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Lima-MontanaPhoto: Mark Hufstetler · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Lima

Lima spent less per resident in 2022 than 80% of similar cities

Lima’s town government spent $83,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $366 per resident. Water and other utilities ($68,000) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$83,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$366
In 2022: $366, less than 80% of 51 similar cities
Long-term debt
$320,000
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
0
full-time · 7 part-time · March payroll $2,028
Typical tax bill
$1,153
0.61% of home value · MT 0.72%

What stands out about how Lima is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $366 per resident, less than 80% of 51 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer43% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,153 a year: 0.61% of the home’s value, vs 0.72% across Montana.
Compared with similar places

$366 per resident in 2022: less than 80% of them

Lima’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($366 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 51 Montana cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $810, and the middle half spent $497–$1,030. Lima spent less than 80% of them.

Middle half of the group, $497–$1,030Median $810Lima

Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
51

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $366 per resident a year, or $1.00 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 57%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 49%From the state 21%Property taxes 20%From other local governments 5%Other taxes & licenses 4%Fees & charges 1%Interest, fines & other <1%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $24,000; payments to other governments $11,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $194,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,153 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.61% of the home’s value, vs 0.72% across Montana.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Montana$2,693
Lima$1,153
$1,153
typical bill a year
0.61%
effective rate
$189,100
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Lima

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

Check Lima’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Lima yet.
The school district

Lima K-12 Schools

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

Schools in Lima →
$26,311
per pupil · MT $13,570
61
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $26,311 per pupil, $15,475 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 48%State 41%Federal 11%

Montana districts overall: 44% local, 39% state, 17% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Lima’s votes are counted by county

Montana reports official results by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Lima alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Beaverhead County’s results.

President · Beaverhead County’s results5,794 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican70.0%4,058 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat26.6%1,543 votes

Others: 3.3% (193 votes).

Most votes in Beaverhead County: Donald J Trump

Montana: Trump 58.4%, Harris 38.5%

The county’s page

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

Beaverhead 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 Lima

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Lima.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Montana HouseState representatives
    Shannon Maness
  3. 3
    Montana SenateState senator
    Tony Tezak
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Greg Gianforte
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Ryan K. Zinke
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Montana
    Steve DainesTim Sheehy

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

Reach Lima’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Lima’s government

How much does Lima spend per resident?

About $366 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $366 was less than 80% of 51 Montana cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Lima?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,153 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.61% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.72% across Montana. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the town’s assessor.

Who runs Lima’s government?

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

How did Lima vote in 2024?

Montana counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Lima alone. Beaverhead County, where 100% of Lima lies, voted Trump 70.0%, Harris 26.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Lima?

0 full-time and 7 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $2,028 (about $24,336 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Lima in the state legislature?

State Senate District 35 (Tony Tezak) and State House District 70 (Shannon Maness). The House district also covers 1 neighboring town. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Lima’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 →