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Marion County MO courthouse Palmyra-001Photo: Kbh3rd · CC BY 4.0
Town Hall · Palmyra

Palmyra spent less per resident in 2022 than 82% of similar cities

Palmyra’s city government spent $1.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to April 30, 2022, about $469 per resident. Water and other utilities ($4.8 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Missouri.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.7M
year to April 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$469
In 2022: $469, less than 82% of 79 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
32
full-time · 4 part-time · March payroll $135,931
Typical tax bill
$1,357
0.74% of home value · MO 0.85%

What stands out about how Palmyra is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$469 per resident in 2022: less than 82% of them

Palmyra’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($469 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 79 Missouri cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $780, and the middle half spent $534–$1,041. Palmyra spent less than 82% of them.

Middle half of the group, $534–$1,041Median $780Palmyra

Includes sewer and trash ($437,000), 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
79

Missouri cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Palmyra itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $469 per resident a year, or $1.28 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 40%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 60%Sales taxes 16%Fees & charges 8%From the federal government 5%Property taxes 5%Interest, fines & other 4%From the state 2%Other taxes & licenses <1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $230,000; interest on debt $177,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $6.9 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,357 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.74% of the home’s value, vs 0.85% across Missouri.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Missouri$1,948
Palmyra$1,357
$1,357
typical bill a year
0.74%
effective rate
$184,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Palmyra

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

See greatriverroad.com/hannibal/palmyra.htm for Palmyra’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Palmyra yet.greatriverroad.com/hannibal/palmyra.htm ↗
Agendas

Palmyra’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on greatriverroad.com/hannibal/palmyra.htm ↗.

Who works for Palmyra

One full-time city employee for every 112 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 (3,578).

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

Water & other utilities12
Police9
Roads & transportation5
Administration & buildings3
Parks & libraries1 + 3 pt
Sewer & trash1 + 1 pt
Other1
32
full-time
4
part-time
$135,931
payroll for March 2022
$1.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$50,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
8
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Palmyra had 8.9 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 68 of the 79 Missouri cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 7.2: Palmyra had more than 63% 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

Palmyra R-I School District

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

Schools in Palmyra →
$11,067
per pupil · MO $14,569
1,155
students
$9.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $11,067 per pupil, $6,725 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 58%State 36%Federal 7%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Palmyra’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Marion County’s results13,153 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican76.0%9,991 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat23.1%3,032 votes

Others: 1.0% (130 votes).

Most votes in Marion County: Donald J Trump

Missouri: Trump 58.5%, Harris 40.1%

The county’s page

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

Marion 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 Palmyra

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Palmyra.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Missouri HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Missouri SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Missouri

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

Reach Palmyra’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Palmyra’s government

How much does Palmyra spend per resident?

About $469 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to April 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $469 was less than 82% of 79 Missouri cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Palmyra?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,357 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.74% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.85% across Missouri. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see greatriverroad.com/hannibal/palmyra.htm.

Who runs Palmyra’s government?

See greatriverroad.com/hannibal/palmyra.htm for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Palmyra yet.

How did Palmyra vote in 2024?

Missouri counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Palmyra alone. Marion County, where 100% of Palmyra lies, voted Trump 76.0%, Harris 23.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Palmyra?

32 full-time and 4 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $135,931 (about $1.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Palmyra in the state legislature?

State Senate District 18 (Cindy O'Laughlin) and State House District 5 (Louis Riggs). The House district also covers six other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Palmyra’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 →