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View from ISS Expedition 72, Gulf Breeze, Florida, November 19, 2024 (ISS072-E-98035) (cropped)Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
Town Hall · Gulf Breeze

Gulf Breeze spent more per resident in 2022 than 87% of similar cities

Gulf Breeze’s city government spent $20.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $2,835 per resident. Water and other utilities ($4.7 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$20.1M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$2,835
In 2022: $2,835, more than 87% of 97 similar cities
Long-term debt
$31.7M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
93
full-time · 32 part-time · March payroll $359,636 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$2,941
0.58% of home value · FL 0.76%

What stands out about how Gulf Breeze is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$2,835 per resident in 2022: more than 87% of them

Gulf Breeze’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,835 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 $1,449, and the middle half spent $1,034–$2,118. Gulf Breeze spent more than 87% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,034–$2,118Median $1,449Gulf Breeze

Includes sewer and trash ($7.7 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
97

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $2,835 per resident a year, or $7.77 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 38%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 36%Interest, fines & other 21%Fees & charges 16%Property taxes 7%From other local governments 6%From the federal government 5%Sales taxes 5%Other taxes & licenses 2%From the state 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $4.7 million; interest on debt $948,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $30.4 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,941 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.58% of the home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Gulf Breeze$2,941
Florida$2,730
Midway$2,507
Pensacola$1,852
Oriole Beach$1,603
$2,941
typical bill a year
0.58%
effective rate
$505,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Gulf Breeze

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

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

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

Who works for Gulf Breeze

One full-time city employee for every 76 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (7,075).

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

Police27 + 14 pt
Sewer & trash30 + 2 pt
Parks & libraries8 + 12 pt
Administration & buildings13 + 1 pt
Water & other utilities13
Roads & transportation2 + 1 pt
Health & welfare0 + 2 pt
93
full-time
32
part-time
$359,636
payroll for March 2022
$4.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$42,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
19
sworn police officers
Estimates.Gulf Breeze didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

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

Santa Rosa County School District

Gulf Breeze’s K–12 school district, shared with Jay, Milton. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Gulf Breeze →
$10,692
per pupil · FL $13,006
29,824
students
$120.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $10,692 per pupil, $6,518 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 38%State 50%Federal 12%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Gulf Breeze’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Santa Rosa County’s results112,910 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican74.7%84,314 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat23.9%27,035 votes

Others: 1.4% (1,561 votes).

Most votes in Santa Rosa County: Donald J Trump

Florida: Trump 56.1%, Harris 43.0%

The county’s page

100% of Gulf Breeze lies in Santa Rosa County. Every 2024 race in Santa Rosa County is on the county’s page.

Santa Rosa 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 Gulf Breeze

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Gulf Breeze.

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 Gulf Breeze compares with the towns next door

Gulf Breeze spent $2,835 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $2,525. 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
Pensacola$2,525$1,852
Gulf Breeze$2,835$2,941

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 Gulf Breeze’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Gulf Breeze’s government

How much does Gulf Breeze spend per resident?

About $2,835 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 $2,835 was more than 87% of 97 Florida cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Gulf Breeze?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,941 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.58% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofgulfbreeze.com.

Who runs Gulf Breeze’s government?

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

How did Gulf Breeze vote in 2024?

Florida counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Gulf Breeze alone. Santa Rosa County, where 100% of Gulf Breeze lies, voted Trump 74.7%, Harris 23.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Gulf Breeze?

93 full-time and 32 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $359,636 (about $4.3M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Gulf Breeze in the state legislature?

State Senate District 1 (Don Gaetz) and State House District 2 (Alex Andrade). The House district also covers 1 neighboring town. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Gulf Breeze’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 →