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Ainsworth, Nebraska feed millPhoto: Ammodramus · Public domain
Town Hall · Ainsworth

Ainsworth spent more per resident in 2022 than 90% of similar cities

Ainsworth’s city government spent $3.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $2,203 per resident. Water and other utilities ($265,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$3.6M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$2,203
In 2022: $2,203, more than 90% of 472 similar cities
Long-term debt
$310,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
11
full-time · 12 part-time · March payroll $51,421
Typical tax bill
$1,239
1.15% of home value · NE 1.49%

What stands out about how Ainsworth is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $2,203 per resident, more than 90% of 472 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer21% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Ainsworth Community Schools with 2 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,239 a year: 1.15% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Nebraska.
Compared with similar places

$2,203 per resident in 2022: more than 90% of them

Ainsworth’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,203 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 472 Nebraska cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,038, and the middle half spent $774–$1,450. Ainsworth spent more than 90% of them.

Middle half of the group, $774–$1,450Median $1,038Ainsworth

Includes sewer and trash ($550,000), 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
472

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $2,203 per resident a year, or $6.04 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: housing & development, at 39%.

Where the money comes from
From the federal government 55%Fees & charges 14%Sales taxes 9%Property taxes 8%Utility sales 7%From the state 7%Interest, fines & other 1%From other local governments 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $3.7 million; interest on debt $8,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $7.6 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,239 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.15% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Nebraska.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Nebraska$3,549
Ainsworth$1,239
$1,239
typical bill a year
1.15%
effective rate
$107,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Ainsworth

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

See cityofainsworth.com for Ainsworth’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Ainsworth yet.cityofainsworth.com ↗
Agendas

Ainsworth’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofainsworth.com ↗.

Who works for Ainsworth

One full-time city employee for every 148 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 (1,630).

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

Administration & buildings3 + 6 pt
Roads & transportation3
Parks & libraries2 + 2 pt
Sewer & trash1 + 4 pt
Water & other utilities2
11
full-time
12
part-time
$51,421
payroll for March 2022
$617,052
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$48,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Ainsworth had 6.7 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 364 of the 472 Nebraska cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 4.0: Ainsworth had more than 69% 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

Ainsworth Community Schools

Ainsworth’s K–12 school district, shared with Johnstown, Long Pine. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Ainsworth →
$21,275
per pupil · NE $15,602
389
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $21,275 per pupil, $12,409 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 69%State 24%Federal 7%

Nebraska districts overall: 56% local, 34% state, 10% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Ainsworth’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Brown County’s results1,642 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican87.0%1,428 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat12.2%201 votes

Others: 0.8% (13 votes).

Most votes in Brown County: Donald J Trump

Nebraska: Trump 59.3%, Harris 38.9%

The county’s page

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

Brown 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 Ainsworth

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Ainsworth.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofainsworth.com ↗
  2. 2
    Nebraska SenateState senator
    Tanya Storer
  3. 3
    GovernorStatewide
    Jim Pillen
  4. 4
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Adrian Smith
  5. 5
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Nebraska
    Deb FischerPete Ricketts

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

Reach Ainsworth’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofainsworth.com ↗

Questions about Ainsworth’s government

How much does Ainsworth spend per resident?

About $2,203 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $2,203 was more than 90% of 472 Nebraska cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Ainsworth?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,239 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.15% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.49% across Nebraska. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofainsworth.com.

Who runs Ainsworth’s government?

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

How did Ainsworth vote in 2024?

Nebraska counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Ainsworth alone. Brown County, where 100% of Ainsworth lies, voted Trump 87.0%, Harris 12.2% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Ainsworth?

11 full-time and 12 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $51,421 (about $617,052 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Ainsworth in the state legislature?

State Senate District 43 (Tanya Storer). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Ainsworth’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 →