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Potton-Hayden HousePotton-Hayden House · Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0
Town Hall · Big Spring

How is Big Spring run?

Big Spring’s city government spent $28.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $1,003 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.9 million) and the airport ($1.6 million) are counted separately.

Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Texas.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$28.2M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,003
In 2022: $1,003, less than 60% of 30 similar cities
Long-term debt
$14.8M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
247
full-time · 5 part-time · March payroll $1.2M
Typical tax bill
$1,420
1.01% of home value · TX 1.49%

What stands out about how Big Spring is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer26% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).Its own police and fire38 sworn officers and 59 full-time firefighters on the payroll.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,420 a year: 1.01% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Big Spring’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Oct30
    City CouncilFriday · 5:30 pm · 307 East 4th Street, 307 East 4th StreetCity Council Special Meeting 10/30/2026 - CANCELLEDAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct29
    City CouncilThursday · 5:30 pm · 307 East 4th Street, 307 East 4th StreetCity Council Special Meeting 10/29/2026 - CANCELLEDAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct28
    City CouncilWednesday · 5:30 pm · 307 East 4th Street, 307 East 4th StreetCity Council Special Meeting 10/28/2026Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct27
    City CouncilTuesday · 5:30 pm · 307 East 4th Street, 307 East 4th StreetAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    Big Spring EDCTuesday · 5:15 pm · 215 W. 3rd St.Meeting page ↗
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 2022 budget

About $1,003 per resident a year, or $2.75 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: fire, at 33%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 34%Sales taxes 23%Fees & charges 17%Property taxes 17%Interest, fines & other 6%From other local governments 1%From the federal government 1%Other taxes & licenses 1%From the state 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $9.5 million; interest on debt $582,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $41.9 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,003 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Big Spring’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,003 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 30 Texas cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,078, and the middle half spent $858–$1,268. Big Spring spent less than 60% of them.

Middle half of the group, $858–$1,268Median $1,078Big Spring

Includes sewer and trash ($6.4 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
30

Texas cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Big Spring itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,420 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.01% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Texas$4,232
Big Spring$1,420
$1,420
typical bill a year
1.01%
effective rate
$140,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Big Spring

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 114 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 (28,077).

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

Fire70
Police47
Administration & buildings23
Sewer & trash23
Water & other utilities22
Roads & transportation18
Parks & libraries16 + 2 pt
Health & welfare8 + 2 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections7
Housing & development4 + 1 pt
Other9
247
full-time
5
part-time
$1.2M
payroll for March 2022
$15.0M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$60,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
38
sworn police officers
59
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Big Spring had 8.8 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 23 of the 30 Texas cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 8.8: Big Spring had fewer than 52% 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

Big Spring Independent School District

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

Schools in Big Spring →
$12,673
per pupil · TX $12,815
3,451
students
$37.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,673 per pupil, $7,151 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 74%State 13%Federal 13%

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

Also serving Big Spring

Forsan Independent School District · $11,786 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Big Spring’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Howard County’s results9,650 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican81.0%7,817 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat18.2%1,759 votes

Others: 0.8% (74 votes).

Most votes in Howard County: Donald J Trump

Texas: Trump 56.1%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Howard 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 Big Spring

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Big Spring.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Texas HouseState representatives
    Drew Darby
  3. 3
    Texas SenateState senator
    Kevin Sparks
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Greg Abbott
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Jodey C. Arrington
  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 Big Spring’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Big Spring’s government

How much does Big Spring spend per resident?

About $1,003 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,003 was less than 60% of 30 Texas cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Big Spring?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,420 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.01% 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 Big Spring’s government?

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

How did Big Spring vote in 2024?

Texas counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Big Spring alone. Howard County, where 100% of Big Spring lies, voted Trump 81.0%, Harris 18.2% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Big Spring?

247 full-time and 5 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.2M (about $15.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Big Spring in the state legislature?

State Senate District 31 (Kevin Sparks) and State House District 72 (Drew Darby). The House district also covers 17 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Big Spring?

The next posted meeting is Parks and recreation board on Thursday, November 12, at 6:00 pm in 307 East 4th St, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Big Spring’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 →