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Madison Alabama Downtown 2024Photo: Republic of Selmaria · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Madison

Madison spent less per resident in 2022 than 94% of similar cities

Madison’s city government spent $40.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, about $678 per resident.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Alabama.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$40.5M
year to September 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$678
In 2022: $1,023, less than 94% of 16 similar cities
Long-term debt
$300.2M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
463
full-time · 83 part-time · March payroll $2.9M
Typical tax bill
$1,994
0.50% of home value · AL 0.38%

What stands out about how Madison is run

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

Agendas posted online5 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,023 per resident, less than 94% of 16 similar cities.Split between districts4 State House districts cover Madison; your street decides yours.Its own police and fire88 sworn officers and 84 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

5 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Oct26
    City Council MeetingMonday · 6:00 pm · 100 Hughes RdCity Council Meeting October 26, 2026Meeting page ↗
  • Oct19
    Zoning BoardMonday · 5:30 pm · 100 Hughes RdAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct15
    Planning CommissionThursday · 5:30 pm · 100 Hughes RdPlanning Commission 10-15-2026Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct14
    City Council MeetingWednesday · 5:30 pm · 100 Hughes RdCity Council Work SessionMeeting page ↗
  • Oct12
    City Council MeetingMonday · 6:00 pm · 100 Hughes RdCity Council Meeting October 12, 2026Meeting 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 2024 budget

About $678 per resident a year, or $1.86 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 23%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 57%Property taxes 20%Other taxes & licenses 10%Interest, fines & other 5%From the state 4%Fees & charges 4%Utility sales 1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.2 million; interest on debt $9.8 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $55.5 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,023 per resident in 2022: less than 94% of them

Madison’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,023 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 16 Alabama cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,400, and the middle half spent $1,134–$1,546. Madison spent less than 94% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,134–$1,546Median $1,400Madison

Includes sewer and trash ($12.5 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
16

Alabama cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Madison itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is down 25% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$53.9 million
2023$39.8 million
2024$40.5 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,023 · 2023: $683 · 2024: $678. Per resident it went from $1,023 to $678 (down 34%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 52,654 to 59,785.

City staff
463

full-time in March 2025, up from 379 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 $1,994 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.50% of the home’s value, vs 0.38% across Alabama.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Madison$1,994
Alabama$788
$1,994
typical bill a year
0.50%
effective rate
$398,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Madison

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

See madisonal.gov for Madison’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Madison yet.madisonal.gov ↗
Who works for Madison

One full-time city employee for every 129 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 (59,785).

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

Police127 + 15 pt
Fire86
Parks & libraries35 + 63 pt
Roads & transportation55
Administration & buildings48 + 1 pt
Water & other utilities23
Sewer & trash20 + 1 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections8 + 1 pt
Health & welfare6
Other55 + 2 pt
463
full-time
83
part-time
$2.9M
payroll for March 2025
$35.2M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$74,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
88
sworn police officers
84
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Madison had 7.2 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 13 of the 16 Alabama cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 12.4: Madison had fewer than 100% 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

Madison City School District

Madison’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Madison →
$12,454
per pupil · AL $13,926
12,736
students
$187.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,454 per pupil, $7,165 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 47%State 49%Federal 4%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Madison’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Madison County’s results197,617 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican53.4%105,430 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat44.4%87,824 votes

Others: 2.2% (4,363 votes).

Most votes in Madison County: Donald J Trump

Alabama: Trump 64.6%, Harris 34.1%

The county’s page

79% of Madison lies in Madison County; the rest in Limestone County. Every 2024 race in Madison County is on the county’s page.

Madison 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 Madison

From town hall to Washington

Madison sends 4 representatives to the Alabama House alone.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: madisonal.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Alabama HouseMadison is split between 4 districts
    Parker MoorePhillip RigsbyMarilyn LandsDanny Crawford
  3. 3
    Alabama SenateState senator
    Tom ButlerArthur Orr
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kay Ivey
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Dale W. Strong
  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.

Reach Madison’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitemadisonal.gov ↗

Questions about Madison’s government

How much does Madison spend per resident?

About $678 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 $1,023 was less than 94% of 16 Alabama cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Madison?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,994 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.50% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.38% across Alabama. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see madisonal.gov.

Who runs Madison’s government?

See madisonal.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Madison yet.

How did Madison vote in 2024?

Alabama counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Madison alone. Madison County, where 79% of Madison lies, voted Trump 53.4%, Harris 44.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Madison?

463 full-time and 83 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $2.9M (about $35.2M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Madison in the state legislature?

Madison is split among 4 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Alabama Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Madison?

The next posted meeting is City Council Meeting on Monday, November 9, at 6:00 pm in 100 Hughes Rd, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Madison’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 →