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Town Hall · Matthews

Matthews spent more per resident in 2022 than 96% of similar cities

Matthews’ city government spent $849,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,454 per resident. Water and other utilities ($70,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Missouri.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$849,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,454
In 2022: $1,454, more than 96% of 356 similar cities
Long-term debt
$53,000
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
10
full-time · 8 part-time · March payroll $25,223
Typical tax bill
$743
0.69% of home value · MO 0.85%

What stands out about how Matthews is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,454 per resident, more than 96% of 356 similar cities.A shared school districtShares New Madrid County R-I School District with 6+ other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $743 a year: 0.69% of the home’s value, vs 0.85% across Missouri.
Compared with similar places

$1,454 per resident in 2022: more than 96% of them

Matthews’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,454 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 356 Missouri cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $313, and the middle half spent $137–$614. Matthews spent more than 96% of them.

Middle half of the group, $137–$614Median $313Matthews

Includes sewer and trash ($44,000), 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
356

Missouri cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Matthews itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,454 per resident a year, or $3.98 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 45%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 38%From the state 38%Utility sales 21%Interest, fines & other 2%Property taxes 2%From other local governments <1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $2,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $921,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

Matthews reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $743 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.69% of the home’s value, vs 0.85% across Missouri.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Missouri$1,948
Matthews$743
$743
typical bill a year
0.69%
effective rate
$108,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Matthews’ 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. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

Tax bills are one input to Matthews’ Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Matthews →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Matthews

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

Check Matthews’ own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Matthews yet.
Who works for Matthews

One full-time city employee for every 58 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (584).

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

Police6
Administration & buildings1 + 5 pt
Parks & libraries2
Courts, inspections & corrections0 + 3 pt
Water & other utilities1
10
full-time
8
part-time
$25,223
payroll for March 2022
$302,676
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$29,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
6
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Matthews had 17.1 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 277 of the 356 Missouri cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 3.6: Matthews had more than 97% 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

New Madrid County R-I School District

Matthews’ K–12 school district, shared with Canalou, Catron, Howardville, Lilbourn, Marston and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Matthews →
$16,596
per pupil · MO $14,569
1,282
students
$8.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,596 per pupil, $8,523 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 64%State 24%Federal 13%

Missouri districts overall: 54% local, 35% state, 11% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Matthews’ votes are counted by county

Missouri reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Matthews alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are New Madrid County’s results.

President · New Madrid County’s results6,811 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican76.4%5,203 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat22.9%1,561 votes

Others: 0.7% (47 votes).

Most votes in New Madrid County: Donald J Trump

Missouri: Trump 58.5%, Harris 40.1%

The county’s page

100% of Matthews lies in New Madrid County. Every 2024 race in New Madrid County is on the county’s page.

New Madrid 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 Matthews

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Matthews.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Missouri HouseState representatives
    District 149
  3. 3
    Missouri SenateState senator
    Jason Bean
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Mike Kehoe
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Jason Smith
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Missouri
    Josh HawleyEric Schmitt

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

Reach Matthews’ government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Matthews’ government

How much does Matthews spend per resident?

About $1,454 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,454 was more than 96% of 356 Missouri cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Matthews?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $743 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.69% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.85% across Missouri. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who runs Matthews’ government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Matthews yet.

How did Matthews vote in 2024?

Missouri counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Matthews alone. New Madrid County, where 100% of Matthews lies, voted Trump 76.4%, Harris 22.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Matthews?

10 full-time and 8 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $25,223 (about $302,676 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Matthews in the state legislature?

State Senate District 25 (Jason Bean) and State House District 149. The House district also covers 25 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Matthews’ 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 →