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An aerial view of Brookings, OregonPhoto: Davist898 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Brookings

Brookings spent more per resident in 2022 than 91% of similar cities

Brookings’ city government spent $11.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,802 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.8 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Oregon.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$11.8M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,802
In 2022: $1,802, more than 91% of 35 similar cities
Long-term debt
$4.0M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
48
full-time · 2 part-time · March payroll $263,286
Typical tax bill
$2,599
0.58% of home value · OR 0.81%

What stands out about how Brookings is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,802 per resident, more than 91% of 35 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer37% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).Its own police and fire18 sworn officers and 2 full-time firefighters on the payroll.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $2,599 a year: 0.58% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Oregon.
Compared with similar places

$1,802 per resident in 2022: more than 91% of them

Brookings’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,802 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 35 Oregon cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $991, and the middle half spent $701–$1,263. Brookings spent more than 91% of them.

Middle half of the group, $701–$1,263Median $991Brookings

Includes sewer and trash ($3.3 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
35

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,802 per resident a year, or $4.94 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 28%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 31%Property taxes 22%Utility sales 13%From the state 12%Interest, fines & other 11%Sales taxes 7%From other local governments 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%From the federal government 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $2.4 million; interest on debt $200,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $16.2 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,599 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.58% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Oregon.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Oregon$3,876
Brookings$2,599
$2,599
typical bill a year
0.58%
effective rate
$446,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Brookings

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

See brookings.or.us for Brookings’ current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Brookings yet.brookings.or.us ↗
Agendas

Brookings’ meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on brookings.or.us ↗.

Who works for Brookings

One full-time city employee for every 137 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 (6,561).

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

Police26
Administration & buildings8 + 1 pt
Roads & transportation6
Parks & libraries5 + 1 pt
Fire2
Other1
48
full-time
2
part-time
$263,286
payroll for March 2022
$3.2M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$65,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
18
sworn police officers
2
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Brookings had 7.3 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 30 of the 35 Oregon cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 5.5: Brookings had more than 73% 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

Brookings-Harbor School District 17

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

Schools in Brookings →
$17,110
per pupil · OR $17,749
1,328
students
$4.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $17,110 per pupil, $9,114 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 39%State 50%Federal 11%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Brookings’ votes are counted by county

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

President · Curry County’s results14,227 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican56.2%8,000 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat40.5%5,761 votes

Others: 3.3% (466 votes).

Most votes in Curry County: Donald J Trump

Oregon: Harris 55.3%, Trump 41.0%

The county’s page

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

Curry 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 Brookings

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Brookings.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: brookings.or.us ↗
  2. 2
    Oregon HouseState representatives
    Court Boice
  3. 3
    Oregon SenateState senator
    David Smith
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Tina Kotek
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Val T. Hoyle
  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 Brookings’ government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitebrookings.or.us ↗

Questions about Brookings’ government

How much does Brookings spend per resident?

About $1,802 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 $1,802 was more than 91% of 35 Oregon cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Brookings?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,599 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.58% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Oregon. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see brookings.or.us.

Who runs Brookings’ government?

See brookings.or.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Brookings yet.

How did Brookings vote in 2024?

Oregon counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Brookings alone. Curry County, where 100% of Brookings lies, voted Trump 56.2%, Harris 40.5% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Brookings?

48 full-time and 2 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $263,286 (about $3.2M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Brookings in the state legislature?

State Senate District 1 (David Smith) and State House District 1 (Court Boice). The House district also covers seven other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Brookings’ 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 →