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Cottondale City HallPhoto: The Bushranger · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Cottondale

How is Cottondale run?

Cottondale’s city government spent $1 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $1,178 per resident. Water and other utilities ($232,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Florida.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.0M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,178
In 2022: $1,178, more than 54% of 122 similar cities
Long-term debt
$962,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
17
full-time · 0 part-time · March payroll $58,056
Typical tax bill
$496
0.63% of home value · FL 0.76%

What stands out about how Cottondale is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Runs its own water & sewer54% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Jackson County School District with 6+ other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $496 a year: 0.63% of the home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida.
★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,178 per resident a year, or $3.23 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 44%.

Where the money comes from
From the federal government 34%Fees & charges 26%Other taxes & licenses 10%Utility sales 9%Sales taxes 6%From other local governments 4%Property taxes 4%Interest, fines & other 3%From the state 3%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $768,000; interest on debt $41,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $2.1 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,178 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Cottondale’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,178 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 122 Florida cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,101, and the middle half spent $538–$1,752. Cottondale spent more than 54% of them.

Middle half of the group, $538–$1,752Median $1,101Cottondale

Includes sewer and trash ($457,000), 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
122

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

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $496 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.63% of the home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Florida$2,730
Cottondale$496
$496
typical bill a year
0.63%
effective rate
$79,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Cottondale

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

Check Cottondale’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Cottondale yet.
Who works for Cottondale

One full-time city employee for every 52 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 (884).

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

Administration & buildings10
Sewer & trash4
Police3
17
full-time
0
part-time
$58,056
payroll for March 2022
$696,672
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$41,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
3
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Cottondale had 19.2 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 99 of the 122 Florida cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.5: Cottondale had more than 91% 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

Jackson County School District

Cottondale’s K–12 school district, shared with Alford, Bascom, Campbellton, Graceville, Grand Ridge and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Cottondale →
$12,984
per pupil · FL $13,006
6,094
students
$2.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,984 per pupil, $7,062 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 21%State 55%Federal 23%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Cottondale’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Jackson County’s results22,152 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican72.6%16,074 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat26.6%5,892 votes

Others: 0.8% (186 votes).

Most votes in Jackson County: Donald J Trump

Florida: Trump 56.1%, Harris 43.0%

The county’s page

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

Jackson 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 Cottondale

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Cottondale.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Florida HouseState representatives
    Shane Abbott
  3. 3
    Florida SenateState senator
    Jay Trumbull
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Ron DeSantis
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Neal P. Dunn
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Florida
    Rick ScottAshley Moody

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

Reach Cottondale’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Cottondale’s government

How much does Cottondale spend per resident?

About $1,178 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 $1,178 was more than 54% of 122 Florida cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Cottondale?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $496 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.63% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who runs Cottondale’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Cottondale yet.

How did Cottondale vote in 2024?

Florida counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Cottondale alone. Jackson County, where 100% of Cottondale lies, voted Trump 72.6%, Harris 26.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Cottondale?

17 full-time and 0 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $58,056 (about $696,672 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Cottondale in the state legislature?

State Senate District 2 (Jay Trumbull) and State House District 5 (Shane Abbott). The House district also covers 25 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Cottondale’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 →