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Boone NC - King StreetPhoto: Jeremy Mikkola from Boone, NC · CC BY 2.0
Town Hall · Boone

Boone spent less per resident in 2022 than 97% of similar cities

Boone’s town government spent $156,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $8 per resident. Water and other utilities ($5.7 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in North Carolina.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$156,000
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$8
In 2022: $8, less than 97% of 36 similar cities
Long-term debt
$29.5M
end of FY2024, reported
Town staff, 2022
193
full-time · 14 part-time · March payroll $800,895
Typical tax bill
$2,272
0.55% of home value · NC 0.66%

What stands out about how Boone is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $8 per resident, less than 97% of 36 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer97% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Watauga County Schools with 3 other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

  • Nov3
    Historic Preservation CommissionTuesday · 3:00 pm · Planning & Inspections Conference Room, 680 W. King Street Ste. CHistoric Preservation Commission Advisory MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Nov5
    Board of AdjustmentThursday · 5:30 pm · Town Council Chambers, 1500 Blowing Rock RoadBoard of Adjustment - CANCELEDMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Nov10
    Historic Preservation CommissionTuesday · 3:00 pm · Planning & Inspections Conference Room, 680 W. King Street Ste. CHistoric Preservation Commission Quasi-Judicial MeetingMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Nov18
    Town CouncilWednesday · 9:00 am · Town Council Chambers, 1500 Blowing Rock RoadTown Council Special MeetingMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Nov18
    Human Relations CommissionWednesday · 6:00 pm · Town Council Chambers, 1500 Blowing Rock RoadMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Nov23
    Town Council/Planning Commission Public HearingMonday · 6:00 pm · Town Council Chambers, 1500 Blowing Rock RoadMeeting page ↗Add to calendar

Recent meetings

  • Oct28
    Town CouncilWednesday · 5:00 pm · Town Council Chambers, 1500 Blowing Rock RoadTown Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct27
    Downtown Boone Development AssociationTuesday · 8:30 am · Jones House Cultural and Community Center, 604 W. King StreetAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct26
    Town Council/Planning Commission Public HearingMonday · 6:00 pm · Town Council Chambers, 1500 Blowing Rock RoadAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct26
    Planning CommissionMonday · 6:00 pm · Town Council Chambers, 1500 Blowing Rock RoadAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct23
    ABC BoardFriday · 2:00 pm · ABC Board Room, 2067 Blowing Rock RoadMeeting page ↗
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 $8 per resident a year, or $0.02 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: health & welfare, at 71%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 87%Sales taxes 13%Interest, fines & other <1%
Not in the receipt.Payments to other governments $20,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $5.8 million.
Compared with similar places

$8 per resident in 2022: less than 97% of them

Boone’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($8 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 36 North Carolina cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,150, and the middle half spent $819–$1,468. Boone spent less than 97% of them.

Middle half of the group, $819–$1,468Median $1,150Boone

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

The group
36

North Carolina cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Boone itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 3% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Boone reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$152,000
2023$154,000
2024$156,000

Per resident: 2022: $8 · 2023: $9 · 2024: $8.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,272 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.55% of the home’s value, vs 0.66% across North Carolina.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Boone$2,272
North Carolina$1,896
$2,272
typical bill a year
0.55%
effective rate
$411,100
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Boone

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

See townofboone.net for Boone’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Boone yet.townofboone.net ↗
Who works for Boone

One full-time town employee for every 102 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (19,756).

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

Police38
Fire29
Administration & buildings27 + 2 pt
Water & other utilities21
Sewer & trash17
Roads & transportation10
Parks & libraries3 + 5 pt
Other48 + 7 pt
193
full-time
14
part-time
$800,895
payroll for March 2022
$9.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$48,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
37
sworn police officers
28
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Boone had 9.6 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 32 of the 36 North Carolina cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 10.6: Boone had fewer than 59% 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

Watauga County Schools

Boone’s K–12 school district, shared with Blowing Rock, Beech Mountain, Seven Devils. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Boone →
$13,322
per pupil · NC $13,045
4,746
students
$43.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,322 per pupil, $8,467 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 29%State 60%Federal 11%

North Carolina districts overall: 26% local, 57% state, 17% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Boone’s votes are counted by county

North Carolina reports official results by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Boone alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Watauga County’s results.

President · Watauga County’s results33,095 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat52.0%17,225 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican46.1%15,254 votes

Others: 1.9% (616 votes).

Most votes in Watauga County: Kamala D Harris

North Carolina: Trump 50.9%, Harris 47.6%

The county’s page

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

Watauga 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 Boone

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Boone.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Officials: townofboone.net ↗
  2. 2
    North Carolina HouseBoone is split between 2 districts
    Ray PickettDestin Hall
  3. 3
    North Carolina SenateState senator
    Ralph Hise
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Josh Stein
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Virginia Foxx
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of North Carolina
    Thom TillisTed Budd
Find your state legislators by address ↗

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

Reach Boone’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitetownofboone.net ↗

Questions about Boone’s government

How much does Boone spend per resident?

About $8 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $8 was less than 97% of 36 North Carolina cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Boone?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,272 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.55% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.66% across North Carolina. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see townofboone.net.

Who runs Boone’s government?

See townofboone.net for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Boone yet.

How did Boone vote in 2024?

North Carolina counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Boone alone. Watauga County, where 100% of Boone lies, voted Harris 52.0%, Trump 46.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Boone?

193 full-time and 14 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $800,895 (about $9.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Boone in the state legislature?

Boone is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The North Carolina Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 47 (Ralph Hise). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Boone?

The next posted meeting is Historic Preservation Commission on Tuesday, November 3, at 3:00 pm in Planning & Inspections Conference Room, 680 W. King Street Ste. C, from the town’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Boone’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 →