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Fell, Marian, LibraryFell, Marian, Library · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Fellsmere

Fellsmere spent less per resident in 2022 than 95% of similar cities

Fellsmere’s city government spent $3.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $555 per resident. Water and other utilities ($509,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$3.2M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$555
In 2022: $555, less than 95% of 97 similar cities
Long-term debt
$3.3M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
33
full-time · 4 part-time · March payroll $146,277
Typical tax bill
$891
0.51% of home value · FL 0.76%

What stands out about how Fellsmere is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$555 per resident in 2022: less than 95% of them

Fellsmere’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($555 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 97 Florida cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,451, and the middle half spent $1,040–$2,140. Fellsmere spent less than 95% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,040–$2,140Median $1,451Fellsmere

Includes sewer and trash ($238,000), 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
97

Florida cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Fellsmere itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $555 per resident a year, or $1.52 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 29%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 24%Utility sales 15%From the state 15%Sales taxes 12%From the federal government 11%Other taxes & licenses 9%Fees & charges 8%Interest, fines & other 4%From other local governments 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.1 million; interest on debt $153,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $5 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $891 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.51% of the home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Florida$2,730
Vero Lake Estates$1,653
West Vero Corridor$1,468
Fellsmere$891
$891
typical bill a year
0.51%
effective rate
$175,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Fellsmere

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

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

Fellsmere’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityoffellsmere.org ↗.

Who works for Fellsmere

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 2022 finance file (5,752).

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

Administration & buildings12
Police10 + 1 pt
Roads & transportation6 + 1 pt
Water & other utilities3
Other2 + 2 pt
33
full-time
4
part-time
$146,277
payroll for March 2022
$1.8M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$50,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
9
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Fellsmere had 5.7 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 81 of the 97 Florida cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 9.9: Fellsmere had fewer than 80% 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

Indian River County School District

Fellsmere’s K–12 school district, shared with Indian River Shores, Orchid, Sebastian, Vero Beach. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Fellsmere →
$12,517
per pupil · FL $13,006
16,950
students
$60.9 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,517 per pupil, $7,383 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 73%State 16%Federal 12%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Fellsmere’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Indian River County’s results99,493 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican63.1%62,737 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat35.8%35,654 votes

Others: 1.1% (1,102 votes).

Most votes in Indian River County: Donald J Trump

Florida: Trump 56.1%, Harris 43.0%

The county’s page

100% of Fellsmere lies in Indian River County. Every 2024 race in Indian River County is on the county’s page.

Indian River 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 Fellsmere

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Fellsmere.

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 Fellsmere compares with the towns next door

Fellsmere spent $555 per resident in 2022. 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
Fellsmere$555$891

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 Fellsmere’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Fellsmere’s government

How much does Fellsmere spend per resident?

About $555 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 $555 was less than 95% of 97 Florida cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Fellsmere?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $891 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.51% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityoffellsmere.org.

Who runs Fellsmere’s government?

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

How did Fellsmere vote in 2024?

Florida counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Fellsmere alone. Indian River County, where 100% of Fellsmere lies, voted Trump 63.1%, Harris 35.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Fellsmere?

33 full-time and 4 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $146,277 (about $1.8M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Fellsmere in the state legislature?

State Senate District 29 (Erin Grall) and State House District 34 (Robbie Brackett). The House district also covers six other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Fellsmere’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 →