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City Hall of Willis, Texas, South ViewPhoto: HIM Nguyen · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Willis

Willis spent less per resident in 2022 than 65% of similar cities

Willis’ city government spent $5.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $717 per resident. Water and other utilities ($787,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Texas.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$5.1M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$717
In 2022: $717, less than 65% of 175 similar cities
Long-term debt
$21.0M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
44
full-time · 7 part-time · March payroll $207,461
Typical tax bill
$1,997
1.61% of home value · TX 1.49%

What stands out about how Willis is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$717 per resident in 2022: less than 65% of them

Willis’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($717 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. Willis spent less than 65% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($955,000), 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; Willis itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $717 per resident a year, or $1.96 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 38%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 37%Property taxes 20%Utility sales 18%Fees & charges 13%From the federal government 7%From the state 4%Interest, fines & other 1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $140,000; interest on debt $752,000; payments to other governments $259,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $7 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,997 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.61% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Conroe$5,268
Texas$4,232
Willis$1,997
$1,997
typical bill a year
1.61%
effective rate
$124,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Willis

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 162 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 (7,122).

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

Administration & buildings15 + 5 pt
Police13
Water & other utilities7
Roads & transportation5
Sewer & trash3
Courts, inspections & corrections1 + 2 pt
44
full-time
7
part-time
$207,461
payroll for March 2022
$2.5M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$55,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
13
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Willis had 6.2 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: Willis had fewer than 78% 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

Willis Independent School District

Willis’ K–12 school district, shared with Panorama Village. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Willis →
$10,425
per pupil · TX $12,815
8,974
students
$358.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $10,425 per pupil, $5,922 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 58%State 34%Federal 7%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Willis’ votes are counted by county

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

President · Montgomery County’s results307,258 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican72.2%221,964 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat26.8%82,277 votes

Others: 1.0% (3,017 votes).

Most votes in Montgomery County: Donald J Trump

Texas: Trump 56.1%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Montgomery 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 Willis

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Willis.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Texas HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Texas SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Texas

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

Next door

How Willis compares with the towns next door

Willis spent $717 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $1,115. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Conroe$1,115$5,268
Willis$717$1,997

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 Willis’ government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Willis’ government

How much does Willis spend per resident?

About $717 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 $717 was less than 65% of 175 Texas cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Willis?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,997 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.61% 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 Willis’ government?

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

How did Willis vote in 2024?

Texas counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Willis alone. Montgomery County, where 100% of Willis lies, voted Trump 72.2%, Harris 26.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Willis?

44 full-time and 7 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $207,461 (about $2.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Willis in the state legislature?

State Senate District 4 (Brett Ligon) and State House District 16 (Will Metcalf). The House district also covers four other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Willis’ 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 →