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Town Hall · Kingston

Kingston spent more per resident in 2022 than 77% of similar cities

Kingston’s city government spent $7.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,200 per resident. Water and other utilities ($748,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Tennessee.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$7.1M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,200
In 2022: $1,200, more than 77% of 43 similar cities
Long-term debt
$10.8M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
67
full-time · 33 part-time · March payroll $276,245
Typical tax bill
$1,458
0.66% of home value · TN 0.50%

What stands out about how Kingston is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$1,200 per resident in 2022: more than 77% of them

Kingston’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,200 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 43 Tennessee cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $698, and the middle half spent $418–$1,116. Kingston spent more than 77% of them.

Middle half of the group, $418–$1,116Median $698Kingston

Includes sewer and trash ($956,000), 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
43

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,200 per resident a year, or $3.29 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 17%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 28%Utility sales 21%Property taxes 21%Fees & charges 17%From the state 11%Other taxes & licenses 1%Interest, fines & other 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $2.5 million; interest on debt $242,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $10.7 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,458 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.66% of the home’s value, vs 0.50% across Tennessee.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Kingston$1,458
Tennessee$1,442
$1,458
typical bill a year
0.66%
effective rate
$220,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Kingston

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

See kingston-tn.org for Kingston’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Kingston yet.kingston-tn.org ↗
Agendas

Kingston’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on kingston-tn.org ↗.

Who works for Kingston

One full-time city employee for every 89 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 (5,956).

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

Parks & libraries9 + 18 pt
Police12 + 3 pt
Fire12 + 1 pt
Administration & buildings6 + 10 pt
Roads & transportation9
Water & other utilities8
Sewer & trash6
Courts, inspections & corrections1 + 1 pt
Other4
67
full-time
33
part-time
$276,245
payroll for March 2022
$3.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$47,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
12
sworn police officers
12
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Kingston had 11.2 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 37 of the 43 Tennessee cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 8.1: Kingston had more than 68% 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

Roane County School District

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

Schools in Kingston →
$12,235
per pupil · TN $13,059
6,318
students
$12.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,235 per pupil, $7,389 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 36%State 48%Federal 16%

Tennessee districts overall: 40% local, 44% state, 16% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Kingston’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Roane County’s results27,412 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican76.6%21,011 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat22.2%6,073 votes

Others: 1.2% (328 votes).

Most votes in Roane County: Donald J Trump

Tennessee: Trump 64.2%, Harris 34.5%

The county’s page

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

Roane 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 Kingston

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Kingston.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Tennessee HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Tennessee SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Tennessee

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

Reach Kingston’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Kingston’s government

How much does Kingston spend per resident?

About $1,200 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 $1,200 was more than 77% of 43 Tennessee cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Kingston?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,458 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.66% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.50% across Tennessee. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see kingston-tn.org.

Who runs Kingston’s government?

See kingston-tn.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Kingston yet.

How did Kingston vote in 2024?

Tennessee counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Kingston alone. Roane County, where 100% of Kingston lies, voted Trump 76.6%, Harris 22.2% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Kingston?

67 full-time and 33 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $276,245 (about $3.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Kingston in the state legislature?

State Senate District 12 (Ken Yager) and State House District 32 (Monty Fritts). The House district also covers four other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Kingston’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 →