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Knox County Courthouse, Benjamin, TexasPhoto: Nicolas Henderson from Coppell, Texas · CC BY 2.0
Town Hall · Benjamin

Benjamin spent more per resident in 2022 than 79% of similar cities

Benjamin’s city government spent $214,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $833 per resident. Water and other utilities ($12,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Texas.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$214,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$833
In 2022: $833, more than 79% of 346 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
3
full-time · 0 part-time · March payroll $17,852
Typical tax bill
$844
1.34% of home value · TX 1.49%

What stands out about how Benjamin is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $833 per resident, more than 79% of 346 similar cities.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $844 a year: 1.34% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas.
Compared with similar places

$833 per resident in 2022: more than 79% of them

Benjamin’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($833 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 346 Texas cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $428, and the middle half spent $184–$750. Benjamin spent more than 79% of them.

Middle half of the group, $184–$750Median $428Benjamin

Includes sewer and trash ($2,000), 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
346

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $833 per resident a year, or $2.28 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 52%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 40%From the state 15%Fees & charges 14%Sales taxes 10%Property taxes 10%Interest, fines & other 8%From other local governments 3%
Not in the receipt.With the enterprises, the whole budget was $226,000.
About “Other”.29% of Benjamin’s day-to-day spending ($63,000) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $844 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.34% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Texas$4,232
Benjamin$844
$844
typical bill a year
1.34%
effective rate
$62,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Benjamin

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

Check Benjamin’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Benjamin yet.
Who works for Benjamin

One full-time city employee for every 86 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 (257).

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

Water & other utilities2
Administration & buildings1
3
full-time
0
part-time
$17,852
payroll for March 2022
$214,224
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$71,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Benjamin had 11.7 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 295 of the 346 Texas cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.1: Benjamin had more than 87% 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

Benjamin Independent School District

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

Schools in Benjamin →
$30,298
per pupil · TX $12,815
104
students
$16.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $30,298 per pupil, $18,231 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 75%State 20%Federal 4%

Texas districts overall: 51% local, 36% state, 13% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Benjamin’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Knox County’s results1,376 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican84.0%1,156 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat15.6%214 votes

Others: 0.4% (6 votes).

Most votes in Knox County: Donald J Trump

Texas: Trump 56.1%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Knox 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 Benjamin

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Benjamin.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Texas HouseState representatives
    James Frank
  3. 3
    Texas SenateState senator
    Charles Perry
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Greg Abbott
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Ronny Jackson
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Texas
    John CornynTed Cruz

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

Reach Benjamin’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Benjamin’s government

How much does Benjamin spend per resident?

About $833 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 $833 was more than 79% of 346 Texas cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Benjamin?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $844 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.34% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who runs Benjamin’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Benjamin yet.

How did Benjamin vote in 2024?

Texas counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Benjamin alone. Knox County, where 100% of Benjamin lies, voted Trump 84.0%, Harris 15.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Benjamin?

3 full-time and 0 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $17,852 (about $214,224 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Benjamin in the state legislature?

State Senate District 28 (Charles Perry) and State House District 69 (James Frank). The House district also covers 39 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Benjamin’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 →