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Oconto Falls greeting sign, Summer 2013Photo: Gplehner · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Oconto Falls

How is Oconto Falls run?

Oconto Falls’ city government spent $3.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,237 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.5 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$3.5M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,237
In 2022: $1,237, more than 58% of 134 similar cities
Long-term debt
$18.7M
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
14
full-time · 19 part-time · March payroll $96,358
Typical tax bill
$2,721
1.67% of home value · WI 1.42%

What stands out about how Oconto Falls is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,237 per resident a year, or $3.39 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 28%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 47%Fees & charges 16%Property taxes 15%From the state 10%Interest, fines & other 5%From other local governments 4%From the federal government 1%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $536,000; interest on debt $807,000; payments to other governments $10,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $8.3 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,237 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Oconto Falls’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,237 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–$1,415. Oconto Falls spent more than 58% of them.

Middle half of the group, $990–$1,415Median $1,174Oconto Falls

Includes sewer and trash ($987,000), 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
134

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

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,721 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.67% of the home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Wisconsin$3,792
Oconto Falls$2,721
Stiles$2,567
$2,721
typical bill a year
1.67%
effective rate
$162,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Oconto Falls

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

See ci.ocontofalls.wi.us for Oconto Falls’ current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Oconto Falls yet.ci.ocontofalls.wi.us ↗
Agendas

Oconto Falls’ meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.ocontofalls.wi.us ↗.

Who works for Oconto Falls

One full-time city employee for every 200 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 (2,805).

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

Police6 + 5 pt
Administration & buildings3 + 7 pt
Roads & transportation5
Courts, inspections & corrections0 + 2 pt
Sewer & trash0 + 2 pt
Fire0 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries0 + 1 pt
Other0 + 1 pt
14
full-time
19
part-time
$96,358
payroll for March 2022
$1.2M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$70,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
6
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Oconto Falls had 5.0 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: Oconto Falls had fewer than 72% 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

Oconto Falls School District

Oconto Falls’ K–12 school district, shared with Abrams, Oconto Falls, Morgan, Spruce, Little Suamico and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Oconto Falls →
$15,066
per pupil · WI $16,459
1,679
students
$33.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,066 per pupil, $9,000 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 41%State 53%Federal 7%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Oconto Falls voted in 2024

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

President1,538 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican67.4%1,037 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat31.3%481 votes

Others: 1.3% (20 votes).

Most votes in Oconto Falls: Donald J Trump

Oconto County: Trump 70.9%, Harris 28.0% · Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%

Turnout
68%

of Oconto Falls’ 2,260 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Wisconsin: 76%.

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

U.S. Senate1,519 votes
Eric HovdeRepublican65.2%
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat31.7%
Others3.2%

Most votes in Oconto Falls: Eric Hovde

Oconto County: Hovde 68.6%, Baldwin 29.1% · Wisconsin: Baldwin 49.3%, Hovde 48.5%

U.S. House · Wisconsin’s 8th District842,409 votes
Tony WiedRepublican57.2%
Kristin LyerlyDemocrat42.7%
Others0.1%

Most votes in the district: Tony Wied

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Oconto Falls, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Oconto Falls67.4%31.3%1.3%1,538
Oconto County70.9%28.0%1.1%24,912
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 Oconto Falls

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Oconto Falls.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  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 Oconto Falls compares with the towns next door

Oconto Falls spent $1,237 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.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Stiles$347$2,567
Oconto Falls$1,237$2,721

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 Oconto Falls’ government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Oconto Falls’ government

How much does Oconto Falls spend per resident?

About $1,237 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 $1,237 was more than 58% of 134 Wisconsin cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Oconto Falls?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,721 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.67% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.ocontofalls.wi.us.

Who runs Oconto Falls’ government?

See ci.ocontofalls.wi.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Oconto Falls yet.

How did Oconto Falls vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 67.4%, Kamala D Harris 31.3% (1,538 votes, official results). Oconto County: Trump 70.9%, Harris 28.0%. Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%.

How many people work for Oconto Falls?

14 full-time and 19 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $96,358 (about $1.2M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Oconto Falls in the state legislature?

State Senate District 2 (Eric Wimberger) and Assembly District 4 (David Steffen). The Assembly district also covers 15 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Oconto Falls’ 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 →