Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Richmond

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Madison County, Kentucky courthousePhoto: FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Richmond

How is Richmond run?

Richmond’s city government spent $42.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,180 per resident. Water and other utilities ($10.7 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$42.6M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,180
In 2022: $758, less than 58% of 31 similar cities
Long-term debt
$128.5M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
285
full-time · 40 part-time · March payroll $1.6M
Typical tax bill
$1,713
0.80% of home value · KY 0.75%

What stands out about how Richmond is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

★ What stands out · Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,180 per resident a year, or $3.23 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 19%.

Where the money comes from
Income taxes 30%Fees & charges 22%Utility sales 15%Sales taxes 9%From the federal government 8%Interest, fines & other 6%Property taxes 6%From the state 3%Other taxes & licenses 1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $23.2 million; interest on debt $879,000; payments to other governments $47,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $77.4 million.
Compared with similar places

$758 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Richmond’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($758 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 $596–$1,213. Richmond spent less than 58% of them.

Middle half of the group, $596–$1,213Median $902Richmond

Includes sewer and trash ($6.7 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
31

Kentucky cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Richmond itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 53% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$27.9 million
2023$40.5 million
2024$42.6 million

Per resident: 2022: $758 · 2023: $1,133 · 2024: $1,180.

City staff
285

full-time in March 2025, up from 260 in 2022.

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 $1,713 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.80% of the home’s value, vs 0.75% across Kentucky.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Richmond$1,713
Kentucky$1,544
$1,713
typical bill a year
0.80%
effective rate
$214,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Richmond

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

See richmond.ky.us for Richmond’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Richmond yet.richmond.ky.us ↗
Agendas

Richmond’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on richmond.ky.us ↗.

Who works for Richmond

One full-time city employee for every 127 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (36,129).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Police79 + 1 pt
Fire69
Housing & development35 + 2 pt
Parks & libraries25 + 13 pt
Administration & buildings29 + 4 pt
Roads & transportation23
Sewer & trash0 + 14 pt
Other25 + 6 pt
285
full-time
40
part-time
$1.6M
payroll for March 2025
$19.0M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$63,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
65
sworn police officers
68
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Richmond had 7.1 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 25 of the 31 Kentucky cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 8.0: Richmond had fewer than 56% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

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

Madison County School District

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

Schools in Richmond →
$12,220
per pupil · KY $14,752
11,241
students
$167.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,220 per pupil, $7,166 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 38%State 48%Federal 14%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Richmond’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Madison County’s results45,188 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican64.5%29,130 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat33.6%15,180 votes

Others: 1.9% (878 votes).

Most votes in Madison County: Donald J Trump

Kentucky: Trump 64.5%, Harris 33.9%

The county’s page

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

Madison 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 Richmond

From town hall to Washington

Richmond sends 4 representatives to the Kentucky House alone.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Kentucky HouseRichmond is split between 4 districts
  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 Richmond’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Richmond’s government

How much does Richmond spend per resident?

About $1,180 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 $758 was less than 58% of 31 Kentucky cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Richmond?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,713 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.80% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.75% across Kentucky. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see richmond.ky.us.

Who runs Richmond’s government?

See richmond.ky.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Richmond yet.

How did Richmond vote in 2024?

Kentucky counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Richmond alone. Madison County, where 100% of Richmond lies, voted Trump 64.5%, Harris 33.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Richmond?

285 full-time and 40 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.6M (about $19.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Richmond in the state legislature?

Richmond is split among 4 State House districts, so your address decides. The Kentucky Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 34 (Jared Carpenter). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Richmond’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 →