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Town Hall · Willow Springs

Willow Springs spent more per resident in 2022 than 97% of similar cities

Willow Springs’ city government spent $3.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,485 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($3.2 million) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$3.1M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,485
In 2022: $1,485, more than 97% of 356 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
33
full-time · 6 part-time · March payroll $121,709
Typical tax bill
$527
0.39% of home value · MO 0.85%

What stands out about how Willow Springs is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,485 per resident, more than 97% of 356 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer52% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Willow Springs R-IV School District with 2 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $527 a year: 0.39% of the home’s value, vs 0.85% across Missouri.
Compared with similar places

$1,485 per resident in 2022: more than 97% of them

Willow Springs’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,485 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. Willow Springs spent more than 97% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($126,000), 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; Willow Springs itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,485 per resident a year, or $4.07 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 19%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 57%Sales taxes 20%Fees & charges 11%Interest, fines & other 7%From the state 5%Property taxes <1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $185,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $6.6 million.
About “Other”.34% of Willow Springs’ day-to-day spending ($1.1 million) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

Willow Springs reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau (2024 is an estimate), so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $527 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.39% of the home’s value, vs 0.85% across Missouri.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Missouri$1,948
Willow Springs$527
$527
typical bill a year
0.39%
effective rate
$135,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Willow Springs

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 64 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 (2,098).

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

Water & other utilities8
Police6 + 3 pt
Administration & buildings6
Parks & libraries5
Roads & transportation4
Sewer & trash2 + 1 pt
Other2 + 2 pt
33
full-time
6
part-time
$121,709
payroll for March 2022
$1.5M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$42,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
6
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Willow Springs had 15.7 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: Willow Springs had more than 96% 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

Willow Springs R-IV School District

Willow Springs’ K–12 school district, shared with Pierce Township, Sargent Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Willow Springs →
$12,655
per pupil · MO $14,569
1,240
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $12,655 per pupil, $7,552 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 25%State 59%Federal 16%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Willow Springs’ votes are counted by county

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

President · Howell County’s results18,968 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican82.9%15,733 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat16.2%3,073 votes

Others: 0.9% (162 votes).

Most votes in Howell County: Donald J Trump

Missouri: Trump 58.5%, Harris 40.1%

The county’s page

100% of Willow Springs lies in Howell County. Every 2024 race in Howell County is on the county’s page.

Howell 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 Willow Springs

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Willow Springs.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Missouri HouseState representatives
    Lisa Durnell
  3. 3
    Missouri SenateState senator
    Brad Hudson
  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 Willow Springs’ government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Willow Springs’ government

How much does Willow Springs spend per resident?

About $1,485 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 $1,485 was more than 97% of 356 Missouri cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Willow Springs?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $527 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.39% 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 Willow Springs’ government?

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

How did Willow Springs vote in 2024?

Missouri counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Willow Springs alone. Howell County, where 100% of Willow Springs lies, voted Trump 82.9%, Harris 16.2% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Willow Springs?

33 full-time and 6 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $121,709 (about $1.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Willow Springs in the state legislature?

State Senate District 33 (Brad Hudson) and State House District 154 (Lisa Durnell). The House district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Willow Springs’ 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 →