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Town Hall · Sterling

Sterling spent less per resident in 2022 than 71% of similar cities

Sterling’s town government spent $111,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $340 per resident. Water and other utilities ($45,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Utah.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$111,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$340
In 2022: $340, less than 71% of 139 similar cities
Long-term debt
$188,000
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
0
full-time · 5 part-time · March payroll $1,174
Typical tax bill
$1,352
0.55% of home value · UT 0.52%

What stands out about how Sterling is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $340 per resident, less than 71% of 139 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer28% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares South Sanpete School District with 6+ other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $1,352 a year: 0.55% of the home’s value, vs 0.52% across Utah.
Compared with similar places

$340 per resident in 2022: less than 71% of them

Sterling’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($340 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 $548, and the middle half spent $326–$952. Sterling spent less than 71% of them.

Middle half of the group, $326–$952Median $548Sterling

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; Sterling itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $340 per resident a year, or $0.93 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 50%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 31%Sales taxes 28%Fees & charges 11%From the state 10%From other local governments 8%Interest, fines & other 6%Property taxes 5%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $25,000; interest on debt $8,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $194,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,352 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.55% of the home’s value, vs 0.52% across Utah.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Utah$2,525
Sterling$1,352
$1,352
typical bill a year
0.55%
effective rate
$243,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Sterling

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

Check Sterling’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Sterling yet.
The school district

South Sanpete School District

Sterling’s K–12 school district, shared with Centerfield, Ephraim, Fayette, Gunnison, Manti and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Sterling →
$12,775
per pupil · UT $11,467
3,295
students
$11.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,775 per pupil, $8,778 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 25%State 66%Federal 8%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Sterling’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Sanpete County’s results12,944 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican82.3%10,653 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat14.7%1,906 votes

Others: 3.0% (385 votes).

Most votes in Sanpete County: Donald J Trump

Utah: Trump 59.4%, Harris 37.8%

The county’s page

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

Sanpete 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 Sterling

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Sterling.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Utah HouseState representatives
    Troy Shelley
  3. 3
    Utah SenateState senator
    Derrin Owens
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Spencer Cox
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Burgess Owens
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Utah
    Mike LeeJohn R. Curtis

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

Reach Sterling’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Sterling’s government

How much does Sterling spend per resident?

About $340 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 $340 was less than 71% of 139 Utah cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Sterling?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,352 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.55% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.52% across Utah. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the town’s assessor.

Who runs Sterling’s government?

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

How did Sterling vote in 2024?

Utah counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Sterling alone. Sanpete County, where 100% of Sterling lies, voted Trump 82.3%, Harris 14.7% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Sterling?

0 full-time and 5 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1,174 (about $14,088 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Sterling in the state legislature?

State Senate District 27 (Derrin Owens) and State House District 66 (Troy Shelley). The House district also covers 20 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Sterling’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 →