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Aerial view of the Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine, FL 2025-05-20Photo: Schwerdf · CC BY 4.0
Town Hall · St. Augustine

St. Augustine spent more per resident in 2022 than 96% of similar cities

St. Augustine’s city government spent $60.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, about $3,999 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.9 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Florida.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$60.7M
year to September 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$3,999
In 2022: $3,321, more than 96% of 67 similar cities
Long-term debt
$55.4M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2022
328
full-time · 36 part-time · March payroll $1.7M
Typical tax bill
$2,822
0.64% of home value · FL 0.76%

What stands out about how St. Augustine 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: $3,321 per resident, more than 96% of 67 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer31% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares St. Johns County School District with 2 other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From St. Augustine’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 $3,999 per resident a year, or $10.96 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 32%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 38%Property taxes 21%Utility sales 15%Interest, fines & other 10%Sales taxes 5%Other taxes & licenses 5%From the state 4%From the federal government 1%From other local governments 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $12.7 million; interest on debt $2.1 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $85.9 million.
Compared with similar places

$3,321 per resident in 2022: more than 96% of them

St. Augustine’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,321 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. St. Augustine spent more than 96% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,160–$2,146Median $1,525St. Augustine

Includes sewer and trash ($15 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; St. Augustine itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 11% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$54.8 million
2023$59.9 million
2024$60.7 million

Per resident: 2022: $3,321 · 2023: $4,108 · 2024: $3,999. Per resident it went from $3,321 to $3,999 (up 20%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 16,518 to 15,180.

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 $2,822 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.64% of the home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

St. Augustine Beach$4,465
St. Augustine$2,822
Florida$2,730
St. Augustine South$1,957
$2,822
typical bill a year
0.64%
effective rate
$439,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in St. Augustine

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

See citystaug.com for St. Augustine’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for St. Augustine yet.citystaug.com ↗
Who works for St. Augustine

One full-time city employee for every 46 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 (15,180).

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

Police63
Administration & buildings60 + 5 pt
Sewer & trash48
Fire35
Parks & libraries21 + 18 pt
Water & other utilities30
Roads & transportation10
Courts, inspections & corrections3
Health & welfare3
Housing & development1
Other54 + 13 pt
328
full-time
36
part-time
$1.7M
payroll for March 2022
$20.9M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$61,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
57
sworn police officers
34
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.St. Augustine had 19.9 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: St. Augustine had more than 94% 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

St. Johns County School District

St. Augustine’s K–12 school district, shared with St. Augustine Beach, Marineland. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in St. Augustine →
$10,280
per pupil · FL $13,006
51,434
students
$443.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $10,280 per pupil, $5,780 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 60%State 34%Federal 6%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

St. Augustine’s votes are counted by county

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

President · St. Johns County’s results198,496 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican64.9%128,759 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat33.7%66,862 votes

Others: 1.4% (2,875 votes).

Most votes in St. Johns County: Donald J Trump

Florida: Trump 56.1%, Harris 43.0%

The county’s page

100% of St. Augustine lies in St. Johns County. Every 2024 race in St. Johns County is on the county’s page.

St. Johns 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 St. Augustine

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for St. Augustine.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: citystaug.com ↗
  2. 2
    Florida HouseState representatives
    Sam Greco
  3. 3
    Florida SenateState senator
    Tom Leek
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Ron DeSantis
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    John H. Rutherford
  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 St. Augustine compares with the towns next door

St. Augustine spent $3,321 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $767. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

St. Augustine South: unincorporated, no town budgetSt. Augustine Beach: $767 per resident (2022)St. Augustine SouthSt. Augustine BeachSt. Augustine
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
St. Augustine Beach$767$4,465
St. Augustine$3,321$2,822

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 St. Augustine’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecitystaug.com ↗

Questions about St. Augustine’s government

How much does St. Augustine spend per resident?

About $3,999 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 $3,321 was more than 96% of 67 Florida cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in St. Augustine?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,822 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.64% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see citystaug.com.

Who runs St. Augustine’s government?

See citystaug.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for St. Augustine yet.

How did St. Augustine vote in 2024?

Florida counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for St. Augustine alone. St. Johns County, where 100% of St. Augustine lies, voted Trump 64.9%, Harris 33.7% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for St. Augustine?

328 full-time and 36 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.7M (about $20.9M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents St. Augustine in the state legislature?

State Senate District 7 (Tom Leek) and State House District 19 (Sam Greco). The House district also covers six other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in St. Augustine?

The next posted meeting is Planning and Zoning Board on Tuesday, November 3, at 1:00 pm in 75 King Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about St. Augustine’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 →