Photo: Nyttend · Public domainIn Independence, 82% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Ohio
Independence’s city government spent $43.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2023, about $5,817 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau.
What stands out about how Independence is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
One full-time city employee for every 51 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (7,523).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
About $5,817 per resident a year, or $15.94 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: fire, at 22%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No comparison or trend for Independence yet
The fair comparison uses 2022, the last year the Census Bureau counted every government (later years are a sample), and Independence’s 2022 figures are a Census estimate (it reported none of its 2022 dollars). It reported 2023 only (2022 and 2024 are estimates), so there is no trend yet either. The next full count is 2027.
How Town Hall compares budgets →full-time in March 2025, up from 145 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
The typical homeowner pays $4,870 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.57% of the home’s value, vs 1.31% across Ohio.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Independence’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 Independence’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Independence →
Who’s in charge in Independence
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Independence’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on independenceohio.org ↗.
Independence Local School District
Independence’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $21,660 per pupil, $13,560 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.
Ohio districts overall: 53% local, 35% state, 12% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Independence voted in 2024
Official results for Independence’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Donald J TrumpRepublican60.5%3,020 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat38.6%1,928 votesOthers: 0.9% (47 votes).
Most votes in Independence: Donald J Trump
Cuyahoga County: Harris 65.4%, Trump 33.9% · Ohio: Trump 55.1%, Harris 43.9%
of Independence’s 6,065 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Ohio: 64%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Independence: Bernie Moreno
Cuyahoga County: Brown 67.5%, Moreno 30.0% · Ohio: Moreno 50.1%, Brown 46.5%
Most votes in the district: Max Miller
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Independence, its county and the state
| Trump | Harris | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | 60.5% | 38.6% | 0.9% | 4,995 |
| Cuyahoga County | 33.9% | 65.4% | 0.8% | 575,890 |
| Ohio | 55.1% | 43.9% | 0.9% | 5,767,788 |
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.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Independence.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: independenceohio.org ↗
- 2Ohio HouseState representatives
- 3Ohio SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Ohio
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Independence compares with the towns next door
Independence’s 2022 figures are a Census estimate, so it isn’t placed among them. Neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,395 to $5,712 per resident. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Seven Hills | $1,395 | $5,278 |
| Brecksville | $1,898 | $7,271 |
| Brooklyn Heights | $4,241 | $3,336 |
| Cuyahoga Heights | $5,080 | $2,606 |
| Valley View | $5,712 | $4,060 |
| Independence | estimate | $4,870 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Independence’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Independence’s government
How much does Independence spend per resident?
About $5,817 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau.
What is the property tax rate in Independence?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,870 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.57% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.31% across Ohio. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see independenceohio.org.
Who runs Independence’s government?
See independenceohio.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Independence yet.
How did Independence vote in 2024?
For president, Donald J Trump 60.5%, Kamala D Harris 38.6% (4,995 votes, official results). Cuyahoga County: Harris 65.4%, Trump 33.9%. Ohio: Trump 55.1%, Harris 43.9%.
How many people work for Independence?
147 full-time and 162 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.6M (about $19.4M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Independence in the state legislature?
State Senate District 18 (Jerry Cirino) and State House District 19 (Phil Robinson). The House district also covers 19 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Independence’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
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 →