Photo: w.marsh · CC BY 2.0London spent more per resident in 2022 than 89% of similar cities
London’s city government spent $14.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,962 per resident. Water and other utilities ($4 million) and the airport ($602,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how London is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,520 per resident in 2022: more than 89% of them
London’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,520 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. London spent more than 89% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($4.5 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; London itself left out).
About $1,962 per resident a year, or $5.38 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 39%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 21% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years London 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: $1,520 · 2023: $1,852 · 2024: $1,962. Per resident it went from $1,520 to $1,962 (up 29%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 8,072 to 7,578.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $1,138 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.67% 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 London’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 London’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in London →
Who’s in charge in London
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
London’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityoflondonky.org ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 77 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 (7,578).
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.
Laurel County School District
London’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $12,974 per pupil, $7,982 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.
London’s votes are counted by county
Kentucky reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for London alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Laurel County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican84.3%23,516 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat14.5%4,037 votesOthers: 1.2% (334 votes).
Most votes in Laurel County: Donald J Trump
Kentucky: Trump 64.5%, Harris 33.9%
100% of London lies in Laurel County. Every 2024 race in Laurel County is on the county’s page.
Laurel 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 London.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityoflondonky.org ↗
- 2Kentucky HouseLondon is split between 2 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.
Reach London’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about London’s government
How much does London spend per resident?
About $1,962 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 $1,520 was more 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 London?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,138 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.67% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.75% across Kentucky. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityoflondonky.org.
Who runs London’s government?
See cityoflondonky.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for London yet.
How did London vote in 2024?
Kentucky counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for London alone. Laurel County, where 100% of London lies, voted Trump 84.3%, Harris 14.5% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for London?
99 full-time and 14 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $403,519 (about $4.8M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents London in the state legislature?
London is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Kentucky Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 21 (Brandon Storm). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about London’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 →