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Ashland City HallPhoto: Billertl · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Ashland

Ashland spent more per resident in 2022 than 95% of similar cities

Ashland’s city government spent $14.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,903 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.1 million) and the airport ($419,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Wisconsin.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$14.8M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,903
In 2022: $1,903, more than 95% of 134 similar cities
Long-term debt
$26.3M
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
96
full-time · 27 part-time · March payroll $490,410
Typical tax bill
$2,753
1.56% of home value · WI 1.42%

What stands out about how Ashland is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,903 per resident, more than 95% of 134 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer28% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Ashland School District with 6+ other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

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 $1,903 per resident a year, or $5.21 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 19%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 32%Property taxes 22%Fees & charges 21%Utility sales 11%From other local governments 6%Interest, fines & other 5%From the federal government 1%Other taxes & licenses 1%Sales taxes 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $4.8 million; interest on debt $1.1 million; payments to other governments $35,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $23.6 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,903 per resident in 2022: more than 95% of them

Ashland’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,903 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 134 Wisconsin cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,174, and the middle half spent $990–$1,409. Ashland spent more than 95% of them.

Middle half of the group, $990–$1,409Median $1,174Ashland

Includes sewer and trash ($2.9 million), 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
134

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

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,753 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.56% of the home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Wisconsin$3,792
Gingles$3,136
Sanborn$2,938
Ashland$2,753
Eileen$2,727
$2,753
typical bill a year
1.56%
effective rate
$176,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Ashland

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

See coawi.org for Ashland’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Ashland yet.coawi.org ↗
Who works for Ashland

One full-time city employee for every 81 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 (7,766).

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

Fire26 + 1 pt
Police19 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings10 + 10 pt
Parks & libraries8 + 10 pt
Roads & transportation11 + 3 pt
Sewer & trash7
Water & other utilities7
Health & welfare1
Housing & development1
Other6 + 1 pt
96
full-time
27
part-time
$490,410
payroll for March 2022
$5.9M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$59,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
18
sworn police officers
24
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Ashland had 12.4 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 108 of the 134 Wisconsin cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.3: Ashland had more than 97% 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

Ashland School District

Ashland’s K–12 school district, shared with Eileen, Gingles, Keystone, Pilsen, Sanborn and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Ashland →
$15,598
per pupil · WI $16,459
1,794
students
$21.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,598 per pupil, $7,950 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 19%State 63%Federal 18%

Wisconsin districts overall: 39% local, 50% state, 11% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Ashland voted in 2024

Official results for Ashland’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President4,244 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat61.2%2,598 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican36.8%1,563 votes

Others: 2.0% (83 votes).

Most votes in Ashland: Kamala D Harris

Ashland County: Harris 51.5%, Trump 46.8% · Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%

Turnout
67%

of Ashland’s 6,317 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Wisconsin: 76%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate4,196 votes
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat62.8%
Eric HovdeRepublican34.3%
Others2.9%

Most votes in Ashland: Tammy Baldwin

Ashland County: Baldwin 54.0%, Hovde 43.5% · Wisconsin: Baldwin 49.3%, Hovde 48.5%

U.S. House · Wisconsin’s 7th District430,384 votes
Tom TiffanyRepublican63.6%
Kyle KilbournDemocrat36.4%
Others0.1%

Most votes in the district: Tom Tiffany

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Ashland, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Ashland61.2%36.8%2.0%4,244
Ashland County51.5%46.8%1.7%8,955
Wisconsin48.7%49.6%1.7%3,422,918
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 Ashland

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Ashland.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: coawi.org ↗
  2. 2
    Wisconsin AssemblyState representatives
    Angela Stroud
  3. 3
    Wisconsin SenateState senator
    Romaine Quinn
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Tony Evers
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Thomas P. Tiffany
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Wisconsin
    Ron JohnsonTammy Baldwin

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

Next door

How Ashland compares with the towns next door

Ashland spent $1,903 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are townships, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar cities, above. Tap a town to see its page.

Gingles: $380 per resident (2022)Eileen: $767 per resident (2022)Sanborn: $320 per resident (2022)GinglesEileenSanbornAshland
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Sanborn$320$2,938
Gingles$380$3,136
Eileen$767$2,727
Ashland$1,903$2,753

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 Ashland’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecoawi.org ↗

Questions about Ashland’s government

How much does Ashland spend per resident?

About $1,903 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,903 was more than 95% of 134 Wisconsin cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Ashland?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,753 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.56% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see coawi.org.

Who runs Ashland’s government?

See coawi.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Ashland yet.

How did Ashland vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 61.2%, Donald J Trump 36.8% (4,244 votes, official results). Ashland County: Harris 51.5%, Trump 46.8%. Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%.

How many people work for Ashland?

96 full-time and 27 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $490,410 (about $5.9M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Ashland in the state legislature?

State Senate District 25 (Romaine Quinn) and Assembly District 73 (Angela Stroud). The Assembly district also covers 34 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Ashland?

The next posted meeting is Public Works on Thursday, November 12, at 5:00 pm in 601 Main Street W, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Ashland’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 →