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Hull-Hawkins HouseHull-Hawkins House · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Live Oak

How is Live Oak run?

Live Oak’s city government spent $10.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $1,448 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.5 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Florida.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$10.1M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,448
In 2022: $1,448, less than 52% of 97 similar cities
Long-term debt
$10.5M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
69
full-time · 6 part-time · March payroll $300,879
Typical tax bill
$1,361
0.85% of home value · FL 0.76%

What stands out about how Live Oak is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Runs its own water & sewer49% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Suwannee County School District with 1 other town.Its own police and fire19 sworn officers and 9 full-time firefighters on the payroll.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $1,361 a year: 0.85% of the home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida.
★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,448 per resident a year, or $3.97 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 36%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 24%Property taxes 20%Utility sales 20%Fees & charges 10%Sales taxes 10%Interest, fines & other 7%Other taxes & licenses 5%From other local governments 3%From the federal government 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.2 million; interest on debt $234,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $14.1 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,448 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Live Oak’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,448 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 $1,034–$2,140. Live Oak spent less than 52% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,034–$2,140Median $1,451Live Oak

Includes sewer and trash ($3.7 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; Live Oak itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,361 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.85% of the home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Florida$2,730
Live Oak$1,361
$1,361
typical bill a year
0.85%
effective rate
$160,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Live Oak

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

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

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

Who works for Live Oak

One full-time city employee for every 101 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 (6,990).

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

Administration & buildings22 + 4 pt
Police19
Sewer & trash17
Fire9
Health & welfare1 + 1 pt
Other1 + 1 pt
69
full-time
6
part-time
$300,879
payroll for March 2022
$3.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$51,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
19
sworn police officers
9
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Live Oak had 9.9 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 9.7: Live Oak had more than 51% 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

Suwannee County School District

Live Oak’s K–12 school district, shared with Branford. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Live Oak →
$11,896
per pupil · FL $13,006
5,968
students
$445,000
long-term debt

Of the $11,896 per pupil, $6,333 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 26%State 51%Federal 23%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Live Oak’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Suwannee County’s results21,957 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican80.0%17,561 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat19.2%4,217 votes

Others: 0.8% (179 votes).

Most votes in Suwannee County: Donald J Trump

Florida: Trump 56.1%, Harris 43.0%

The county’s page

100% of Live Oak lies in Suwannee County. Every 2024 race in Suwannee County is on the county’s page.

Suwannee 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 Live Oak

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Live Oak.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofliveoak.org ↗
  2. 2
    Florida HouseState representatives
    Jason Shoaf
  3. 3
    Florida SenateState senator
    Corey Simon
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Ron DeSantis
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Kat Cammack
  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 Live Oak’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofliveoak.org ↗

Questions about Live Oak’s government

How much does Live Oak spend per resident?

About $1,448 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 $1,448 was less than 52% of 97 Florida cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Live Oak?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,361 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.85% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofliveoak.org.

Who runs Live Oak’s government?

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

How did Live Oak vote in 2024?

Florida counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Live Oak alone. Suwannee County, where 100% of Live Oak lies, voted Trump 80.0%, Harris 19.2% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Live Oak?

69 full-time and 6 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $300,879 (about $3.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Live Oak in the state legislature?

State Senate District 3 (Corey Simon) and State House District 7 (Jason Shoaf). The House district also covers 15 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Live Oak’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 →