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Town Hall · Jefferson

Jefferson spent less per resident in 2022 than 82% of similar towns

Jefferson’s town government spent $420,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $341 per resident.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$420,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$341
In 2022: $341, less than 82% of 1113 similar towns
Long-term debt
$101,000
end of 2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
2
full-time · 8 part-time · March payroll $12,800
Typical tax bill
$2,912
1.26% of home value · WI 1.42%

What stands out about how Jefferson is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$341 per resident in 2022: less than 82% of them

Jefferson’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($341 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 1113 Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $511, and the middle half spent $373–$727. Jefferson spent less than 82% of them.

Middle half of the group, $373–$727Median $511Jefferson

Includes sewer and trash ($20,000), 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
1113

Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Jefferson itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $341 per resident a year, or $0.93 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 69%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 46%From the state 41%Interest, fines & other 7%Fees & charges 4%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $70,000; interest on debt $5,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $504,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,912 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.26% of the home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Rock Grove Township$5,045
Sylvester$4,128
Clarno$4,100
Wisconsin$3,792
Spring Grove$3,338
Oneco Township$2,971
Jefferson$2,912
$2,912
typical bill a year
1.26%
effective rate
$231,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Jefferson

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

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

One full-time town employee for every 616 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 (1,231).

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

Roads & transportation1 + 5 pt
Administration & buildings1
Sewer & trash0 + 2 pt
Other0 + 1 pt
2
full-time
8
part-time
$12,800
payroll for March 2022
$153,600
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$31,600
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Jefferson had 1.6 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 835 of the 1113 Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 0.4: Jefferson had more than 73% 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

Juda School District

Jefferson’s K–12 school district, shared with Spring Grove, Sylvester. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Jefferson →
$15,889
per pupil · WI $16,459
280
students
$4.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,889 per pupil, $10,093 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 50%State 42%Federal 7%

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

Also serving Jefferson

Monroe School District · $15,475 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Jefferson voted in 2024

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

President727 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican68.4%497 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat30.0%218 votes

Others: 1.7% (12 votes).

Most votes in Jefferson: Donald J Trump

Green County: Harris 49.4%, Trump 49.1% · Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%

Turnout
91%

of Jefferson’s 796 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Wisconsin: 76%.

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

U.S. Senate723 votes
Eric HovdeRepublican64.9%
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat32.6%
Others2.5%

Most votes in Jefferson: Eric Hovde

Green County: Baldwin 51.0%, Hovde 46.9% · Wisconsin: Baldwin 49.3%, Hovde 48.5%

U.S. House · Wisconsin’s 2nd District457,257 votes
Mark PocanDemocrat70.1%
Erik OlsenRepublican29.8%
Others0.1%

Most votes in the district: Mark Pocan

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Jefferson, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Jefferson68.4%30.0%1.7%727
Green County49.1%49.4%1.5%22,076
Wisconsin49.6%48.7%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 Jefferson

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Jefferson.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Wisconsin AssemblyState representatives
  3. 3
    Wisconsin SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Wisconsin

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

Next door

How Jefferson compares with the towns next door

Jefferson spent $341 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $409 to $502. 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
Clarno$409$4,100
Sylvester$432$4,128
Spring Grove$502$3,338
Jefferson$341$2,912

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 Jefferson’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Jefferson’s government

How much does Jefferson spend per resident?

About $341 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 $341 was less than 82% of 1113 Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Jefferson?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,912 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.26% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the town’s assessor.

Who runs Jefferson’s government?

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

How did Jefferson vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 68.4%, Kamala D Harris 30.0% (727 votes, official results). Green County: Harris 49.4%, Trump 49.1%. Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%.

How many people work for Jefferson?

2 full-time and 8 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $12,800 (about $153,600 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Jefferson in the state legislature?

State Senate District 17 (Howard Marklein) and Assembly District 50 (Jenna Jacobson). The Assembly district also covers 29 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Jefferson’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 →