City of Benton

What City of Benton does

The City of Benton is the incorporated municipal government of Benton, Franklin County, Illinois, providing essential public services to city residents, businesses, and visitors through a commission-based governance structure led by an elected Mayor and City Council. The City delivers core municipal functions including water distribution and wastewater treatment (including a recent $1,499,328.90 wastewater treatment plant loan), police and fire protection (Fire Pension Fund 84.52% funded, Police Pension Fund 82.26% funded as of January 2026), streets and public improvements, zoning and economic development (including TIF districts and Industrial Park II), trash collection, parks and recreation (Benton Community Park, Twin Oaks, Capitol and Malkovich Pavilions), and a general aviation airport (Benton Municipal Airport, H96).

The City operates from City Hall at 901 Public Square with departmental offices covering Water/Sewer, Police, Fire, Streets, and Zoning. Service delivery combines in-house staff with contracted vendors (trash pickup, tire supply), third-party consultants (Brown and Roberts for airport engineering, Shawnee Professional Services for zoning, Concepte of Illinois for web hosting), and grant administrators (Crosswalk Community Action Agency). Technology investments are modest and back-office oriented: ADP Workforce Now for payroll ($3,498/year), PayStar for online utility billing at secure.paystar.io, and Google Maps/OpenWeatherMap for public-facing site utilities. There is no disclosed proprietary technology platform, product roadmap, or AI/ML initiative — the underlying "infrastructure" is largely physical (water mains, sewer lines, runways, road network) and human-staff intensive.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of recurring and transactional streams. Recurring streams include property taxes (FY 2026-2027 tax levy raised 4% via Ordinance #2025-09), monthly water and sewer service fees (deposits set at $150.00), trash collection fees, and cable franchise fees. Transactional and project-based revenue includes airport fuel sales ($53,000+ across 677 transactions in 2024), facility rentals (Twin Oaks, park pavilions), and surcharges such as PA Fire Recovery Services billing for fire/hazmat response. Additional capacity comes from state and federal grants (Housing Rehabilitation Grant of $450,000 for 10 homes, Competitive Freight Program pursuit up to $3M with $600K city match), surplus property sales ($176,000 to S.A. DeWitt/Sonic), and pension fund contributions/governmental transfers. Customers are geographically constrained to the Benton city limits and adjacent service territory, and the City faces no direct private-sector competition within its jurisdiction.

Name

City of Benton

Legal name

City of Benton

Website

https://bentonil.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

City of Benton is the incorporated municipal government of Benton, Illinois, providing water, sewer, police, fire, streets, zoning, parks, and airport services to city residents and businesses, funded primarily by property taxes, utility fees, and state/federal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Waste Collection (56211), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Waste Management and Remediation Services (562)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Works Departments (Streets, Bridges, Stormwater, Fleet, Maintenance) (BPAIALAD), Municipal Wastewater Collection (Sewer Networks) (BPALAMAA), Rate Design, Tariff Administration & Regulatory Billing Compliance (EUANAIAF), Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Water and sewer utilities
• Public safety services
• Community development
• Parks and recreation

Headquarters

HQ city

Benton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Taxes: The city collects property taxes to fund general operations, police, fire, and public works.
2. Water and Sewer Fees: Residential and commercial customers pay water and sewer service fees. Payments due on the 15th of each month, accepted at local banks.
3. Tax Levy: Annual tax levy ordinance (Ordinance #2025-09) for FY 2026-2027 to fund city operations.
4. Airport Operations: Revenue from fuel sales ($53,000+ annually), hanger rentals, and farm leases at the Benton Municipal Airport (H96).
5. Franchise Fees: Cable franchise fees collected from cable service providers operating in the city.
6. Grant Funding: Various state and federal grants including housing rehabilitation grants ($450,000), airport grants, and infrastructure grants.
7. Trash Collection Fees: Fees collected for trash pickup services through contracted providers.
8. Facility Rentals: Rental income from Twin Oaks lodge and other city-owned facilities including Capitol Park Pavilion and Malkovich Park Pavilion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The City of Benton is a municipal government that delivers essential public services to residents and businesses within Benton, Illinois. Its core offerings include water distribution and wastewater treatment, residential and commercial trash collection, police and fire protection, street maintenance, zoning and permitting, parks and recreational facilities, and operations at Benton Municipal Airport (H96). The city bills utility customers monthly for water, sewer, and trash services.

