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Hippard HouseHippard House · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Fernandina Beach

Fernandina Beach spent more per resident in 2022 than 91% of similar cities

Fernandina Beach’s city government spent $41.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, about $3,067 per resident. Water and other utilities ($8 million) and the airport ($1.7 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Florida.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$41.1M
year to September 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$3,067
In 2022: $2,824, more than 91% of 67 similar cities
Long-term debt
$28.4M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2022
236
full-time · 61 part-time · March payroll $1.2M
Typical tax bill
$4,293
0.77% of home value · FL 0.76%

What stands out about how Fernandina Beach is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $2,824 per resident, more than 91% of 67 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer23% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Nassau County School District with 2 other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $3,067 per resident a year, or $8.40 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 30%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 30%Utility sales 19%Fees & charges 18%Sales taxes 16%Interest, fines & other 8%Other taxes & licenses 6%From the state 2%From the federal government <1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $7.2 million; interest on debt $1 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $59 million.
Compared with similar places

$2,824 per resident in 2022: more than 91% of them

Fernandina Beach’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,824 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 $1,525, and the middle half spent $1,160–$2,146. Fernandina Beach spent more than 91% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,160–$2,146Median $1,525Fernandina Beach

Includes sewer and trash ($6.4 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; Fernandina Beach itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 10% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$37.5 million
2024$41.1 million

Per resident: 2022: $2,824 · 2024: $3,067.

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 $4,293 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.77% of the home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Fernandina Beach$4,293
Florida$2,730
$4,293
typical bill a year
0.77%
effective rate
$555,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Fernandina Beach

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

See fbfl.us for Fernandina Beach’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Fernandina Beach yet.fbfl.us ↗
Who works for Fernandina Beach

One full-time city employee for every 57 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 (13,401).

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

Parks & libraries28 + 46 pt
Roads & transportation43 + 6 pt
Police46
Fire35
Water & other utilities20
Administration & buildings16 + 2 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections2
Sewer & trash2
Other44 + 7 pt
236
full-time
61
part-time
$1.2M
payroll for March 2022
$14.5M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$55,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
38
sworn police officers
35
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Fernandina Beach had 17.8 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 9.7: Fernandina Beach had more than 89% 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

Nassau County School District

Fernandina Beach’s K–12 school district, shared with Callahan, Hilliard. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Fernandina Beach →
$11,625
per pupil · FL $13,006
12,746
students
$4.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $11,625 per pupil, $6,687 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 66%State 26%Federal 8%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Fernandina Beach’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Nassau County’s results65,934 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican72.7%47,945 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat26.0%17,143 votes

Others: 1.3% (846 votes).

Most votes in Nassau County: Donald J Trump

Florida: Trump 56.1%, Harris 43.0%

The county’s page

100% of Fernandina Beach lies in Nassau County. Every 2024 race in Nassau County is on the county’s page.

Nassau 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 Fernandina Beach

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Fernandina Beach.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: fbfl.us ↗
  2. 2
    Florida HouseState representatives
    Dean Black
  3. 3
    Florida SenateState senator
    Clay Yarborough
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Ron DeSantis
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Aaron Bean
  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 Fernandina Beach’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitefbfl.us ↗

Questions about Fernandina Beach’s government

How much does Fernandina Beach spend per resident?

About $3,067 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 $2,824 was more than 91% of 67 Florida cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Fernandina Beach?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,293 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.77% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see fbfl.us.

Who runs Fernandina Beach’s government?

See fbfl.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Fernandina Beach yet.

How did Fernandina Beach vote in 2024?

Florida counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Fernandina Beach alone. Nassau County, where 100% of Fernandina Beach lies, voted Trump 72.7%, Harris 26.0% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Fernandina Beach?

236 full-time and 61 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.2M (about $14.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Fernandina Beach in the state legislature?

State Senate District 4 (Clay Yarborough) and State House District 15 (Dean Black). The House district also covers four other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Fernandina Beach?

The next posted meeting is City Commission on Wednesday, November 4, at 4:30 pm in 204 Ash Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Fernandina Beach’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 →