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Town Hall · Rio Hondo

Rio Hondo spent less per resident in 2022 than 67% of similar cities

Rio Hondo’s city government spent $1.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $704 per resident. Water and other utilities ($356,000) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.9M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$704
In 2022: $704, less than 67% of 175 similar cities
Long-term debt
$3.6M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
11
full-time · 9 part-time · March payroll $49,541
Typical tax bill
$1,519
1.46% of home value · TX 1.49%

What stands out about how Rio Hondo is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $704 per resident, less than 67% of 175 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer34% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,519 a year: 1.46% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas.
Compared with similar places

$704 per resident in 2022: less than 67% of them

Rio Hondo’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($704 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 175 Texas cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $898, and the middle half spent $630–$1,292. Rio Hondo spent less than 67% of them.

Middle half of the group, $630–$1,292Median $898Rio Hondo

Includes sewer and trash ($389,000), 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
175

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $704 per resident a year, or $1.93 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 21%.

Where the money comes from
From the federal government 32%Utility sales 21%Fees & charges 16%Property taxes 16%Sales taxes 10%From other local governments 3%Interest, fines & other 1%From the state 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $6.3 million; interest on debt $143,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $8.6 million.
About “Other”.42% of Rio Hondo’s day-to-day spending ($780,000) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,519 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.46% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Texas$4,232
Rio Hondo$1,519
$1,519
typical bill a year
1.46%
effective rate
$104,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Rio Hondo

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 240 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 (2,639).

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

Police6 + 1 pt
Roads & transportation3
Parks & libraries1 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings1 + 1 pt
Water & other utilities0 + 3 pt
Fire0 + 1 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections0 + 1 pt
11
full-time
9
part-time
$49,541
payroll for March 2022
$594,492
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$41,100
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
6
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Rio Hondo had 4.2 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 146 of the 175 Texas cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 8.4: Rio Hondo had fewer than 90% 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

Rio Hondo Independent School District

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

Schools in Rio Hondo →
$15,161
per pupil · TX $12,815
1,494
students
$26.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,161 per pupil, $7,379 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 22%State 63%Federal 15%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Rio Hondo’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Cameron County’s results116,309 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican52.4%60,991 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat46.6%54,258 votes

Others: 0.9% (1,060 votes).

Most votes in Cameron County: Donald J Trump

Texas: Trump 56.1%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

100% of Rio Hondo lies in Cameron County. Every 2024 race in Cameron County is on the county’s page.

Cameron 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 Rio Hondo

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Rio Hondo.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Texas HouseState representatives
    Janie Lopez
  3. 3
    Texas SenateState senator
    Adam Hinojosa
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Greg Abbott
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Vicente Gonzalez
  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 Rio Hondo’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Rio Hondo’s government

How much does Rio Hondo spend per resident?

About $704 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 $704 was less than 67% of 175 Texas cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Rio Hondo?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,519 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.46% 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 Rio Hondo’s government?

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

How did Rio Hondo vote in 2024?

Texas counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Rio Hondo alone. Cameron County, where 100% of Rio Hondo lies, voted Trump 52.4%, Harris 46.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Rio Hondo?

11 full-time and 9 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $49,541 (about $594,492 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Rio Hondo in the state legislature?

State Senate District 27 (Adam Hinojosa) and State House District 37 (Janie Lopez). The House district also covers 17 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Rio Hondo’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 →