Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Callaway

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
Callaway, Florida City Hall from frontPhoto: The Bushranger · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Callaway

Callaway spent less per resident in 2022 than 97% of similar cities

Callaway’s city government spent $11.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, about $865 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Florida.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$11.6M
year to September 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$865
In 2022: $699, less than 97% of 67 similar cities
Long-term debt
$14.6M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2022
77
full-time · 5 part-time · March payroll $375,124
Typical tax bill
$1,250
0.50% of home value · FL 0.76%

What stands out about how Callaway is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$699 per resident in 2022: less than 97% of them

Callaway’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($699 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 67 Florida cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,556, and the middle half spent $1,174–$2,204. Callaway spent less than 97% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,174–$2,204Median $1,556Callaway

Includes sewer and trash ($3.8 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
67

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

Your share of the 2024 budget

About $865 per resident a year, or $2.37 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 37%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 25%From the state 18%Utility sales 15%Interest, fines & other 10%Property taxes 9%Sales taxes 9%From the federal government 6%Other taxes & licenses 4%From other local governments 4%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $11.3 million; interest on debt $635,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $26.5 million.
Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 21% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$9.6 million
2024$11.6 million

Per resident: 2022: $699 · 2024: $865.

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 $1,250 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.50% of the home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Florida$2,730
Callaway$1,250
Springfield$990
Parker$928
$1,250
typical bill a year
0.50%
effective rate
$250,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Callaway

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

See cityofcallaway.com for Callaway’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Callaway yet.cityofcallaway.com ↗
Agendas

Callaway’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofcallaway.com ↗.

Who works for Callaway

One full-time city employee for every 174 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (13,391).

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

Fire16
Administration & buildings13 + 5 pt
Parks & libraries14
Roads & transportation13
Sewer & trash9
Water & other utilities9
Other3
77
full-time
5
part-time
$375,124
payroll for March 2022
$4.5M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$57,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
16
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Callaway had 5.6 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 53 of the 67 Florida cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 10.1: Callaway had fewer than 87% 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

Bay County School District

Callaway’s K–12 school district, shared with Lynn Haven, Mexico Beach, Panama City Beach, Panama City, Parker and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Callaway →
$11,843
per pupil · FL $13,006
27,675
students
$158.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $11,843 per pupil, $7,480 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 53%State 32%Federal 16%

Florida districts overall: 55% local, 29% state, 15% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Callaway’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Bay County’s results98,157 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican72.8%71,497 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat25.7%25,201 votes

Others: 1.5% (1,459 votes).

Most votes in Bay County: Donald J Trump

Florida: Trump 56.1%, Harris 43.0%

The county’s page

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

Bay 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 Callaway

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Callaway.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Florida HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Florida SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Florida

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

Next door

How Callaway compares with the towns next door

Callaway spent $699 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $977 to $1,132. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Parker$977$928
Springfield$1,132$990
Callaway$699$1,250

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 Callaway’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Callaway’s government

How much does Callaway spend per resident?

About $865 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 $699 was less than 97% of 67 Florida cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Callaway?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,250 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.50% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofcallaway.com.

Who runs Callaway’s government?

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

How did Callaway vote in 2024?

Florida counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Callaway alone. Bay County, where 100% of Callaway lies, voted Trump 72.8%, Harris 25.7% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Callaway?

77 full-time and 5 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $375,124 (about $4.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Callaway in the state legislature?

State Senate District 2 (Jay Trumbull) and State House District 6 (Griff Griffitts). The House district also covers six other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Callaway’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 →