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Railroad Avenue Historic District Opelika AlabamaPhoto: Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Opelika

Opelika spent more per resident in 2022 than 84% of similar cities

Opelika’s city government spent $74 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, about $2,258 per resident. It also runs a hospital ($1.2 million) and water utilities ($50.6 million), counted separately. Census Bureau figures.

Town website
Next public meeting

General

4:30 pm · 300 MLK Boulevard

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$74.0M
year to September 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$2,258
In 2022: $1,933, more than 84% of 37 similar cities
Long-term debt
$192.1M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
428
full-time, hospital & welfare staff apart (429 in all) · March payroll $2.7M
Typical tax bill
$1,183
0.49% of home value · AL 0.38%

What stands out about how Opelika is run

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

Runs a hospital$1.2 million for a hospital the city runs in 2024, shown apart from day-to-day spending.Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,933 per resident, more than 84% of 37 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer44% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).
★ What stands out · Your share of the 2024 budget

About $2,258 per resident a year, or $6.19 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 15%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 35%Sales taxes 27%Other taxes & licenses 13%Fees & charges 9%Property taxes 9%Interest, fines & other 5%From the state 1%From the federal government <1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $39.6 million; interest on debt $6.6 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $172.4 million.
Why the hospital is apart.The Census Bureau counts the hospital it runs in the city’s books ($1.2 million, 1% of all operations). Only 135 of the 11,301 towns and cities of 2,500+ run one (Census finance files), so it is shown here and left out of every per-resident comparison.
About “Other”.43% of Opelika’s day-to-day spending ($31.5 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

$1,933 per resident in 2022: more than 84% of them

Opelika’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,933 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 $1,257, and the middle half spent $1,021–$1,628. Opelika spent more than 84% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,021–$1,628Median $1,257Opelika

Includes sewer and trash ($6.1 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; Opelika itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 23% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$60.2 million
2023$64.9 million
2024$74 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,933 · 2023: $2,057 · 2024: $2,258. Per resident it went from $1,933 to $2,258 (up 17%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 31,135 to 32,787.

City staff
428

full-time in March 2025 (hospital, health & welfare left out), up from 385 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 $1,183 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.49% of the home’s value, vs 0.38% across Alabama.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Auburn$1,668
Opelika$1,183
Alabama$788
$1,183
typical bill a year
0.49%
effective rate
$241,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Nov3
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:00 pm · 300 Martin Luther King BlvdOpelika City Council Regular MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Nov3
    City CouncilTuesday · 5:30 pm · 300 Martin Luther King BlvdOpelika City Council Work SessionAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct27
    GeneralTuesday · 3:00 pm · 300 Martin Luther King Blvd.Opelika Planning Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct26
    GeneralMonday · 6:00 pm · Opelika Public Library, 1100 Glenn StreetOne Time EventMeeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:00 pm · 300 Martin Luther King BlvdOpelika City Council Regular 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 ↗
Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Opelika

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

See opelika.org for Opelika’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Opelika yet.opelika.org ↗
Who works for Opelika

One full-time city employee for every 77 residents, not counting hospital, health & welfare staff

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 (32,787).

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

Police126
Fire87
Water & other utilities74 + 3 pt
Parks & libraries52
Administration & buildings44 + 5 pt
Sewer & trash19
Courts, inspections & corrections8 + 1 pt
Roads & transportation6
Housing & development1
Other11
Run separately
Hospital, health & welfare1 + 0 pt
428
full-time, hospital, health & welfare apart
9
part-time
$2.7M
payroll for March 2025
$32.4M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$75,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
94
sworn police officers
78
full-time firefighters
The hospital.The 1 full-time hospital, health & welfare staff include the hospital the city runs, so they are counted apart, as the hospitals are in the budget. The payroll figures cover every employee, the hospital’s included: the Census file doesn’t split pay by function.
Compared, 2022.Opelika had 12.4 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022 (hospital, health & welfare left out, and the same for any peer that runs a hospital). 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 11.7: Opelika had more 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

Opelika City School District

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

Schools in Opelika →
$12,919
per pupil · AL $13,926
5,204
students
$1.2 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,919 per pupil, $7,749 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 40%State 45%Federal 14%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Opelika’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Lee County’s results73,127 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican62.9%46,020 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat35.3%25,798 votes

Others: 1.8% (1,309 votes).

Most votes in Lee County: Donald J Trump

Alabama: Trump 64.6%, Harris 34.1%

The county’s page

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

Lee 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 Opelika

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Opelika.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: opelika.org ↗
  2. 2
    Alabama HouseOpelika is split between 3 districts
    Bob FincherJeremy GrayKristin Nelson
  3. 3
    Alabama SenateState senator
    Randy PriceJay Hovey
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kay Ivey
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Mike Rogers
  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 Opelika compares with the towns next door

Opelika spent $1,933 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Auburn: no reported 2022 figuresAuburnOpelika
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Auburnestimate$1,668
Opelika$1,933$1,183

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 Opelika’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteopelika.org ↗

Questions about Opelika’s government

How much does Opelika spend per resident?

About $2,258 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. Opelika also runs a hospital ($1.2 million), counted separately. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,933 was more than 84% of 37 Alabama cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Opelika?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,183 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.49% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.38% across Alabama. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see opelika.org.

Who runs Opelika’s government?

See opelika.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Opelika yet.

How did Opelika vote in 2024?

Alabama counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Opelika alone. Lee County, where 100% of Opelika lies, voted Trump 62.9%, Harris 35.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Opelika?

428 full-time and 9 part-time employees in March 2025 (plus 1 full-time hospital, health & welfare staff), with a March payroll of $2.7M (about $32.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Opelika in the state legislature?

Opelika is split among 3 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 Opelika?

The next posted meeting is General on Thursday, November 12, at 4:30 pm in 300 MLK Boulevard, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Opelika’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 →