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Caldwell County Courthouse 2018aPhoto: Antony-22 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Lockhart

Lockhart spent more per resident in 2022 than 68% of similar cities

Lockhart’s city government spent $16.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $1,193 per resident. Water and other utilities ($18.5 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Texas.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$16.8M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,193
In 2022: $1,193, more than 68% of 68 similar cities
Long-term debt
$19.4M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
134
full-time · 9 part-time · March payroll $616,376
Typical tax bill
$4,022
1.60% of home value · TX 1.49%

What stands out about how Lockhart is run

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

Agendas posted online5 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,193 per resident, more than 68% of 68 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer65% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Lockhart Independent School District with 1 other town.
★ What stands out · Meetings

5 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

  • Nov5
    City CouncilThursday · 6:00 pm · CLARK LIBRARY ANNEX, 217 SOUTH MAIN STREET, 3rd FLOORTax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. Two, City of Lockhart (TIRZ No. 2) Board MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Nov5
    City CouncilThursday · 6:30 pm · CLARK LIBRARY ANNEX - COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 217 SOUTH MAIN STREET, 3rd FLOORLockhart City CouncilAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Nov17
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:00 pm · CLARK LIBRARY ANNEX - COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 217 SOUTH MAIN STREET, 3rd FLOORLockhart City CouncilMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Dec1
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:30 pm · CLARK LIBRARY ANNEX - COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 217 SOUTH MAIN STREET, 3rd FLOORLockhart City CouncilMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Dec15
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:30 pm · CLARK LIBRARY ANNEX - COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 217 SOUTH MAIN STREET, 3rd FLOORLockhart City CouncilMeeting page ↗Add to calendar

Recent meetings

  • Oct20
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:00 pm · CLARK LIBRARY ANNEX - COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 217 SOUTH MAIN STREET, 3rd FLOORLockhart City CouncilAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct8
    City CouncilThursday · 6:30 pm · DR. EUGENE CLARK LIBRARY, 217 SOUTH MAIN STREET, 1st FLOORLockhart City CouncilAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Sep15
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:30 pm · DR. EUGENE CLARK LIBRARY, 217 SOUTH MAIN STREET, 1st FLOORLockhart City CouncilAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Sep1
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:30 pm · CLARK LIBRARY ANNEX - COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 217 SOUTH MAIN STREET, 3rd FLOORLockhart City CouncilAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Aug18
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:30 pm · CLARK LIBRARY ANNEX - COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 217 SOUTH MAIN STREET, 3rd FLOORLockhart City CouncilAgenda ↗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 $1,193 per resident a year, or $3.27 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 27%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 55%Property taxes 17%Fees & charges 15%Sales taxes 9%Interest, fines & other 3%Other taxes & licenses 1%From the state <1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $144,000; interest on debt $743,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $36.3 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,193 per resident in 2022: more than 68% of them

Lockhart’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,193 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 68 Texas cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $976, and the middle half spent $726–$1,301. Lockhart spent more than 68% of them.

Middle half of the group, $726–$1,301Median $976Lockhart

Includes sewer and trash ($4.6 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
68

Texas cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Lockhart itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $4,022 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.60% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Texas$4,232
Lockhart$4,022
$4,022
typical bill a year
1.60%
effective rate
$251,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Lockhart

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

See lockhart-tx.org for Lockhart’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Lockhart yet.lockhart-tx.org ↗
Who works for Lockhart

One full-time city employee for every 105 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 (14,069).

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

Police28
Water & other utilities22
Administration & buildings15 + 6 pt
Parks & libraries12 + 3 pt
Fire13
Roads & transportation10
Health & welfare7
Sewer & trash7
Courts, inspections & corrections4
Other16
134
full-time
9
part-time
$616,376
payroll for March 2022
$7.4M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$54,600
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
24
sworn police officers
13
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Lockhart had 9.5 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 56 of the 68 Texas cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 8.1: Lockhart had more than 73% 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

Lockhart Independent School District

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

Schools in Lockhart →
$11,614
per pupil · TX $12,815
6,604
students
$120.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $11,614 per pupil, $6,860 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 38%State 47%Federal 14%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Lockhart’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Caldwell County’s results15,737 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican56.4%8,880 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat42.1%6,618 votes

Others: 1.5% (239 votes).

Most votes in Caldwell County: Donald J Trump

Texas: Trump 56.1%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Caldwell 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 Lockhart

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Lockhart.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: lockhart-tx.org ↗
  2. 2
    Texas HouseState representatives
    Stan Gerdes
  3. 3
    Texas SenateState senator
    Judith Zaffirini
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Greg Abbott
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Michael Cloud
  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 Lockhart’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitelockhart-tx.org ↗

Questions about Lockhart’s government

How much does Lockhart spend per resident?

About $1,193 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 $1,193 was more than 68% of 68 Texas cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Lockhart?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,022 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.60% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see lockhart-tx.org.

Who runs Lockhart’s government?

See lockhart-tx.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Lockhart yet.

How did Lockhart vote in 2024?

Texas counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Lockhart alone. Caldwell County, where 100% of Lockhart lies, voted Trump 56.4%, Harris 42.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Lockhart?

134 full-time and 9 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $616,376 (about $7.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Lockhart in the state legislature?

State Senate District 21 (Judith Zaffirini) and State House District 17 (Stan Gerdes). The House district also covers 19 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Lockhart?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Thursday, November 5, at 6:00 pm in CLARK LIBRARY ANNEX, 217 SOUTH MAIN STREET, 3rd FLOOR, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Lockhart’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 →