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Town Hall · Pinesdale

Pinesdale spent less per resident in 2022 than 94% of similar cities

Pinesdale’s town government spent $155,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $149 per resident. Water and other utilities ($137,000) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$155,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$149
In 2022: $149, less than 94% of 51 similar cities
Long-term debt
$700,000
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
1
full-time · 2 part-time · March payroll $5,166
Typical tax bill
$1,161
0.50% of home value · MT 0.72%

What stands out about how Pinesdale is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $149 per resident, less than 94% of 51 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer47% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,161 a year: 0.50% of the home’s value, vs 0.72% across Montana.
Compared with similar places

$149 per resident in 2022: less than 94% of them

Pinesdale’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($149 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. Pinesdale spent less than 94% of them.

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

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; Pinesdale itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $149 per resident a year, or $0.41 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 25%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 53%From the federal government 36%Property taxes 8%Interest, fines & other 2%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $110,000; interest on debt $30,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $432,000.
About “Other”.37% of Pinesdale’s day-to-day spending ($57,000) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,161 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.50% of the home’s value, vs 0.72% across Montana.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Montana$2,693
Pinesdale$1,161
$1,161
typical bill a year
0.50%
effective rate
$230,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Pinesdale

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

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

One full-time town employee for every 1,038 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 (1,038).

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

Water & other utilities1
Administration & buildings0 + 1 pt
Police0 + 1 pt
1
full-time
2
part-time
$5,166
payroll for March 2022
$61,992
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$37,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Pinesdale had 1.0 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 43 of the 51 Montana cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 5.8: Pinesdale had fewer than 79% 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

Corvallis K-12 Schools

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

Schools in Pinesdale →
$11,035
per pupil · MT $13,570
1,412
students
$513,000
long-term debt

Of the $11,035 per pupil, $6,911 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 50%State 44%Federal 6%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Pinesdale’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Ravalli County’s results29,904 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican68.9%20,617 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat28.4%8,485 votes

Others: 2.7% (802 votes).

Most votes in Ravalli County: Donald J Trump

Montana: Trump 58.4%, Harris 38.5%

The county’s page

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

Ravalli 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 Pinesdale

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Pinesdale.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Montana HouseState representatives
    Terry Nelson
  3. 3
    Montana SenateState senator
    Theresa Manzella
  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 Pinesdale’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Pinesdale’s government

How much does Pinesdale spend per resident?

About $149 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 $149 was less than 94% of 51 Montana cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Pinesdale?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,161 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.50% 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 Pinesdale’s government?

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

How did Pinesdale vote in 2024?

Montana counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Pinesdale alone. Ravalli County, where 100% of Pinesdale lies, voted Trump 68.9%, Harris 28.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Pinesdale?

1 full-time and 2 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $5,166 (about $61,992 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Pinesdale in the state legislature?

State Senate District 44 (Theresa Manzella) and State House District 87 (Terry Nelson). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Pinesdale’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 →