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Town Hall · Howard

Howard spent less per resident in 2022 than 73% of similar cities

Howard’s borough government spent $233,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $320 per resident. Water and other utilities ($78,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Pennsylvania.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$233,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$320
In 2022: $320, less than 73% of 574 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of 2022, reported
Borough staff, 2022
2
full-time · 1 part-time · March payroll $16,676 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$2,109
1.08% of home value · PA 1.30%

What stands out about how Howard is run

Read from the borough’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $320 per resident, less than 73% of 574 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer25% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Bald Eagle Area School District with 6+ other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $2,109 a year: 1.08% of the home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania.
Compared with similar places

$320 per resident in 2022: less than 73% of them

Howard’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($320 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 574 Pennsylvania cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $484, and the middle half spent $300–$726. Howard spent less than 73% of them.

Middle half of the group, $300–$726Median $484Howard

Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
574

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $320 per resident a year, or $0.88 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 37%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 36%Income taxes 18%Fees & charges 14%Property taxes 13%From the federal government 8%From the state 6%Other taxes & licenses 4%Interest, fines & other 1%
Not in the receipt.With the enterprises, the whole budget was $311,000.
About “Other”.45% of Howard’s day-to-day spending ($106,000) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,109 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.08% of the home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Pennsylvania$3,311
Howard$2,109
$2,109
typical bill a year
1.08%
effective rate
$195,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Howard

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

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

Howard’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The borough posts agendas and minutes on howardborough.com ↗.

Who works for Howard

One full-time borough employee for every 364 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 (728).

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

Roads & transportation2
Administration & buildings0 + 1 pt
2
full-time
1
part-time
$16,676
payroll for March 2022
$200,112
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$94,100
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Estimates.Howard 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

Bald Eagle Area School District

Howard’s K–12 school district, shared with Boggs Township, Burnside Township, Howard Township, Huston Township, Milesburg and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Howard →
$20,417
per pupil · PA $21,758
1,524
students
$10.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $20,417 per pupil, $11,596 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 48%State 46%Federal 6%

Pennsylvania districts overall: 55% local, 37% state, 8% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Howard’s votes are counted by county

Pennsylvania reports official results by county and precinct, not by borough, so there are no official results for Howard alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Centre County’s results.

President · Centre County’s results80,792 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat50.9%41,119 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican48.1%38,829 votes

Others: 1.0% (844 votes).

Most votes in Centre County: Kamala D Harris

Pennsylvania: Trump 50.4%, Harris 48.7%

The county’s page

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

Centre 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 Howard

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Howard.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: howardborough.com ↗
  2. 2
    Pennsylvania HouseState representatives
    Paul Takac
  3. 3
    Pennsylvania SenateState senator
    Cris Dush
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Josh Shapiro
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Glenn Thompson
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Pennsylvania
    John FettermanDavid McCormick

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

Reach Howard’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitehowardborough.com ↗

Questions about Howard’s government

How much does Howard spend per resident?

About $320 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $320 was less than 73% of 574 Pennsylvania cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Howard?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,109 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.08% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see howardborough.com.

Who runs Howard’s government?

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

How did Howard vote in 2024?

Pennsylvania counts votes by county and precinct, not by borough, so there are no official results for Howard alone. Centre County, where 100% of Howard lies, voted Harris 50.9%, Trump 48.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Howard?

2 full-time and 1 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $16,676 (about $200,112 a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Howard in the state legislature?

State Senate District 25 (Cris Dush) and State House District 82 (Paul Takac). The House district also covers 15 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Howard’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 →