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Town Hall · Helper

Helper spent more per resident in 2022 than 94% of similar cities

Helper’s city government spent $5.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $2,543 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.4 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Utah.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$5.4M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$2,543
In 2022: $2,543, more than 94% of 139 similar cities
Long-term debt
$23.3M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
10
full-time · 28 part-time · March payroll $50,457
Typical tax bill
$1,267
0.60% of home value · UT 0.52%

What stands out about how Helper is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$2,543 per resident in 2022: more than 94% of them

Helper’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,543 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 139 Utah cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $534, and the middle half spent $326–$942. Helper spent more than 94% of them.

Middle half of the group, $326–$942Median $534Helper

Includes sewer and trash ($241,000), 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
139

Utah cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Helper itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $2,543 per resident a year, or $6.97 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: housing & development, at 55%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 38%Utility sales 23%Sales taxes 16%Interest, fines & other 8%From the state 6%Property taxes 6%From other local governments 3%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $25,000; interest on debt $798,000; payments to other governments $613,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $8.3 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,267 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.60% of the home’s value, vs 0.52% across Utah.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Utah$2,525
Spring Glen$1,648
Helper$1,267
$1,267
typical bill a year
0.60%
effective rate
$209,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Helper

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

See helpercity.net for Helper’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Helper yet.helpercity.net ↗
Agendas

Helper’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on helpercity.net ↗.

Who works for Helper

One full-time city employee for every 214 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 (2,141).

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

Fire0 + 15 pt
Police4
Courts, inspections & corrections0 + 6 pt
Parks & libraries0 + 6 pt
Administration & buildings2 + 1 pt
Roads & transportation2
Water & other utilities2
10
full-time
28
part-time
$50,457
payroll for March 2022
$605,484
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$48,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
4
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Helper had 4.7 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 113 of the 139 Utah cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 1.5: Helper had more 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

Carbon School District

Helper’s K–12 school district, shared with East Carbon, Price, Scofield, Wellington. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Helper →
$14,332
per pupil · UT $11,467
3,320
students
$29.9 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,332 per pupil, $8,622 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 37%State 55%Federal 8%

Utah districts overall: 42% local, 51% state, 8% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Helper’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Carbon County’s results9,438 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican71.1%6,715 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat26.7%2,522 votes

Others: 2.1% (201 votes).

Most votes in Carbon County: Donald J Trump

Utah: Trump 59.4%, Harris 37.8%

The county’s page

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

Carbon 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 Helper

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Helper.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Utah HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Utah SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Utah

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

Next door

How Helper compares with the towns next door

Helper spent $2,543 per resident in 2022. 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
Helper$2,543$1,267

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 Helper’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Helper’s government

How much does Helper spend per resident?

About $2,543 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $2,543 was more than 94% of 139 Utah cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Helper?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,267 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.60% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.52% across Utah. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see helpercity.net.

Who runs Helper’s government?

See helpercity.net for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Helper yet.

How did Helper vote in 2024?

Utah counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Helper alone. Carbon County, where 100% of Helper lies, voted Trump 71.1%, Harris 26.7% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Helper?

10 full-time and 28 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $50,457 (about $605,484 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Helper in the state legislature?

State Senate District 26 (David Hinkins) and State House District 67 (Christine Watkins). The House district also covers 13 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Helper’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 →