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Town Hall · Ashland

Ashland spent more per resident in 2022 than 100% of similar cities

Ashland’s city government spent $54.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $2,559 per resident. Water and other utilities ($21.5 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Oregon.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$54.5M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$2,559
In 2022: $2,237, more than 100% of 21 similar cities
Long-term debt
$25.9M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
252
full-time · 8 part-time · March payroll $2.0M
Typical tax bill
$5,274
0.90% of home value · OR 0.81%

What stands out about how Ashland is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Mayor Tonya GrahamAs listed by Open States, October 9, 2026.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $2,237 per resident, more than 100% of 21 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer35% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

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 $2,559 per resident a year, or $7.01 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: fire, at 21%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 30%Fees & charges 20%Sales taxes 17%Property taxes 16%Interest, fines & other 7%From the state 6%From the federal government 4%Other taxes & licenses 1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $19.2 million; interest on debt $257,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $98.5 million.
Compared with similar places

$2,237 per resident in 2022: more than 100% of them

Ashland’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,237 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 21 Oregon cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $991, and the middle half spent $893–$1,166. Ashland spent more than 100% of them.

Middle half of the group, $893–$1,166Median $991Ashland

Includes sewer and trash ($5.6 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
21

Oregon cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Ashland itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 15% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$47.4 million
2023$51.2 million
2024$54.5 million

Per resident: 2022: $2,237 · 2023: $2,372 · 2024: $2,559.

City staff
252

full-time in March 2025, up from 230 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 Ashland

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

Tonya GrahamMayor · as listed by Open States, October 9, 2026Office of the Mayor ↗

Council members and agencies: ashlandoregon.gov ↗

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $5,274 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.90% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Oregon.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Ashland$5,274
Oregon$3,876
$5,274
typical bill a year
0.90%
effective rate
$583,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who works for Ashland

One full-time city employee for every 84 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 (21,285).

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

Fire43
Parks & libraries35 + 3 pt
Police34 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings34
Water & other utilities32 + 1 pt
Roads & transportation17
Sewer & trash14
Housing & development8 + 1 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections5 + 1 pt
Health & welfare4
Other26
252
full-time
8
part-time
$2.0M
payroll for March 2025
$23.4M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$92,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
21
sworn police officers
38
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Ashland had 10.9 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 19 of the 21 Oregon cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 5.4: Ashland had more than 100% 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

Ashland School District 5

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

Schools in Ashland →
$18,832
per pupil · OR $17,749
2,573
students
$96 million
long-term debt

Of the $18,832 per pupil, $10,651 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 60%State 36%Federal 4%

Oregon districts overall: 38% local, 52% state, 10% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Ashland’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Jackson County’s results119,572 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican51.6%61,743 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat45.2%54,065 votes

Others: 3.1% (3,764 votes).

Most votes in Jackson County: Donald J Trump

Oregon: Harris 55.3%, Trump 41.0%

The county’s page

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

Jackson 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 Ashland

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Ashland.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor
    Tonya Grahamas listed by Open States, October 9, 2026
  2. 2
    Oregon HouseState representatives
    Pam Marsh
  3. 3
    Oregon SenateState senator
    Jeff Golden
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Tina Kotek
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Cliff Bentz
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Oregon
    Ron WydenJeff Merkley

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

Reach Ashland’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteashlandoregon.gov ↗

Questions about Ashland’s government

How much does Ashland spend per resident?

About $2,559 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 $2,237 was more than 100% of 21 Oregon cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Ashland?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $5,274 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.90% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Oregon. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ashlandoregon.gov.

Who is the mayor of Ashland?

Tonya Graham, as listed by Open States (checked October 9, 2026). The council and agencies are listed on ashlandoregon.gov.

How did Ashland vote in 2024?

Oregon counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Ashland alone. Jackson County, where 100% of Ashland lies, voted Trump 51.6%, Harris 45.2% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Ashland?

252 full-time and 8 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $2.0M (about $23.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Ashland in the state legislature?

State Senate District 3 (Jeff Golden) and State House District 5 (Pam Marsh). The House district also covers four other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Ashland?

The next posted meeting is Historic Preservation Advisory Commission on Wednesday, November 4, at 4:00 pm, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Ashland’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 →