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Athens State Hospital Cow BarnAthens State Hospital Cow Barn · Photo: Ed!(Hall of Fame) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Athens

Athens spent less per resident in 2022 than 98% of similar cities

Athens’ city government spent $21.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,020 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.5 million) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Ohio.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$21.2M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,020
In 2022: $356, less than 98% of 61 similar cities
Long-term debt
$42.8M
end of 2024, reported
City staff, 2022
160
full-time · 43 part-time · March payroll $978,509
Typical tax bill
$3,447
1.40% of home value · OH 1.31%

What stands out about how Athens is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $356 per resident, less than 98% of 61 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer28% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Athens City School District with 4 other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Athens’ 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 $1,020 per resident a year, or $2.79 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 23%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 49%Utility sales 22%Income taxes 11%From the federal government 7%Property taxes 5%Interest, fines & other 4%Sales taxes 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $4.6 million; interest on debt $1.2 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $29.3 million.
Compared with similar places

$356 per resident in 2022: less than 98% of them

Athens’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($356 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 61 Ohio cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,165, and the middle half spent $988–$1,535. Athens spent less than 98% of them.

Middle half of the group, $988–$1,535Median $1,165Athens

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

The group
61

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

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 142% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$8.8 million
2024$21.2 million

Per resident: 2022: $356 · 2024: $1,020. Per resident it went from $356 to $1,020 (up 187%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 24,600 to 20,820.

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 $3,447 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.40% of the home’s value, vs 1.31% across Ohio.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Athens$3,447
Ohio$2,822
$3,447
typical bill a year
1.40%
effective rate
$247,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Athens

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

Check Athens’ own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Athens yet.
Who works for Athens

One full-time city employee for every 130 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 (20,820).

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

Police30 + 9 pt
Administration & buildings18 + 12 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections21
Fire19 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries10 + 19 pt
Roads & transportation17 + 1 pt
Sewer & trash17
Water & other utilities15
Other13 + 1 pt
160
full-time
43
part-time
$978,509
payroll for March 2022
$11.7M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$70,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
27
sworn police officers
19
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Athens had 6.5 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 54 of the 61 Ohio cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 8.2: Athens had fewer than 72% 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

Athens City School District

Athens’ K–12 school district, shared with Chauncey, Dover Township, Athens Township, Canaan Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Athens →
$17,117
per pupil · OH $16,610
2,304
students
$45.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $17,117 per pupil, $11,011 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 74%State 19%Federal 7%

Ohio districts overall: 53% local, 35% state, 12% federal.

Also serving Athens

Federal Hocking Local School District · $19,477 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Athens’ votes are counted by county

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

President · Athens County’s results25,726 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat54.9%14,134 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican44.2%11,369 votes

Others: 0.9% (223 votes).

Most votes in Athens County: Kamala D Harris

Ohio: Trump 55.1%, Harris 43.9%

The county’s page

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

Athens 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 Athens

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Athens.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Ohio HouseState representatives
    Ty Moore
  3. 3
    Ohio SenateState senator
    Brian Chavez
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Mike DeWine
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Troy Balderson
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Ohio
    Bernie MorenoJon Husted

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

Reach Athens’ government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Athens’ government

How much does Athens spend per resident?

About $1,020 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $356 was less than 98% of 61 Ohio cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Athens?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,447 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.40% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.31% across Ohio. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who runs Athens’ government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Athens yet.

How did Athens vote in 2024?

Ohio counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Athens alone. Athens County, where 100% of Athens lies, voted Harris 54.9%, Trump 44.2% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Athens?

160 full-time and 43 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $978,509 (about $11.7M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Athens in the state legislature?

State Senate District 30 (Brian Chavez) and State House District 95 (Ty Moore). The House district also covers 98 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Athens?

The next posted meeting is Planning Commission on Wednesday, November 4, at 12:00 pm in 8 East Washington Street, City Council Chambers, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Athens’ 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 →