Photo: I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license: · CC BY-SA 3.0In Watertown, 92% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Wisconsin
Watertown’s town government spent $955,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $468 per resident.
What stands out about how Watertown is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
About $468 per resident a year, or $1.28 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 51%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$468 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar towns
Watertown’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($468 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 $371–$727. Watertown spent less than 57% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($176,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Watertown itself left out).
No trend yet
Watertown reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $3,580 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.03% of the home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Watertown’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 Watertown’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Watertown →
Who’s in charge in Watertown
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Watertown’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on ci.watertown.wi.us ↗.
Watertown School District
Watertown’s K–12 school district, shared with Emmet, Watertown, Shields, Lebanon, Concord and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $16,044 per pupil, $9,664 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.
Wisconsin districts overall: 39% local, 50% state, 11% federal.
Johnson Creek School District · $16,831 per pupil
Lake Mills Area School District · $14,090 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Watertown voted in 2024
Official results for Watertown’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Donald J TrumpRepublican72.3%978 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat26.8%363 votesOthers: 0.9% (12 votes).
Most votes in Watertown: Donald J Trump
Jefferson County: Trump 57.4%, Harris 41.0% · Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%
of Watertown’s 1,472 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Wisconsin: 76%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Watertown: Eric Hovde
Jefferson County: Hovde 56.4%, Baldwin 41.5% · Wisconsin: Baldwin 49.3%, Hovde 48.5%
Most votes in the district: Scott Fitzgerald
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Watertown, its county and the state
| Trump | Harris | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown | 72.3% | 26.8% | 0.9% | 1,353 |
| Jefferson County | 57.4% | 41.0% | 1.6% | 50,146 |
| Wisconsin | 49.6% | 48.7% | 1.7% | 3,422,918 |
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.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Watertown.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: ci.watertown.wi.us ↗
- 2Wisconsin AssemblyState representatives
- 3Wisconsin SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Wisconsin
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Watertown compares with the towns next door
Watertown spent $468 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $318 to $568. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Milford | $318 | $3,975 |
| Emmet | $374 | $3,851 |
| Farmington | $431 | $3,629 |
| Shields | $489 | $3,400 |
| Ixonia | $568 | $4,058 |
| Watertown | $468 | $3,580 |
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 Watertown’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Watertown’s government
How much does Watertown spend per resident?
About $468 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 $468 was less than 57% of 1113 Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Watertown?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,580 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.03% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.watertown.wi.us.
Who runs Watertown’s government?
See ci.watertown.wi.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Watertown yet.
How did Watertown vote in 2024?
For president, Donald J Trump 72.3%, Kamala D Harris 26.8% (1,353 votes, official results). Jefferson County: Trump 57.4%, Harris 41.0%. Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%.
How many people work for Watertown?
0 full-time and 8 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $4,775 (about $57,300 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Watertown in the state legislature?
State Senate District 13 (John Jagler) and Assembly District 38 (Will Penterman). The Assembly district also covers 22 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Watertown’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
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 →