How is Red Oak run?
Red Oak’s city government spent $13.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $930 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.3 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Red Oak is run
Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.
About $930 per resident a year, or $2.55 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 31%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$930 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities
Red Oak’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($930 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 $986, and the middle half spent $726–$1,301. Red Oak spent less than 53% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($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 →
Texas cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Red Oak itself left out).
No trend yet
Red Oak reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $6,091 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.66% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Red Oak’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 Red Oak’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Red Oak →
Recent meetings
From Red Oak’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.
No upcoming meetings are posted yet.
Recent meetings
- Oct26Planning and Zoning CommissionMonday · 6:30 pm · 101 Live Oak St, Council ChamberPlanning and Zoning Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Oct20Parks and Recreation CommissionTuesday · 6:30 pm · Council Chamber, Red Oak Government Center (101 S. Live Oak Street)Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Oct13City CouncilTuesday · 7:00 pm · Red Oak Government Center, Council Chamber, 101 S. Live Oak StreetRed Oak City Council - Regular Meeting - October 13, 2026Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Oct13GeneralTuesday · 6:00 pm · Red Oak Government Center, Council Chamber, 101 S. Live Oak StreetNotice of Possible Quorum - Work Session DinnerAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep28Planning and Zoning CommissionMonday · 6:30 pm · 101 Live Oak St, Council ChamberPlanning and Zoning Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep17Industrial Development CorporationThursday · 4:00 pm · Red Oak Government Center, Council Chamber, 101 S. Live Oak StreetCity of Red Oak Industrial Development Corporation - Special Called MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep15Parks and Recreation CommissionTuesday · 6:30 pm · Council Chamber, Red Oak Government Center (101 S. Live Oak Street)Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep15Library Advisory BoardTuesday · 6:30 pm · Red Oak Public Library, Red Oak Government Center (101 S. Live Oak Street)Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.
Agenda portal ↗Who’s in charge in Red Oak
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
One full-time city employee for every 123 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 (14,098).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Red Oak Independent School District
Red Oak’s K–12 school district, shared with Oak Leaf, Pecan Hill, Ovilla, Glenn Heights. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $11,943 per pupil, $6,527 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.
Texas districts overall: 51% local, 36% state, 13% federal.
Ferris Independent School District · $14,344 per pupil
Waxahachie Independent School District · $11,710 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Red Oak’s votes are counted by county
Texas reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Red Oak alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Ellis County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican64.9%64,763 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat33.9%33,850 votesOthers: 1.2% (1,205 votes).
Most votes in Ellis County: Donald J Trump
Texas: Trump 56.1%, Harris 42.5%
100% of Red Oak lies in Ellis County. Every 2024 race in Ellis County is on the county’s page.
Ellis County’s 2024 results →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.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Red Oak.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilLocal officials aren’t on record yet.
- 2Texas HouseState representatives
- 3Texas SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Texas
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Red Oak compares with the towns next door
Red Oak spent $930 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $188 to $1,703. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Oak Leaf | $188 | $4,906 |
| Glenn Heights | $830 | $4,680 |
| Lancaster | $1,060 | $3,869 |
| Ferris | $1,703 | $3,511 |
| Waxahachie | estimate | $5,225 |
| Pecan Hill | estimate | $3,636 |
| Red Oak | $930 | $6,091 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Red Oak’s government
Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.
Questions about Red Oak’s government
How much does Red Oak spend per resident?
About $930 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 $930 was less than 53% of 68 Texas cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Red Oak?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,091 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.66% 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 Red Oak’s government?
We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Red Oak yet.
How did Red Oak vote in 2024?
Texas counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Red Oak alone. Ellis County, where 100% of Red Oak lies, voted Trump 64.9%, Harris 33.9% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Red Oak?
115 full-time and 0 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $705,255 (about $8.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Red Oak in the state legislature?
Red Oak is split among 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Texas Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Red Oak’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
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 →