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Methodist Episcopal Church, SouthMethodist Episcopal Church, South · Photo: Chris Pruitt · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Daphne

How is Daphne run?

Daphne’s city government spent $35.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, about $1,197 per resident.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Alabama.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$35.5M
year to September 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,197
In 2022: $1,157, less than 62% of 37 similar cities
Long-term debt
$24.7M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
327
full-time · 47 part-time · March payroll $1.8M
Typical tax bill
$1,314
0.41% of home value · AL 0.38%

What stands out about how Daphne is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.A shared school districtShares Baldwin County School District with 6+ other towns.Split between districts3 State House districts cover Daphne; your street decides yours.Its own police and fire59 sworn officers and 61 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Daphne’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 2024 budget

About $1,197 per resident a year, or $3.28 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 21%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 53%Property taxes 13%From the state 9%Other taxes & licenses 8%From the federal government 8%Interest, fines & other 5%Fees & charges 4%From other local governments 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $24 million; interest on debt $772,000; payments to other governments $611,000. With these, the whole budget was $60.9 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,157 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Daphne’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,157 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 37 Alabama cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,292, and the middle half spent $1,021–$1,756. Daphne spent less than 62% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,021–$1,756Median $1,292Daphne

Includes sewer and trash ($2.1 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
37

Alabama cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Daphne itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 11% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Daphne reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$32.1 million
2023$33.2 million
2024$35.5 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,157 · 2023: $1,155 · 2024: $1,197. Per resident it went from $1,157 to $1,197 (up 3%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 27,719 to 29,670.

City staff
327

full-time in March 2025, up from 292 in 2022.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,314 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.41% of the home’s value, vs 0.38% across Alabama.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Fairhope$1,758
Daphne$1,314
Spanish Fort$945
Alabama$788
$1,314
typical bill a year
0.41%
effective rate
$323,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Daphne

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

See daphneal.com for Daphne’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Daphne yet.daphneal.com ↗
Who works for Daphne

One full-time city employee for every 91 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (29,670).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Police74 + 15 pt
Fire62
Roads & transportation52 + 2 pt
Parks & libraries43 + 17 pt
Administration & buildings31 + 9 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections17
Sewer & trash14 + 1 pt
Health & welfare6 + 1 pt
Other28 + 2 pt
327
full-time
47
part-time
$1.8M
payroll for March 2025
$21.2M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$62,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
59
sworn police officers
61
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Daphne had 10.5 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 27 of the 37 Alabama cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 11.9: Daphne had fewer than 67% 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

Baldwin County School District

Daphne’s K–12 school district, shared with Bay Minette, Elberta, Fairhope, Foley, Loxley and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Daphne →
$14,438
per pupil · AL $13,926
31,818
students
$192.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,438 per pupil, $8,289 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 45%State 46%Federal 9%

Alabama districts overall: 31% local, 53% state, 16% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Daphne’s votes are counted by county

Alabama reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Daphne alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Baldwin County’s results.

President · Baldwin County’s results122,249 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican78.4%95,798 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat20.4%24,934 votes

Others: 1.2% (1,517 votes).

Most votes in Baldwin County: Donald J Trump

Alabama: Trump 64.6%, Harris 34.1%

The county’s page

100% of Daphne lies in Baldwin County. Every 2024 race in Baldwin County is on the county’s page.

Baldwin County’s 2024 results →
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 Daphne

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Daphne.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: daphneal.com ↗
  2. 2
    Alabama HouseDaphne is split between 3 districts
    Matt SimpsonDonna GivensJennifer Fidler
  3. 3
    Alabama SenateState senator
    Chris Elliott
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kay Ivey
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Barry Moore
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Alabama
    Tommy TubervilleKatie Boyd Britt
Find your state legislators by address ↗

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

Next door

How Daphne compares with the towns next door

Daphne spent $1,157 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $812 to $1,756. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spanish Fort: $812 per resident (2022)Fairhope: $1,756 per resident (2022)Spanish FortFairhopeDaphne
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Spanish Fort$812$945
Fairhope$1,756$1,758
Daphne$1,157$1,314

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 Daphne’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitedaphneal.com ↗

Questions about Daphne’s government

How much does Daphne spend per resident?

About $1,197 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,157 was less than 62% of 37 Alabama cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Daphne?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,314 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.41% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.38% across Alabama. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see daphneal.com.

Who runs Daphne’s government?

See daphneal.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Daphne yet.

How did Daphne vote in 2024?

Alabama counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Daphne alone. Baldwin County, where 100% of Daphne lies, voted Trump 78.4%, Harris 20.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Daphne?

327 full-time and 47 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.8M (about $21.2M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Daphne in the state legislature?

Daphne is split among 3 State House districts, so your address decides. The Alabama Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 32 (Chris Elliott). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Daphne?

The next posted meeting is Public Safety Committee on Monday, November 9, at 4:30 pm in Jubilee Conference Room, Daphne City Hall, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Daphne’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 →