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Larimer Memorial LibraryLarimer Memorial Library · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Palatka

Palatka spent less per resident in 2022 than 67% of similar cities

Palatka’s city government spent $13.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $1,323 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.2 million) and the airport ($1.9 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Florida.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$13.8M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,323
In 2022: $1,323, less than 67% of 67 similar cities
Long-term debt
$12.1M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2025
147
full-time · 4 part-time · March payroll $837,069
Typical tax bill
$1,431
0.95% of home value · FL 0.76%

What stands out about how Palatka is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,323 per resident, less than 67% of 67 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer37% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Putnam County School District with 4 other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Palatka’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 2022 budget

About $1,323 per resident a year, or $3.62 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 37%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 38%From the federal government 18%Property taxes 12%Sales taxes 12%Interest, fines & other 11%Other taxes & licenses 4%From the state 2%From other local governments 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.1 million; interest on debt $507,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $18.6 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,323 per resident in 2022: less than 67% of them

Palatka’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,323 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 $1,556, and the middle half spent $1,160–$2,204. Palatka spent less than 67% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,160–$2,204Median $1,556Palatka

Includes sewer and trash ($5.1 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; Palatka itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

City staff
147

full-time in March 2025, up from 131 in 2022.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,431 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.95% of the home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Florida$2,730
Palatka$1,431
$1,431
typical bill a year
0.95%
effective rate
$150,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Palatka

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

See palatka-fl.gov for Palatka’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Palatka yet.palatka-fl.gov ↗
Who works for Palatka

One full-time city employee for every 71 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (10,457).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Police36 + 2 pt
Sewer & trash35
Fire26 + 2 pt
Roads & transportation17
Administration & buildings15
Water & other utilities7
Housing & development5
Parks & libraries4
Courts, inspections & corrections1
Other1
147
full-time
4
part-time
$837,069
payroll for March 2025
$10.0M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$67,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
32
sworn police officers
26
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Palatka had 12.5 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: Palatka had more than 74% 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

Putnam County School District

Palatka’s K–12 school district, shared with Crescent City, Interlachen, Pomona Park, Welaka. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Palatka →
$13,859
per pupil · FL $13,006
10,178
students
$104.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,859 per pupil, $7,450 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 34%State 37%Federal 29%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Palatka’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Putnam County’s results36,370 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican73.4%26,700 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat25.7%9,354 votes

Others: 0.9% (316 votes).

Most votes in Putnam County: Donald J Trump

Florida: Trump 56.1%, Harris 43.0%

The county’s page

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

Putnam 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 Palatka

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Palatka.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: palatka-fl.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Florida HouseState representatives
    Judson Sapp
  3. 3
    Florida SenateState senator
    Tom Leek
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Ron DeSantis
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Randy Fine
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Florida
    Rick ScottAshley Moody

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

Next door

How Palatka compares with the towns next door

Palatka spent $1,323 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

East Palatka: unincorporated, no town budgetEast PalatkaPalatka
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Palatka$1,323$1,431

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 Palatka’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitepalatka-fl.gov ↗

Questions about Palatka’s government

How much does Palatka spend per resident?

About $1,323 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 $1,323 was less than 67% of 67 Florida cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Palatka?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,431 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.95% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see palatka-fl.gov.

Who runs Palatka’s government?

See palatka-fl.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Palatka yet.

How did Palatka vote in 2024?

Florida counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Palatka alone. Putnam County, where 100% of Palatka lies, voted Trump 73.4%, Harris 25.7% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Palatka?

147 full-time and 4 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $837,069 (about $10.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Palatka in the state legislature?

State Senate District 7 (Tom Leek) and State House District 20 (Judson Sapp). The House district also covers seven other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Palatka?

The next posted meeting is Planning Board on Tuesday, November 3, at 4:00 pm in City Hall, 201 N. 2nd St., from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Palatka’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 →