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Richland county courthousePhoto: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0
Town Hall · Sidney

How is Sidney run?

Sidney’s city government spent $5.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $901 per resident. These are Census Bureau estimates: Sidney didn’t report its figures, so this page shows them without comparisons.

Town website
Next public meeting

City Council

6:30 pm · 115 2nd St Se

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$5.6M
year to June 30, 2024 · Census estimate
Per resident, 2024
$901
Census estimate · not compared
Long-term debt
$10.7M
end of FY2024 · Census estimate
City staff, 2022
35
full-time · 1 part-time · March payroll $172,196 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$2,150
0.91% of home value · MT 0.72%

What stands out about how Sidney is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer40% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (a Census estimate).Its own police and fire10 sworn officers and 1 full-time firefighters on the payroll.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $2,150 a year: 0.91% of the home’s value, vs 0.72% across Montana.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Sidney’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $901 per resident a year, or $2.47 a day

Day-to-day services only (a Census Bureau estimate). The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 30%.

Where the money comes from
Interest, fines & other 28%Fees & charges 24%Utility sales 18%Property taxes 17%From the state 13%Other taxes & licenses <1%
An estimate

Sidney didn’t report all of its 2024 figures to the Census Bureau, so most of these numbers are the Bureau’s estimates.

Not in the receipt.Building projects $2.8 million; interest on debt $298,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $9.6 million.
Compared with similar places · Over the years

No comparison or trend for Sidney yet

Every year of Sidney’s figures is a Census Bureau estimate: the city reported none of its dollars for 2022–2024. Estimates are shown above, labeled, but never ranked against places that reported or drawn as a trend.

How Town Hall compares budgets →
Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,150 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.91% of the home’s value, vs 0.72% across Montana.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Montana$2,693
Sidney$2,150
$2,150
typical bill a year
0.91%
effective rate
$236,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Sidney

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

See cityofsidneymt.com for Sidney’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Sidney yet.cityofsidneymt.com ↗
Who works for Sidney

One full-time city employee for every 176 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (6,167).

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

Police10
Administration & buildings8
Sewer & trash8
Roads & transportation4
Water & other utilities3
Parks & libraries1 + 1 pt
Fire1
35
full-time
1
part-time
$172,196
payroll for March 2022
$2.1M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$58,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
10
sworn police officers
1
full-time firefighters
Estimates.Sidney didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

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

Sidney Elementary School District

Sidney’s elementary school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Sidney →
$12,715
per pupil · MT $13,570
852
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $12,715 per pupil, $7,232 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 36%State 53%Federal 11%

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

Also serving Sidney

Sidney High School District · $19,825 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Sidney’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Richland County’s results5,309 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican82.6%4,387 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat14.7%778 votes

Others: 2.7% (144 votes).

Most votes in Richland County: Donald J Trump

Montana: Trump 58.4%, Harris 38.5%

The county’s page

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

Richland 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 Sidney

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Sidney.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofsidneymt.com ↗
  2. 2
    Montana HouseState representatives
    Morgan Thiel
  3. 3
    Montana SenateState senator
    Gregg Hunter
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Greg Gianforte
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Troy Downing
  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 Sidney’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofsidneymt.com ↗

Questions about Sidney’s government

How much does Sidney spend per resident?

About $901 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, a Census Bureau estimate (Sidney didn’t report its figures). With building projects and interest, the whole budget was about $9.6 million.

What is the property tax rate in Sidney?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,150 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.91% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.72% across Montana. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofsidneymt.com.

Who runs Sidney’s government?

See cityofsidneymt.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Sidney yet.

How did Sidney vote in 2024?

Montana counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Sidney alone. Richland County, where 100% of Sidney lies, voted Trump 82.6%, Harris 14.7% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Sidney?

35 full-time and 1 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $172,196 (about $2.1M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Sidney in the state legislature?

State Senate District 15 (Gregg Hunter) and State House District 30 (Morgan Thiel). The House district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Sidney?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Monday, November 2, at 6:30 pm in 115 2nd St Se, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Sidney’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 (for Sidney, the Bureau’s estimates); 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 →