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Tonkawa Lodge No. 157 A.F. & A.M.Tonkawa Lodge No. 157 A.F. & A.M. · Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Tonkawa

Tonkawa spent more per resident in 2022 than 68% of similar cities

Tonkawa’s city government spent $3.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,170 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($3.7 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$3.5M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,170
In 2022: $1,170, more than 68% of 66 similar cities
Long-term debt
$7.7M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
39
full-time · 17 part-time · March payroll $143,869 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$484
0.57% of home value · OK 0.80%

What stands out about how Tonkawa is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,170 per resident, more than 68% of 66 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer58% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).Its own police and fire5 sworn officers and 8 full-time firefighters on the payroll.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $484 a year: 0.57% of the home’s value, vs 0.80% across Oklahoma.
Compared with similar places

$1,170 per resident in 2022: more than 68% of them

Tonkawa’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,170 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–$1,295. Tonkawa spent more than 68% of them.

Middle half of the group, $710–$1,295Median $944Tonkawa

Includes sewer and trash ($426,000), 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
66

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,170 per resident a year, or $3.21 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 23%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 55%Sales taxes 21%Fees & charges 13%Interest, fines & other 6%From the federal government 3%From the state 2%From other local governments <1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $3.6 million; interest on debt $213,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $11 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $484 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.57% of the home’s value, vs 0.80% across Oklahoma.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Oklahoma$1,599
Tonkawa$484
$484
typical bill a year
0.57%
effective rate
$84,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Tonkawa

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

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

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

Who works for Tonkawa

One full-time city employee for every 76 residents

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 (2,958).

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

Fire8 + 14 pt
Police13
Water & other utilities7
Administration & buildings6
Parks & libraries2 + 2 pt
Sewer & trash2
Roads & transportation1
Courts, inspections & corrections0 + 1 pt
39
full-time
17
part-time
$143,869
payroll for March 2022
$1.7M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$42,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
5
sworn police officers
8
full-time firefighters
Estimates.Tonkawa didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

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

Tonkawa Public Schools

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

Schools in Tonkawa →
$11,069
per pupil · OK $12,210
799
students
$344,000
long-term debt

Of the $11,069 per pupil, $6,742 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 50%Federal 20%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Tonkawa’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Kay County’s results16,913 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican73.8%12,483 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat24.5%4,136 votes

Others: 1.7% (294 votes).

Most votes in Kay County: Donald J Trump

Oklahoma: Trump 66.2%, Harris 31.9%

The county’s page

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

Kay 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 Tonkawa

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Tonkawa.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityoftonkawa.com ↗
  2. 2
    Oklahoma HouseState representatives
    John Pfeiffer
  3. 3
    Oklahoma SenateState senator
    Bill Coleman
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kevin Stitt
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Frank D. Lucas
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Oklahoma
    James LankfordAlan Armstrong

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

Reach Tonkawa’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityoftonkawa.com ↗

Questions about Tonkawa’s government

How much does Tonkawa spend per resident?

About $1,170 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,170 was more than 68% of 66 Oklahoma cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Tonkawa?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $484 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.57% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.80% across Oklahoma. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityoftonkawa.com.

Who runs Tonkawa’s government?

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

How did Tonkawa vote in 2024?

Oklahoma counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Tonkawa alone. Kay County, where 100% of Tonkawa lies, voted Trump 73.8%, Harris 24.5% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Tonkawa?

39 full-time and 17 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $143,869 (about $1.7M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Tonkawa in the state legislature?

State Senate District 10 (Bill Coleman) and State House District 38 (John Pfeiffer). The House district also covers 31 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Tonkawa’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 →