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Watauga City HallPhoto: Smarty9108 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Watauga

Watauga spent less per resident in 2022 than 87% of similar cities

Watauga’s city government spent $15.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $630 per resident. Water and other utilities ($7.8 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Texas.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$15.2M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$630
In 2022: $630, less than 87% of 68 similar cities
Long-term debt
$44.7M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2025
162
full-time · 29 part-time · March payroll $1.1M
Typical tax bill
$4,274
1.71% of home value · TX 1.49%

What stands out about how Watauga is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $630 per resident, less than 87% of 68 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer36% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Birdville Independent School District with 4 other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Oct26
    City CouncilMonday · 6:30 pm · City Hall Council Chambers, 7105 Whitley RoadCity Council Regular Meeting - CanceledMeeting page ↗
  • Oct26
    City CouncilMonday · 5:30 pm · City Hall Council Chambers, 7105 Whitley RoadCouncil Workshop - CanceledMeeting page ↗
  • Oct21
    Planning & Zoning CommissionWednesday · 6:30 pm · City Hall Council Chambers, 7105 Whitley RoadPlanning & Zoning Commission Meeting - CanceledMeeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    Watauga Economic Development CorporationTuesday · 6:30 pm · City Hall Council Chambers, 7105 Whitley RoadAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct15
    GeneralThursday · 3:00 pm · 6245 Rufe Snow Dr Ste 120Sol Dias RIbbon CuttingAgenda ↗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 $630 per resident a year, or $1.73 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 37%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 29%Sales taxes 25%Utility sales 16%Fees & charges 16%Interest, fines & other 9%From the federal government 3%From other local governments 2%From the state <1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $2.1 million; interest on debt $1.2 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $26.4 million.
Compared with similar places

$630 per resident in 2022: less than 87% of them

Watauga’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($630 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 $731–$1,301. Watauga spent less than 87% of them.

Middle half of the group, $731–$1,301Median $986Watauga

Includes sewer and trash ($525,000), 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
68

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

Over the years

No trend yet

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

City staff
162

full-time in March 2025, up from 139 in 2022.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $4,274 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.71% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Keller$9,614
North Richland Hills$5,449
Fort Worth$5,191
Watauga$4,274
Texas$4,232
Haltom City$3,058
$4,274
typical bill a year
1.71%
effective rate
$250,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Watauga

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

See ci.watauga.tx.us for Watauga’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Watauga yet.ci.watauga.tx.us ↗
Who works for Watauga

One full-time city employee for every 149 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (24,188).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Police46 + 2 pt
Parks & libraries20 + 21 pt
Fire27 + 1 pt
Administration & buildings16 + 2 pt
Water & other utilities15
Roads & transportation8
Sewer & trash7
Courts, inspections & corrections4 + 2 pt
Housing & development4 + 1 pt
Other15
162
full-time
29
part-time
$1.1M
payroll for March 2025
$13.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$79,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
35
sworn police officers
27
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Watauga had 5.7 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 8.2: Watauga had fewer than 82% 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

Birdville Independent School District

Watauga’s K–12 school district, shared with Richland Hills, Haltom City, North Richland Hills, Hurst. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Watauga →
$11,631
per pupil · TX $12,815
22,219
students
$621.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $11,631 per pupil, $6,697 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 52%State 37%Federal 11%

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

Also serving Watauga

Keller Independent School District · $11,042 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Watauga’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Tarrant County’s results823,312 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican51.8%426,626 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat46.7%384,501 votes

Others: 1.5% (12,185 votes).

Most votes in Tarrant County: Donald J Trump

Texas: Trump 56.1%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Tarrant 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 Watauga

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Watauga.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: ci.watauga.tx.us ↗
  2. 2
    Texas HouseState representatives
    David Lowe
  3. 3
    Texas SenateState senator
    Taylor Rehmet
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Greg Abbott
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Beth Van Duyne
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Texas
    John CornynTed Cruz

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

Next door

How Watauga compares with the towns next door

Watauga spent $630 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $693 to $1,446. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Keller: $852 per resident (2022)North Richland Hills: $1,446 per resident (2022)Fort Worth: $1,407 per resident (2022)Haltom City: $693 per resident (2022)KellerNorth Richland HillsFort WorthHaltom CityWatauga
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Haltom City$693$3,058
Keller$852$9,614
Fort Worth$1,407$5,191
North Richland Hills$1,446$5,449
Watauga$630$4,274

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 Watauga’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteci.watauga.tx.us ↗

Questions about Watauga’s government

How much does Watauga spend per resident?

About $630 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 $630 was less than 87% of 68 Texas cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Watauga?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,274 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.71% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.watauga.tx.us.

Who runs Watauga’s government?

See ci.watauga.tx.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Watauga yet.

How did Watauga vote in 2024?

Texas counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Watauga alone. Tarrant County, where 100% of Watauga lies, voted Trump 51.8%, Harris 46.7% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Watauga?

162 full-time and 29 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.1M (about $13.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Watauga in the state legislature?

State Senate District 9 (Taylor Rehmet) and State House District 91 (David Lowe). The House district also covers five other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Watauga?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Monday, November 9, at 5:30 pm in City Hall Council Chambers, 7105 Whitley Road, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Watauga’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 →