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Downtown Kenton - panoramioPhoto: Art Anderson · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Kenton

Kenton spent less per resident in 2022 than 67% of similar cities

Kenton’s city government spent $6.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $768 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.3 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Ohio.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$6.3M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$768
In 2022: $768, less than 67% of 106 similar cities
Long-term debt
$4.1M
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
82
full-time · 1 part-time · March payroll $284,284
Typical tax bill
$1,273
1.19% of home value · OH 1.31%

What stands out about how Kenton is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$768 per resident in 2022: less than 67% of them

Kenton’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($768 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 106 Ohio cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $925, and the middle half spent $666–$1,261. Kenton spent less than 67% of them.

Middle half of the group, $666–$1,261Median $925Kenton

Includes sewer and trash ($1.7 million), 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
106

Ohio cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Kenton itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $768 per resident a year, or $2.10 a day

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

Where the money comes from
Income taxes 28%Fees & charges 24%From the state 23%Utility sales 13%Interest, fines & other 4%Property taxes 3%From other local governments 3%From the federal government 1%Sales taxes 1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $2.2 million; interest on debt $112,000; payments to other governments $119,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $10 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,273 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.19% of the home’s value, vs 1.31% across Ohio.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Ohio$2,822
Pleasant Township$1,510
Kenton$1,273
Buck Township$941
$1,273
typical bill a year
1.19%
effective rate
$107,100
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Kenton

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

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

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

Who works for Kenton

One full-time city employee for every 100 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 (8,216).

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

Administration & buildings20
Police17
Courts, inspections & corrections12
Fire11
Water & other utilities9
Sewer & trash7
Roads & transportation6
Parks & libraries0 + 1 pt
82
full-time
1
part-time
$284,284
payroll for March 2022
$3.4M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$41,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
17
sworn police officers
11
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Kenton had 10.0 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 99 of the 106 Ohio cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.8: Kenton had more than 82% 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

Kenton City School District

Kenton’s K–12 school district, shared with Goshen Township, Lynn Township, Pleasant Township, Buck Township, Dudley Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Kenton →
$14,368
per pupil · OH $16,610
1,843
students
$41.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,368 per pupil, $8,794 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 34%State 58%Federal 9%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Kenton voted in 2024

Official results for Kenton’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President2,855 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican73.0%2,084 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat26.3%750 votes

Others: 0.7% (21 votes).

Most votes in Kenton: Donald J Trump

Hardin County: Trump 76.9%, Harris 22.2% · Ohio: Trump 55.1%, Harris 43.9%

Turnout
48%

of Kenton’s 5,990 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Ohio: 64%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate2,831 votes
Bernie MorenoRepublican63.6%
Sherrod BrownDemocrat30.9%
Others5.5%

Most votes in Kenton: Bernie Moreno

Hardin County: Moreno 69.1%, Brown 26.3% · Ohio: Moreno 50.1%, Brown 46.5%

U.S. House · Ohio’s 4th District399,202 votes
Jim JordanRepublican68.5%
Tamie WilsonDemocrat31.5%

Most votes in the district: Jim Jordan

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Kenton, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Kenton73.0%26.3%0.7%2,855
Hardin County76.9%22.2%0.9%12,893
Ohio55.1%43.9%0.9%5,767,788
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 Kenton

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Kenton.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Ohio HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Ohio SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Ohio

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

Next door

How Kenton compares with the towns next door

Kenton spent $768 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $126. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Buck Township$126$941
Pleasant Townshipestimate$1,510
Kenton$768$1,273

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 Kenton’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Kenton’s government

How much does Kenton spend per resident?

About $768 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $768 was less than 67% of 106 Ohio cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Kenton?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,273 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.19% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.31% across Ohio. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see kentoncity.com.

Who runs Kenton’s government?

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

How did Kenton vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 73.0%, Kamala D Harris 26.3% (2,855 votes, official results). Hardin County: Trump 76.9%, Harris 22.2%. Ohio: Trump 55.1%, Harris 43.9%.

How many people work for Kenton?

82 full-time and 1 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $284,284 (about $3.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Kenton in the state legislature?

State Senate District 1 (Rob McColley) and State House District 83 (Ty Mathews). The House district also covers 66 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Kenton’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 →