Photo: Urbanative · CC BY-SA 3.0Oklahoma City spent more per resident in 2022 than 82% of similar cities
Oklahoma City’s city government spent $1.1 billion on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,540 per resident. Water and other utilities ($168.5 million) and the airport ($54.8 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Oklahoma City is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
Who’s in charge in Oklahoma City
From public records with a current term; a name is hidden the day its term ends.
Council members and agencies: okc.gov ↗
Oklahoma City’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on okc.gov ↗.
About $1,540 per resident a year, or $4.22 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 21%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$1,204 per resident in 2022: more than 82% of them
Oklahoma City’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,204 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 291 Oklahoma State cities that don’t run their own schools: the median was $808, and the middle half spent $584–$1,070. Oklahoma City spent more than 82% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($129.4 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 State cities that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Oklahoma City itself left out).
Day-to-day spending is up 34% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Oklahoma City reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $1,204 · 2023: $1,409 · 2024: $1,540. Per resident it went from $1,204 to $1,540 (up 28%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 662,314 to 694,800.
full-time in March 2025, up from 4,431 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $2,311 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.00% of the home’s value, vs 0.80% across Oklahoma State.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Oklahoma City’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 Oklahoma City’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Oklahoma City →
One full-time city employee for every 141 residents
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 (694,800).
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.
Oklahoma City Public Schools
Oklahoma City’s K–12 school district, shared with Nichols Hills, Spencer, The Village, Valley Brook. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $13,968 per pupil, $6,832 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 State districts overall: 42% local, 45% state, 14% federal.
Moore Public Schools · $10,946 per pupil
Mustang Public Schools · $10,094 per pupil
Midwest City-Del City Schools · $11,174 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Oklahoma City’s votes are counted by county
Oklahoma reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Oklahoma City alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Oklahoma County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican49.7%143,618 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat48.0%138,769 votesOthers: 2.3% (6,536 votes).
Most votes in Oklahoma County: Donald J Trump
Oklahoma State: Trump 66.2%, Harris 31.9%
76% of Oklahoma City lies in Oklahoma County; the rest in Canadian County, Cleveland County, Pottawatomie County. Every 2024 race in Oklahoma County is on the county’s page.
Oklahoma 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
Oklahoma City sends 23 representatives to the Oklahoma House alone.
- 1Your cityMayorDavid Holtas listed by Open States, October 9, 2026
- 2Oklahoma HouseOklahoma City is split between 24 districts
- 3Oklahoma SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseSplit between districts
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Oklahoma
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Oklahoma City compares with the towns next door
No neighbor is close in size, so the comparison above uses Oklahoma State cities that don’t run their own schools. Tap a town to see its page.
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 Oklahoma City’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Oklahoma City’s government
How much does Oklahoma City spend per resident?
About $1,540 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 $1,204 was more than 82% of 291 Oklahoma State cities that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Oklahoma City?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,311 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.00% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.80% across Oklahoma State. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see okc.gov.
Who is the mayor of Oklahoma City?
David Holt, as listed by Open States (checked October 9, 2026). The council and agencies are listed on okc.gov.
How did Oklahoma City vote in 2024?
Oklahoma counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Oklahoma City alone. Oklahoma County, where 76% of Oklahoma City lies, voted Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.0% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Oklahoma City?
4,940 full-time and 538 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $41.4M (about $496.8M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Oklahoma City in the state legislature?
Oklahoma City is split among 24 State House districts and 16 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Oklahoma Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Oklahoma City’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 →