Photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans · CC BY-SA 3.0Westwego spent more per resident in 2022 than 86% of similar cities
Westwego’s city government spent $16.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $2,011 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.3 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Westwego is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,960 per resident in 2022: more than 86% of them
Westwego’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,960 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 28 Louisiana cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,022, and the middle half spent $644–$1,366. Westwego spent more than 86% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.8 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 →
Louisiana cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Westwego itself left out).
About $2,011 per resident a year, or $5.51 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 21%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 2% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Westwego 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: $1,960 · 2023: $1,887 · 2024: $2,011.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $590 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.33% of the home’s value, vs 0.55% across Louisiana.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Westwego’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 Westwego’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Westwego →
Who’s in charge in Westwego
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Westwego’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofwestwego.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 91 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 (8,224).
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.
Jefferson Parish School District
Westwego’s K–12 school district, shared with Grand Isle, Gretna, Harahan, Jean Lafitte, Kenner. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $14,671 per pupil, $7,205 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.
Louisiana districts overall: 47% local, 34% state, 19% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Westwego.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofwestwego.com ↗
- 2Louisiana HouseState representatives
- 3Louisiana SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Louisiana
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Westwego compares with the towns next door
Westwego spent $1,960 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $3,266. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $3,266 | $2,606 |
| Westwego | $1,960 | $590 |
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 Westwego’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Westwego’s government
How much does Westwego spend per resident?
About $2,011 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,960 was more than 86% of 28 Louisiana cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Westwego?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $590 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.33% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.55% across Louisiana. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofwestwego.com.
Who runs Westwego’s government?
See cityofwestwego.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Westwego yet.
How many people work for Westwego?
90 full-time and 22 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $478,419 (about $5.7M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Westwego in the state legislature?
Westwego is split among 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Louisiana Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Westwego’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 →