Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Fairhope

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Henry Stuart HouseHenry Stuart House · Photo: Chris Pruitt · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Fairhope

Fairhope spent more per resident in 2022 than 72% of similar cities

Fairhope’s city government spent $41.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $1,756 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($26 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

City Council

4:30 pm · Fairhope Municipal Complex Council Chambers, 161 N. Section Street

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$41.4M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,756
In 2022: $1,756, more than 72% of 25 similar cities
Long-term debt
$12.2M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
337
full-time · 0 part-time · March payroll $1.2M · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$1,758
0.41% of home value · AL 0.38%

What stands out about how Fairhope is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,756 per resident, more than 72% of 25 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer48% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Baldwin County School District with 6+ other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Fairhope’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

  • Nov9
    City CouncilMonday · 4:30 pm · Fairhope Municipal Complex Council Chambers, 161 N. Section StreetCity Council Work SessionMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Nov9
    City CouncilMonday · 6:00 pm · Fairhope Municipal Complex Council Chambers, 161 N. Section StreetCity Council MeetingMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Nov10
    GeneralTuesday · 5:00 pm · Fairhope Municipal Complex, Council Chambers, 161 N. Section StreetAirport Authority MeetingMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Nov13
    Environmental Advisory BoardFriday · 3:00 pm · Fairhope Public Library, Board Room, 501 Fairhope AvenueEnvironmental Advisory Board MeetingMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Nov16
    Board of AdjustmentMonday · 5:00 pm · Council Chambers, 161 North Section StreetBoard of Adjustment MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Nov18
    Historic Preservation CommissionWednesday · 3:30 pm · Fairhope Museum of History, 24 N. Section StreetFairhope Historic Preservation Commission Regular Meeting-Work SessionMeeting page ↗Add to calendar

Recent meetings

  • Nov2
    Planning CommissionMonday · 5:00 pm · Council Chambers 161 North Section Street Fairhope, Alabama 36532Planning Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct26
    City CouncilMonday · 6:00 pm · Fairhope Municipal Complex Council Chambers, 161 N. Section StreetCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct26
    City CouncilMonday · 4:30 pm · Fairhope Municipal Complex Council Chambers, 161 N. Section StreetCity Council Work SessionAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct19
    Board of AdjustmentMonday · 5:00 pm · Council Chambers, 161 North Section StreetBoard of Adjustment MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct14
    Harbor BoardWednesday · 4:30 pm · Fairhope Municipal Complex, Delchamps Room 1, 161 N. Section StreetHarbor Board MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
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 2022 budget

About $1,756 per resident a year, or $4.81 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: parks & libraries, at 16%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 40%Fees & charges 17%Sales taxes 15%From the state 11%Property taxes 7%Other taxes & licenses 5%Interest, fines & other 3%From the federal government 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $13.2 million; interest on debt $1 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $81.9 million.
About “Other”.27% of Fairhope’s day-to-day spending ($11 million) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Compared with similar places

$1,756 per resident in 2022: more than 72% of them

Fairhope’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,756 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 25 Alabama cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,222, and the middle half spent $976–$1,768. Fairhope spent more than 72% of them.

Middle half of the group, $976–$1,768Median $1,222Fairhope

Includes sewer and trash ($6.6 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
25

Alabama cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Fairhope itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

Fairhope reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau (2023, 2024 are estimates), so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,758 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

Point Clear$1,875
Fairhope$1,758
Daphne$1,314
Alabama$788
$1,758
typical bill a year
0.41%
effective rate
$430,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Fairhope

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 70 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (23,584).

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

Sewer & trash76
Water & other utilities74
Police62
Administration & buildings55
Parks & libraries25
Courts, inspections & corrections18
Roads & transportation14
Health & welfare8
Fire5
337
full-time
0
part-time
$1.2M
payroll for March 2022
$14.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$42,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
46
sworn police officers
5
full-time firefighters
Estimates.Fairhope didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

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

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

Schools in Fairhope →
$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

Fairhope’s votes are counted by county

Alabama reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Fairhope 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 Fairhope 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 Fairhope

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Fairhope.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cofairhope.com ↗
  2. 2
    Alabama HouseFairhope is split between 2 districts
    Jennifer FidlerMatt Simpson
  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 Fairhope compares with the towns next door

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

Point Clear: unincorporated, no town budgetDaphne: $1,157 per resident (2022)Point ClearDaphneFairhope
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Daphne$1,157$1,314
Fairhope$1,756$1,758

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 Fairhope’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecofairhope.com ↗

Questions about Fairhope’s government

How much does Fairhope spend per resident?

About $1,756 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,756 was more than 72% of 25 Alabama cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Fairhope?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,758 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 cofairhope.com.

Who runs Fairhope’s government?

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

How did Fairhope vote in 2024?

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

How many people work for Fairhope?

337 full-time and 0 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.2M (about $14.3M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Fairhope in the state legislature?

Fairhope is split among 2 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 Fairhope?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Monday, November 9, at 4:30 pm in Fairhope Municipal Complex Council Chambers, 161 N. Section Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Fairhope’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 →