Photo: w:en:Bencochran · CC BY-SA 2.5Cushing spent more per resident in 2022 than 94% of similar cities
Cushing’s city government spent $13.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,820 per resident. It also runs a hospital ($13,000), water utilities ($11.6 million) and an airport ($770,000), counted separately. Census Bureau figures.
What stands out about how Cushing is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
About $1,820 per resident a year, or $4.99 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 28%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$1,820 per resident in 2022: more than 94% of them
Cushing’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,820 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 66 Oklahoma cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $944, and the middle half spent $710–$1,263. Cushing spent more than 94% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.8 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 →
Oklahoma cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Cushing itself left out).
No trend yet
Cushing reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $752 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.66% of the home’s value, vs 0.80% across Oklahoma.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Cushing’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 Cushing’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Cushing →
Who’s in charge in Cushing
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Cushing’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofcushing.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 59 residents, not counting hospital, health & welfare staff
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (7,582).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Cushing Public Schools
Cushing’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $12,756 per pupil, $7,174 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.
Oklahoma districts overall: 42% local, 45% state, 14% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Cushing’s votes are counted by county
Oklahoma reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Cushing alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Payne County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican61.3%17,962 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat36.1%10,560 votesOthers: 2.6% (757 votes).
Most votes in Payne County: Donald J Trump
Oklahoma: Trump 66.2%, Harris 31.9%
100% of Cushing lies in Payne County. Every 2024 race in Payne County is on the county’s page.
Payne County’s 2024 results →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 Cushing.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofcushing.com ↗
- 2Oklahoma HouseState representatives
- 3Oklahoma SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Oklahoma
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Cushing’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Cushing’s government
How much does Cushing spend per resident?
About $1,820 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. Cushing also runs a hospital ($13,000), counted separately. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,820 was more than 94% of 66 Oklahoma cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Cushing?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $752 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.66% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.80% across Oklahoma. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofcushing.com.
Who runs Cushing’s government?
See cityofcushing.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Cushing yet.
How did Cushing vote in 2024?
Oklahoma counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Cushing alone. Payne County, where 100% of Cushing lies, voted Trump 61.3%, Harris 36.1% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Cushing?
129 full-time and 8 part-time employees in March 2022 (plus 2 full-time hospital, health & welfare staff), with a March payroll of $571,678 (about $6.9M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Cushing in the state legislature?
State Senate District 21 (Randy Grellner) and State House District 33 (Molly Jenkins). The House district also covers eight other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Cushing’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 →