of 85 Kentucky cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Grayson?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $872 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.64% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.75% across Kentucky. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see graysonky.net.

Who runs Grayson’s government?

See graysonky.net for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Grayson yet.

How did Grayson vote in 2024?

Kentucky counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Grayson alone. Carter County, where 100% of Grayson lies, voted Trump 78.6%, Harris 20.2% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Grayson?

48 full-time and 21 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $193,455 (about $2.3M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Grayson in the state legislature?

State Senate District 18 (Robin Webb) and State House District 96 (Patrick Flannery). The House district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Grayson’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 →