Product overview

The City of Benton operates as a traditional municipal government providing essential public services through a commission-based structure. The city's offerings are organized around core utility services (water, sewer, trash), public safety (police, fire), and community amenities (parks, airport, facilities). The main service delivery channels include City Hall for administrative services, the online payment portal for utilities, and various departmental offices for specialized services. The city uses a combination of in-house staff and contracted services for service delivery, with recent investments in technology including ADP payroll systems and online utility billing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water and Sewer Services Municipal water distribution and wastewater management including billing, maintenance, new service applications, 24/7 emergency response, and annual Consumer Confidence Reports. Provided to residential and commercial customers within Benton.
• Police Department Services Municipal law enforcement providing emergency response (911), non-emergency calls, investigations, K9 unit, community policing programs, and school resource officer program with Benton Consolidated High School.
• Fire Department Services Fire suppression, emergency medical response, hazmat response, and fire prevention services using paid-on-call firefighters. Third-party billing via PA Fire Recovery Services for fire-related reimbursements.
• Trash Pickup Services Residential and commercial waste collection services managed through contracted providers and billed as part of utility services.
• Benton Community Park Public recreational facility featuring playgrounds, basketball courts, tennis courts, baseball/softball fields, walking paths, and fountain areas, home to Benton Area Little League programs.
• Benton Municipal Airport (H96) General aviation airport providing fuel services, hangar rentals, runway access, and farm leases. Generates over $53,000 annually in fuel sales.
• Facility Rentals (Twin Oaks and Park Pavilions) Event venue rental at Twin Oaks lodge, Capitol Park Pavilion, and Malkovich Park Pavilion available for weddings, galas, and community gatherings, operated by the Public Property Commissioner.
• Zoning and Economic Development Land use planning, permitting, business development support, alley closings, zoning map updates, and tax increment financing (TIF) programs supporting commercial and industrial growth.
• Streets and Public Improvements Road maintenance, street sweeping, pavement management, traffic signage, and infrastructure improvements managed by the Streets Commissioner.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fire Pension Fund 84.52% funded
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PA Fire Recovery ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 January 2026Third-party billing service for hazmat and fire-related reimbursements. One-year agreement approved to collect fire department service reimbursements.
• Lauterbach & Amen, LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 21 January 2026Financial auditing firm hired in January 2026 for city financial audits and accounting services for the Benton Fire Pension Fund and Police Pension Fund.
• Crosswalk Community Action AgencycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGrant administrator for the $450,000 Housing Rehabilitation Grant (Grant #16-243002) for 10 homes in targeted neighborhoods.
• Brown and RobertscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering firm providing airport terminal project design and FAA grant administration for the 90/10 funded terminal construction project at Benton Municipal Airport.
• Shawnee Professional ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerZoning and planning consulting services providing assistance with zoning map updates and land use planning.
• Best One Tire (Marion)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTire supplier for city vehicles including replacement of grader tires for the streets department.
• FREDCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranklin County Economic Development organization for regional economic development initiatives and business support.
• Benton-West City Economic Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint economic development corporation serving both Benton and West City to promote regional business growth and development.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Franklin County Government: The county-level government encompassing Benton. Relevant as an adjacent public-sector entity coordinating on economic development (via FREDCO), road maintenance, and regional services — not a direct peer but a closely related public-sector partner.

Direct peers

• City of Herrin, Illinois: Nearby Williamson County municipality offering analogous utility, public safety, and economic development services to a similar small-city population. Directly comparable in scale, service mix, and regional economic context.
• City of Du Quoin, Illinois: Perry County municipal government with similar small-city service profile including water, sewer, police, and fire. Directly comparable as a Southern Illinois municipality with analogous revenue and service scale.
• City of Harrisburg, Illinois: Saline County municipal government of similar size serving a comparable small-city population. Directly comparable on utility, public safety, and economic development service delivery.
• City of Pinckneyville, Illinois: Perry County seat municipal government offering similar municipal utility, public safety, and administrative services to a comparable small Southern Illinois population. Directly comparable on service scope and fiscal scale.
• City of Mount Vernon, Illinois: Regional hub municipal government in Southern Illinois offering similar utility, public safety, and economic development services to a comparable small-city population. Comparable on scale and operational complexity.
• City of West Frankfort, Illinois: Neighboring Franklin County municipal government providing comparable utility, police, fire, and street services. Strong direct peer given geographic proximity, shared county infrastructure, and overlapping service portfolios.
• City of Marion, Illinois: Adjacent Southern Illinois municipal government of comparable size providing water, sewer, public safety, and zoning services. Operates in the same labor market and serves a similar small-city customer base, making it a directly comparable peer for operational benchmarking.

Broad incumbents

• City of Carbondale, Illinois: Larger Southern Illinois municipal government offering an overlapping but broader portfolio of services. Comparable for utility operations and economic development approach, though at materially larger scale than Benton.

Regional players

• Village of Carterville, Illinois: Williamson County municipality operating in the same regional market with comparable small-scale utility and public safety services. Regional peer reflecting similar governance and service delivery models.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/City-of-Benton-City-Hall/462576187142967
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-of-benton

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of Benton