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Downtown McAlesterPhoto: Jeremy Wagg · Public domain
Town Hall · McAlester

McAlester spent more per resident in 2022 than 70% of similar cities

McAlester’s city government spent $17.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $976 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.2 million) and the airport ($687,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Oklahoma.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$17.7M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$976
In 2022: $1,258, more than 70% of 27 similar cities
Long-term debt
$49.3M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
200
full-time, hospital & welfare staff apart (784 in all) · March payroll $4.9M
Typical tax bill
$1,027
0.68% of home value · OK 0.80%

What stands out about how McAlester is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Mayor Justin FewAs listed by Open States, October 9, 2026.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,258 per resident, more than 70% of 27 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer29% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Oct27
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:00 pm · McAlester City Hall – Council Chambers, 28 E. WashingtonCity Council 10/27/2026Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct27
    City CouncilTuesday · 5:00 pm · 28 E. Washington AveCity Council WorkshopAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    McAlester Planning CommissionTuesday · 6:30 pm · McAlester City Hall – Council Chambers, 28 E. WashingtonAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct15
    Audit and Finance Advisory CommitteeThursday · 4:00 pm · City Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 28 E WashingtonAudit and Finance Advisory Committee- CANCELEDMeeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:00 pm · McAlester City Hall – Council Chambers, 28 E. WashingtonCity Council *CANCELED*Meeting page ↗
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 $976 per resident a year, or $2.67 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 25%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 62%Fees & charges 18%Utility sales 10%Interest, fines & other 4%From the state 4%From the federal government 2%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $3.2 million; interest on debt $2 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $25.7 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,258 per resident in 2022: more than 70% of them

McAlester’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,258 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–$1,322. McAlester spent more than 70% of them.

Middle half of the group, $820–$1,322Median $1,025McAlester

Includes sewer and trash ($4.8 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 →

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; McAlester itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is down 21% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$22.4 million
2024$17.7 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,258 · 2024: $976.

City staff
200

full-time in March 2025 (hospital, health & welfare left out), up from 196 in 2022.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in McAlester

From public records with a current term; a name is hidden the day its term ends.

Justin FewMayor · as listed by Open States, October 9, 2026Office of the Mayor ↗

Council members and agencies: cityofmcalester.com ↗

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,027 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.68% of the home’s value, vs 0.80% across Oklahoma.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Oklahoma$1,599
McAlester$1,027
Krebs$580
$1,027
typical bill a year
0.68%
effective rate
$151,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who works for McAlester

One full-time city employee for every 91 residents, not counting hospital, health & welfare staff

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (18,108).

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

Police51
Fire40
Water & other utilities29
Administration & buildings21 + 7 pt
Roads & transportation22
Sewer & trash16
Parks & libraries12 + 3 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections1 + 3 pt
Other8
Run separately
Hospital, health & welfare584 + 106 pt
200
full-time, hospital, health & welfare apart
119
part-time
$4.9M
payroll for March 2025
$59.2M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$71,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
34
sworn police officers
37
full-time firefighters
The hospital.The 584 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.McAlester had 11.0 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: McAlester had more than 60% 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

McAlester Public Schools

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

Schools in McAlester →
$13,812
per pupil · OK $12,210
2,991
students
$1.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,812 per pupil, $6,762 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 29%State 56%Federal 16%

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

Also serving McAlester

Frink-Chambers Public School · $10,990 per pupil

Krebs Public School · $10,830 per pupil

Tannehill Public School · $14,409 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

McAlester’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Pittsburg County’s results17,572 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican78.8%13,841 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat19.8%3,473 votes

Others: 1.5% (258 votes).

Most votes in Pittsburg County: Donald J Trump

Oklahoma: Trump 66.2%, Harris 31.9%

The county’s page

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

Pittsburg 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 McAlester

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for McAlester.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor
    Justin Fewas listed by Open States, October 9, 2026
  2. 2
    Oklahoma HouseMcAlester is split between 2 districts
    Jim GregoDavid Smith
  3. 3
    Oklahoma SenateState senator
    Warren Hamilton
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kevin Stitt
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Josh Brecheen
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Oklahoma
    James LankfordAlan Armstrong
Find your state legislators by address ↗

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

Next door

How McAlester compares with the towns next door

McAlester spent $1,258 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Krebs: no reported 2022 figuresKrebsMcAlester
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Krebsestimate$580
McAlester$1,258$1,027

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 McAlester’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofmcalester.com ↗

Questions about McAlester’s government

How much does McAlester spend per resident?

About $976 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,258 was more than 70% of 27 Oklahoma cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in McAlester?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,027 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.68% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.80% across Oklahoma. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofmcalester.com.

Who is the mayor of McAlester?

Justin Few, as listed by Open States (checked October 9, 2026). The council and agencies are listed on cityofmcalester.com.

How did McAlester vote in 2024?

Oklahoma counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for McAlester alone. Pittsburg County, where 100% of McAlester lies, voted Trump 78.8%, Harris 19.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for McAlester?

200 full-time and 119 part-time employees in March 2025 (plus 584 full-time hospital, health & welfare staff), with a March payroll of $4.9M (about $59.2M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents McAlester in the state legislature?

McAlester is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Oklahoma Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 7 (Warren Hamilton). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in McAlester?

The next posted meeting is Mcalester Tree Board on Tuesday, November 3, at 1:00 pm in McAlester City Hall – Council Chambers, 28 E. Washington, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about McAlester’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 →