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Wildwood city hall and fountain wildwood floridaPhoto: Connor J. Williams · CC BY 3.0
Town Hall · Wildwood

How is Wildwood run?

Wildwood’s city government spent $13.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $1,731 per resident. Water and other utilities ($4.5 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

City Commission

9:00 am · 100 N Main St

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$13.3M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,731
In 2022: $1,731, more than 63% of 97 similar cities
Long-term debt
$17.7M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2025
192
full-time · 25 part-time · March payroll $1.1M
Typical tax bill
$4,246
0.94% of home value · FL 0.76%

What stands out about how Wildwood is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer42% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Sumter County School District with 4 other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Wildwood’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 $1,731 per resident a year, or $4.74 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 29%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 29%Fees & charges 27%Utility sales 15%Sales taxes 10%Other taxes & licenses 9%Interest, fines & other 6%From the state 4%From other local governments 1%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $4.6 million; interest on debt $751,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $23.1 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,731 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Wildwood’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,731 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–$2,140. Wildwood spent more than 63% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,034–$2,140Median $1,449Wildwood

Includes sewer and trash ($2.9 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; Wildwood itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

City staff
192

full-time in March 2025, up from 114 in 2022.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $4,246 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.94% of the home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Wildwood$4,246
The Villages$3,400
Florida$2,730
Leesburg$1,711
Coleman$758
$4,246
typical bill a year
0.94%
effective rate
$451,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Wildwood

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 40 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 (7,659).

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

Police58 + 11 pt
Administration & buildings32 + 6 pt
Sewer & trash34
Parks & libraries18 + 8 pt
Water & other utilities20
Roads & transportation14
Courts, inspections & corrections1
Other15
192
full-time
25
part-time
$1.1M
payroll for March 2025
$12.8M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$64,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
47
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Wildwood had 14.9 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: Wildwood had more than 78% 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

Sumter County School District

Wildwood’s K–12 school district, shared with Bushnell, Center Hill, Coleman, Webster. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Wildwood →
$14,013
per pupil · FL $13,006
9,598
students
$48.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,013 per pupil, $7,823 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 76%State 11%Federal 13%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Wildwood’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Sumter County’s results105,608 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican68.3%72,134 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat30.8%32,551 votes

Others: 0.9% (923 votes).

Most votes in Sumter County: Donald J Trump

Florida: Trump 56.1%, Harris 43.0%

The county’s page

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

Sumter 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 Wildwood

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Wildwood.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: wildwood-fl.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Florida HouseState representatives
    Samantha Scott
  3. 3
    Florida SenateState senator
    Ralph Massullo
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Ron DeSantis
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Daniel Webster
  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 Wildwood compares with the towns next door

Wildwood spent $1,731 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $535 to $1,802. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

The Villages: unincorporated, no town budgetLeesburg: $1,802 per resident (2022)Coleman: $535 per resident (2022)The VillagesLeesburgColemanWildwood
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Coleman$535$758
Leesburg$1,802$1,711
Wildwood$1,731$4,246

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 Wildwood’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitewildwood-fl.gov ↗

Questions about Wildwood’s government

How much does Wildwood spend per resident?

About $1,731 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 $1,731 was more than 63% of 97 Florida cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Wildwood?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,246 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.94% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see wildwood-fl.gov.

Who runs Wildwood’s government?

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

How did Wildwood vote in 2024?

Florida counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Wildwood alone. Sumter County, where 100% of Wildwood lies, voted Trump 68.3%, Harris 30.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Wildwood?

192 full-time and 25 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.1M (about $12.8M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Wildwood in the state legislature?

State Senate District 11 (Ralph Massullo) and State House District 52 (Samantha Scott). The House district also covers five other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Wildwood?

The next posted meeting is City Commission on Monday, November 9, at 9:00 am in 100 N Main St, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Wildwood’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 →