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George A. Wells Jr. HouseGeorge A. Wells Jr. House · Photo: 46percent · Public domain
Town Hall · Independence

How is Independence run?

Independence’s city government spent $5.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $574 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.6 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Oregon.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$5.9M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$574
2022 was an estimate · not compared
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2022
43
full-time · 9 part-time · March payroll $294,598
Typical tax bill
$3,617
0.95% of home value · OR 0.81%

What stands out about how Independence is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer29% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Central School District 13J with 1 other town.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Independence’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 $574 per resident a year, or $1.57 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 54%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 25%Utility sales 17%Fees & charges 17%Interest, fines & other 14%From the state 9%From the federal government 7%Sales taxes 6%From other local governments 5%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $2.9 million; interest on debt $2.3 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $12.6 million.
Compared with similar places · Over the years

No comparison or trend for Independence yet

The fair comparison uses 2022, the last year the Census Bureau counted every government (later years are a sample), and Independence’s 2022 figures are a Census estimate (it reported none of its 2022 dollars). It reported 2024 only (2022 is an estimate), so there is no trend yet either. The next full count is 2027.

How Town Hall compares budgets →
Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $3,617 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.95% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Oregon.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Oregon$3,876
Monmouth$3,731
Independence$3,617
$3,617
typical bill a year
0.95%
effective rate
$378,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Independence

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

See ci.independence.or.us for Independence’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Independence yet.ci.independence.or.us ↗
Who works for Independence

One full-time city employee for every 238 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (10,255).

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

Police14 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings7
Parks & libraries4 + 5 pt
Roads & transportation6
Courts, inspections & corrections1
Sewer & trash1
Water & other utilities1
Other9 + 2 pt
43
full-time
9
part-time
$294,598
payroll for March 2022
$3.5M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$77,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
12
sworn police officers
Not compared.Staff are compared with the same group as the budget, and Independence’s 2022 budget was a Census estimate, so there is no group to compare with.

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

Central School District 13J

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

Schools in Independence →
$18,074
per pupil · OR $17,749
3,072
students
$44.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $18,074 per pupil, $10,096 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 26%State 59%Federal 15%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Independence’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Polk County’s results47,593 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican49.9%23,768 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat46.3%22,034 votes

Others: 3.8% (1,791 votes).

Most votes in Polk County: Donald J Trump

Oregon: Harris 55.3%, Trump 41.0%

The county’s page

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

Polk 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 Independence

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Independence.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: ci.independence.or.us ↗
  2. 2
    Oregon HouseState representatives
    Paul Evans
  3. 3
    Oregon SenateState senator
    Deb Patterson
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Tina Kotek
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Andrea Salinas
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Oregon
    Ron WydenJeff Merkley

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

Next door

How Independence compares with the towns next door

Independence’s 2022 figures are a Census estimate, so it isn’t placed among them. Neighbors that reported 2022 spent $758 per resident. Tap a town to see its page.

Monmouth: $758 per resident (2022)MonmouthIndependence
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Monmouth$758$3,731
Independenceestimate$3,617

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 Independence’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteci.independence.or.us ↗

Questions about Independence’s government

How much does Independence spend per resident?

About $574 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau.

What is the property tax rate in Independence?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,617 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.95% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Oregon. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.independence.or.us.

Who runs Independence’s government?

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

How did Independence vote in 2024?

Oregon counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Independence alone. Polk County, where 100% of Independence lies, voted Trump 49.9%, Harris 46.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Independence?

43 full-time and 9 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $294,598 (about $3.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Independence in the state legislature?

State Senate District 10 (Deb Patterson) and State House District 20 (Paul Evans). The House district also covers two neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Independence?

The next posted meeting is Historic Preservation Commission on Monday, November 9, at 5:30 pm in City Hall - Council Chambers, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Independence’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 →