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Wintersmith Park Historic DistrictWintersmith Park Historic District · Photo: Brad Holt · CC BY-SA 2.0
Town Hall · Ada

Ada spent more per resident in 2022 than 85% of similar cities

Ada’s city government spent $24.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,424 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. It also runs a hospital ($64,000) and water utilities ($4 million), counted separately. Census Bureau figures.

Town website
Next public meeting

City Council

5:45 pm · City Council Chamber, City Hall, 231 South Townsend St.

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$24.5M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,424
In 2022: $1,424, more than 85% of 27 similar cities
Long-term debt
$36.0M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2025
231
full-time, hospital & welfare staff apart (233 in all) · March payroll $1.2M · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$1,221
0.72% of home value · OK 0.80%

What stands out about how Ada is run

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

Runs a hospital$64,000 for a hospital the city runs in 2022, shown apart from day-to-day spending.Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,424 per resident, more than 85% of 27 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer42% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).
★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,424 per resident a year, or $3.90 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 33%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 48%Fees & charges 20%Utility sales 19%From the state 6%Interest, fines & other 4%Other taxes & licenses 1%Property taxes <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $9.8 million; interest on debt $879,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $39.7 million.
Why the hospital is apart.The Census Bureau counts the hospital it runs in the city’s books ($64,000, 0% of all operations). Only 135 of the 11,301 towns and cities of 2,500+ run one (Census finance files), so it is shown here and left out of every per-resident comparison.
Compared with similar places

$1,424 per resident in 2022: more than 85% of them

Ada’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,424 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 27 Oklahoma cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,025, and the middle half spent $820–$1,268. Ada spent more than 85% of them.

Middle half of the group, $820–$1,268Median $1,025Ada

Includes sewer and trash ($8.1 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
27

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

Over the years

No trend yet

Ada reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau (2023, 2024 are estimates), so there is no trend yet.

City staff
231

full-time in March 2025 (hospital, health & welfare left out), up from 216 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,221 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.72% of the home’s value, vs 0.80% across Oklahoma.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Oklahoma$1,599
Ada$1,221
Byng$1,177
$1,221
typical bill a year
0.72%
effective rate
$169,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Ada’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Oct19
    Ada Public Works AuthorityMonday · 5:45 pm · City Council Chamber, City Hall, 231 South Townsend St.Ada Public Works Authority MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct19
    City CouncilMonday · 5:45 pm · City Council Chamber, City Hall, 231 South Townsend St.City Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct15
    Ada Municipal Planning CommissionThursday · 6:00 pm · Dr. Ray L. Stout City Council ChamberAda Municipal Planning Commission MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    GeneralTuesday · 5:30 pm · Irving Community Center, 530 West 5thCity Council Special MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct5
    City CouncilMonday · 5:45 pm · City Council Chamber, City Hall, 231 South Townsend St.City Council MeetingAgenda ↗Minutes ↗Meeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Ada

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

See adaok.com for Ada’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Ada yet.adaok.com ↗
Who works for Ada

One full-time city employee for every 75 residents, not counting hospital, health & welfare staff

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 2022 finance file (17,239).

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

Sewer & trash43
Roads & transportation39
Police36
Fire33
Administration & buildings24
Parks & libraries18 + 6 pt
Water & other utilities6
Housing & development3 + 1 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections2 + 2 pt
Other27 + 4 pt
Run separately
Hospital, health & welfare2 + 0 pt
231
full-time, hospital, health & welfare apart
13
part-time
$1.2M
payroll for March 2025
$14.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$60,600
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
33
sworn police officers
31
full-time firefighters
The hospital.The 2 full-time hospital, health & welfare staff include the hospital the city runs, so they are counted apart, as the hospitals are in the budget. The payroll figures cover every employee, the hospital’s included: the Census file doesn’t split pay by function.
Compared, 2022.Ada had 12.5 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022 (hospital, health & welfare left out, and the same for any peer that runs a hospital). The median for the 25 of the 27 Oklahoma cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 9.5: Ada had more than 76% 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

Ada Public Schools

Ada’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Ada →
$11,575
per pupil · OK $12,210
2,660
students
$8.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $11,575 per pupil, $6,871 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 41%State 47%Federal 12%

Oklahoma districts overall: 42% local, 45% state, 14% federal.

Also serving Ada

Byng Public Schools · $11,320 per pupil

Stonewall Public Schools · $16,289 per pupil

Latta Public Schools · $12,273 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Ada’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Pontotoc County’s results15,174 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican72.3%10,967 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat25.7%3,895 votes

Others: 2.1% (312 votes).

Most votes in Pontotoc County: Donald J Trump

Oklahoma: Trump 66.2%, Harris 31.9%

The county’s page

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

Pontotoc 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 Ada

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Ada.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: adaok.com ↗
  2. 2
    Oklahoma HouseState representatives
    Ronny Johns
  3. 3
    Oklahoma SenateState senator
    Jonathan Wingard
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kevin Stitt
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Tom Cole
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Oklahoma
    James LankfordAlan Armstrong

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

Next door

How Ada compares with the towns next door

Ada spent $1,424 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Fittstown: unincorporated, no town budgetByng: no reported 2022 figuresFittstownByngAda
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Byngestimate$1,177
Ada$1,424$1,221

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 Ada’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteadaok.com ↗

Questions about Ada’s government

How much does Ada spend per resident?

About $1,424 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. Ada also runs a hospital ($64,000), counted separately. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,424 was more than 85% of 27 Oklahoma cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Ada?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,221 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.72% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.80% across Oklahoma. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see adaok.com.

Who runs Ada’s government?

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

How did Ada vote in 2024?

Oklahoma counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Ada alone. Pontotoc County, where 100% of Ada lies, voted Trump 72.3%, Harris 25.7% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Ada?

231 full-time and 13 part-time employees in March 2025 (plus 2 full-time hospital, health & welfare staff), with a March payroll of $1.2M (about $14.3M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Ada in the state legislature?

State Senate District 13 (Jonathan Wingard) and State House District 25 (Ronny Johns). The House district also covers eight other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Ada?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Monday, November 2, at 5:45 pm in City Council Chamber, City Hall, 231 South Townsend St., from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Ada’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 →