Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Somerville

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
Somerville Courthouse Feb 2012 02Photo: Chris Pruitt · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Somerville

Somerville spent more per resident in 2022 than 85% of similar cities

Somerville’s town government spent $894,000 on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $1,143 per resident.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$894,000
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,143
In 2022: $1,143, more than 85% of 109 similar cities
Long-term debt
$1.3M
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
6
full-time · 11 part-time · March payroll $25,726
Typical tax bill
$400
0.28% of home value · AL 0.38%

What stands out about how Somerville is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$1,143 per resident in 2022: more than 85% of them

Somerville’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,143 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 109 Alabama cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $425, and the middle half spent $186–$701. Somerville spent more than 85% of them.

Middle half of the group, $186–$701Median $425Somerville

Includes sewer and trash ($359,000), 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
109

Alabama cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Somerville itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,143 per resident a year, or $3.13 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 40%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 53%From the state 18%Fees & charges 13%Other taxes & licenses 12%Interest, fines & other 4%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $69,000. With these, the whole budget was $963,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

Somerville reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $400 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.28% of the home’s value, vs 0.38% across Alabama.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Alabama$788
Somerville$400
$400
typical bill a year
0.28%
effective rate
$144,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Somerville’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. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

Tax bills are one input to Somerville’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Somerville →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Somerville

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

See townofsomerville.org for Somerville’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Somerville yet.townofsomerville.org ↗
Agendas

Somerville’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on townofsomerville.org ↗.

Who works for Somerville

One full-time town employee for every 130 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (782).

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

Administration & buildings1 + 6 pt
Police3 + 2 pt
Sewer & trash1 + 1 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections1
Parks & libraries0 + 2 pt
6
full-time
11
part-time
$25,726
payroll for March 2022
$308,712
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$38,600
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
2
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Somerville had 7.7 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 87 of the 109 Alabama cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 5.7: Somerville had more than 61% 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

Morgan County School District

Somerville’s K–12 school district, shared with Eva, Priceville, Trinity, Falkville. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Somerville →
$12,419
per pupil · AL $13,926
7,664
students
$93.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,419 per pupil, $6,992 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 36%State 52%Federal 12%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Somerville’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Morgan County’s results53,543 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican75.5%40,449 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat23.1%12,392 votes

Others: 1.3% (702 votes).

Most votes in Morgan County: Donald J Trump

Alabama: Trump 64.6%, Harris 34.1%

The county’s page

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

Morgan 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 Somerville

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Somerville.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
  2. 2
    Alabama HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Alabama SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Alabama

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

Reach Somerville’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Somerville’s government

How much does Somerville spend per resident?

About $1,143 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 $1,143 was more than 85% of 109 Alabama cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Somerville?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $400 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.28% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.38% across Alabama. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see townofsomerville.org.

Who runs Somerville’s government?

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

How did Somerville vote in 2024?

Alabama counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Somerville alone. Morgan County, where 100% of Somerville lies, voted Trump 75.5%, Harris 23.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Somerville?

6 full-time and 11 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $25,726 (about $308,712 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Somerville in the state legislature?

State Senate District 3 (Arthur Orr) and State House District 9 (Scott Stadthagen). The House district also covers four other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Somerville’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 →