Photo: W.marsh · CC BY-SA 3.0Independence spent less per resident in 2022 than 97% of similar cities
Independence’s city government spent $6.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $235 per resident. Water and other utilities ($585,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Independence is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$203 per resident in 2022: less than 97% of them
Independence’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($203 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 31 Kentucky cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $902, and the middle half spent $638–$1,213. Independence spent less than 97% of them.
Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Kentucky cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Independence itself left out).
About $235 per resident a year, or $0.64 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 55%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 18% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Independence 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: $203 · 2023: $206 · 2024: $235.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $2,527 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.96% 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 Independence’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 Independence’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Independence →
Who’s in charge in Independence
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Independence’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofindependence.org ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 564 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 (29,326).
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
Independence’s K–12 school district, shared with Crescent Springs, Fairview, Kenton Vale, Ryland Heights, Villa Hills 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.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Independence’s votes are counted by county
Kentucky reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Independence 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 Independence 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 Independence.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofindependence.org ↗
- 2Kentucky HouseIndependence is split between 3 districts
- 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 Independence compares with the towns next door
Independence spent $203 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $129 to $1,357. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Ryland Heights | $129 | $1,630 |
| Elsmere | $358 | $1,700 |
| Erlanger | $680 | $2,017 |
| Covington | $1,357 | $2,085 |
| Independence | $203 | $2,527 |
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 Independence’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Independence’s government
How much does Independence spend per resident?
About $235 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 $203 was less than 97% of 31 Kentucky cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Independence?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,527 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.96% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.75% across Kentucky. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofindependence.org.
Who runs Independence’s government?
See cityofindependence.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Independence yet.
How did Independence vote in 2024?
Kentucky counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Independence alone. Kenton County, where 100% of Independence lies, voted Trump 59.8%, Harris 38.1% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Independence?
52 full-time and 2 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $265,224 (about $3.2M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Independence in the state legislature?
Independence is split among 3 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Kentucky Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Independence’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 →