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Atkinson, Nebraska downtown 2Photo: Ammodramus · Public domain
Town Hall · Atkinson

Atkinson spent more per resident in 2022 than 89% of similar cities

Atkinson’s city government spent $2.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $2,198 per resident. Water and other utilities ($398,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Nebraska.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$2.7M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$2,198
In 2022: $2,198, more than 89% of 472 similar cities
Long-term debt
$1.3M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2025
11
full-time · 10 part-time · March payroll $52,664
Typical tax bill
$1,700
0.98% of home value · NE 1.49%

What stands out about how Atkinson is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $2,198 per resident, more than 89% of 472 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer24% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares West Holt Public Schools with 6+ other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,700 a year: 0.98% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Nebraska.
Compared with similar places

$2,198 per resident in 2022: more than 89% of them

Atkinson’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,198 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. Atkinson spent more than 89% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($357,000), 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; Atkinson itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $2,198 per resident a year, or $6.02 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: housing & development, at 26%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 42%Utility sales 14%Sales taxes 11%Other taxes & licenses 9%Property taxes 8%From the state 8%Interest, fines & other 6%From other local governments 2%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.7 million; interest on debt $36,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $4.9 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

City staff
11

full-time in March 2025, down from 13 in 2022.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,700 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.98% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Nebraska.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Nebraska$3,549
Atkinson$1,700
$1,700
typical bill a year
0.98%
effective rate
$174,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Atkinson

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

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

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

Who works for Atkinson

One full-time city employee for every 111 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (1,221).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Administration & buildings2 + 7 pt
Roads & transportation3
Police2 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries1 + 2 pt
Housing & development1
Sewer & trash1
Water & other utilities1
11
full-time
10
part-time
$52,664
payroll for March 2025
$631,968
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$49,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
2
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Atkinson had 10.6 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: Atkinson had more than 85% 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

West Holt Public Schools

Atkinson’s K–12 school district, shared with Dustin Township, Francis Township, Holt Creek Township, Sand Creek Township, Sheridan Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Atkinson →
$18,641
per pupil · NE $15,602
432
students
$3 million
long-term debt

Of the $18,641 per pupil, $11,840 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 71%State 23%Federal 6%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Atkinson’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Holt County’s results5,442 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican86.5%4,708 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat12.5%681 votes

Others: 1.0% (53 votes).

Most votes in Holt County: Donald J Trump

Nebraska: Trump 59.3%, Harris 38.9%

The county’s page

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

Holt 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 Atkinson

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Atkinson.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: atkinsonne.com ↗
  2. 2
    Nebraska SenateState senator
    Barry DeKay
  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 Atkinson’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteatkinsonne.com ↗

Questions about Atkinson’s government

How much does Atkinson spend per resident?

About $2,198 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 $2,198 was more than 89% of 472 Nebraska cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Atkinson?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,700 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.98% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.49% across Nebraska. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see atkinsonne.com.

Who runs Atkinson’s government?

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

How did Atkinson vote in 2024?

Nebraska counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Atkinson alone. Holt County, where 100% of Atkinson lies, voted Trump 86.5%, Harris 12.5% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Atkinson?

11 full-time and 10 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $52,664 (about $631,968 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Atkinson in the state legislature?

State Senate District 40 (Barry DeKay). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Atkinson’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 →