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Town Hall · Star

How is Star run?

Star’s town government spent $891,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,049 per resident. Water and other utilities ($136,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in North Carolina.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$891,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,049
In 2022: $1,049, more than 63% of 221 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
5
full-time · 3 part-time · March payroll $17,256
Typical tax bill
$1,223
0.90% of home value · NC 0.66%

What stands out about how Star is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,049 per resident a year, or $2.87 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 32%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 26%From the state 20%Sales taxes 19%Utility sales 19%Fees & charges 9%Interest, fines & other 7%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $124,000; interest on debt $3,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $1.2 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,049 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Star’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,049 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 221 North Carolina cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $800, and the middle half spent $425–$1,365. Star spent more than 63% of them.

Middle half of the group, $425–$1,365Median $800Star

Includes sewer and trash ($209,000), 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
221

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

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,223 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.90% of the home’s value, vs 0.66% across North Carolina.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

North Carolina$1,896
Star$1,223
$1,223
typical bill a year
0.90%
effective rate
$136,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Star

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

See starnc.gov for Star’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Star yet.starnc.gov ↗
Agendas

Star’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on starnc.gov ↗.

Who works for Star

One full-time town employee for every 170 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 (849).

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

Police4 + 1 pt
Sewer & trash1
Administration & buildings0 + 1 pt
Water & other utilities0 + 1 pt
5
full-time
3
part-time
$17,256
payroll for March 2022
$207,072
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$36,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
4
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Star had 5.9 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 196 of the 221 North Carolina cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.1: Star had fewer than 51% 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

Montgomery County Schools

Star’s K–12 school district, shared with Biscoe, Mount Gilead, Troy, Candor. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Star →
$14,286
per pupil · NC $13,045
3,648
students
$1.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,286 per pupil, $8,149 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 16%State 58%Federal 26%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Star’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 Star alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Montgomery County’s results.

President · Montgomery County’s results13,179 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican68.5%9,026 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat30.7%4,045 votes

Others: 0.8% (108 votes).

Most votes in Montgomery County: Donald J Trump

North Carolina: Trump 50.9%, Harris 47.6%

The county’s page

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

Montgomery 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 Star

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Star.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Officials: starnc.gov ↗
  2. 2
    North Carolina HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    North Carolina SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of North Carolina

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

Reach Star’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Star’s government

How much does Star spend per resident?

About $1,049 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 $1,049 was more than 63% of 221 North Carolina cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Star?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,223 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.90% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.66% across North Carolina. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see starnc.gov.

Who runs Star’s government?

See starnc.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Star yet.

How did Star vote in 2024?

North Carolina counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Star alone. Montgomery County, where 100% of Star lies, voted Trump 68.5%, Harris 30.7% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Star?

5 full-time and 3 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $17,256 (about $207,072 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Star in the state legislature?

State Senate District 29 (Dave Craven) and State House District 67 (Cody Huneycutt). The House district also covers 14 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Star’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 →