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Cotton County CourthousePhoto: Crimsonedge34 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Walters

Walters spent more per resident in 2022 than 79% of similar cities

Walters’ city government spent $2.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $959 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.5 million) are counted separately.

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General election in Oklahoma.

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Day-to-day spending, 2022
$2.3M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$959
In 2022: $959, more than 79% of 181 similar cities
Long-term debt
$1.0M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
19
full-time · 13 part-time · March payroll $64,827
Typical tax bill
$889
0.70% of home value · OK 0.80%

What stands out about how Walters is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $959 per resident, more than 79% of 181 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer53% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).Its own police and fire4 sworn officers and 4 full-time firefighters on the payroll.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $889 a year: 0.70% of the home’s value, vs 0.80% across Oklahoma.
Compared with similar places

$959 per resident in 2022: more than 79% of them

Walters’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($959 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 181 Oklahoma cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $677, and the middle half spent $497–$897. Walters spent more than 79% of them.

Middle half of the group, $497–$897Median $677Walters

Includes sewer and trash ($554,000), 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
181

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $959 per resident a year, or $2.63 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 25%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 54%Fees & charges 17%Sales taxes 15%From the federal government 6%Interest, fines & other 5%From the state 3%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $119,000; interest on debt $31,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $4 million.
About “Other”.25% of Walters’ day-to-day spending ($566,000) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

Walters reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $889 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.70% of the home’s value, vs 0.80% across Oklahoma.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Oklahoma$1,599
Walters$889
$889
typical bill a year
0.70%
effective rate
$126,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Walters’ 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. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

Tax bills are one input to Walters’ Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Walters →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Walters

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

Check Walters’ own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Walters yet.
Who works for Walters

One full-time city employee for every 124 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (2,357).

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

Parks & libraries4 + 3 pt
Administration & buildings2 + 5 pt
Police4 + 1 pt
Fire4
Roads & transportation2
Sewer & trash1 + 1 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections0 + 2 pt
Water & other utilities1
Other1 + 1 pt
19
full-time
13
part-time
$64,827
payroll for March 2022
$777,924
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$36,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
4
sworn police officers
4
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Walters had 8.1 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 132 of the 181 Oklahoma cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 7.5: Walters had more than 57% 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

Walters Public Schools

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

Schools in Walters →
$10,924
per pupil · OK $12,210
607
students
$1.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $10,924 per pupil, $6,600 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 24%State 64%Federal 12%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Walters’ votes are counted by county

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

President · Cotton County’s results2,506 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican82.5%2,067 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat15.6%392 votes

Others: 1.9% (47 votes).

Most votes in Cotton County: Donald J Trump

Oklahoma: Trump 66.2%, Harris 31.9%

The county’s page

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

Cotton 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 Walters

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Walters.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Oklahoma HouseState representatives
    Trey Caldwell
  3. 3
    Oklahoma SenateState senator
    Spencer Kern
  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.

Reach Walters’ government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Walters’ government

How much does Walters spend per resident?

About $959 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 $959 was more than 79% of 181 Oklahoma cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Walters?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $889 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.70% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.80% across Oklahoma. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who runs Walters’ government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Walters yet.

How did Walters vote in 2024?

Oklahoma counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Walters alone. Cotton County, where 100% of Walters lies, voted Trump 82.5%, Harris 15.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Walters?

19 full-time and 13 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $64,827 (about $777,924 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Walters in the state legislature?

State Senate District 31 (Spencer Kern) and State House District 63 (Trey Caldwell). The House district also covers 22 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Walters’ 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 →