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Town Hall · Williston

Williston spent more per resident in 2022 than 68% of similar cities

Williston’s city government spent $5.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $1,884 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.5 million) and the airport ($1.5 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Florida.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$5.2M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,884
In 2022: $1,884, more than 68% of 97 similar cities
Long-term debt
$1.1M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
61
full-time · 38 part-time · March payroll $287,116
Typical tax bill
$1,655
0.65% of home value · FL 0.76%

What stands out about how Williston is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$1,884 per resident in 2022: more than 68% of them

Williston’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,884 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. Williston spent more than 68% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($1.2 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; Williston itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,884 per resident a year, or $5.16 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 24%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 39%Fees & charges 23%From the state 12%Property taxes 8%From other local governments 7%Sales taxes 5%Interest, fines & other 4%Other taxes & licenses 2%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $479,000; interest on debt $43,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $10.7 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,655 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.65% of the home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Florida$2,730
Williston$1,655
$1,655
typical bill a year
0.65%
effective rate
$252,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Williston

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

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

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

Who works for Williston

One full-time city employee for every 45 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 (2,765).

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

Police19 + 1 pt
Administration & buildings10 + 7 pt
Fire0 + 26 pt
Water & other utilities11
Roads & transportation3 + 4 pt
Health & welfare2
Other16
61
full-time
38
part-time
$287,116
payroll for March 2022
$3.4M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$45,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
12
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Williston had 22.1 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: Williston had more than 96% 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

Levy County School District

Williston’s K–12 school district, shared with Bronson, Cedar Key, Chiefland, Inglis, Otter Creek and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Williston →
$11,940
per pupil · FL $13,006
5,629
students
$2.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $11,940 per pupil, $6,112 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 29%State 50%Federal 21%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Williston’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Levy County’s results24,451 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican74.6%18,245 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat24.5%5,994 votes

Others: 0.9% (212 votes).

Most votes in Levy County: Donald J Trump

Florida: Trump 56.1%, Harris 43.0%

The county’s page

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

Levy 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 Williston

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Williston.

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 Williston compares with the towns next door

Williston spent $1,884 per resident in 2022. 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
Williston$1,884$1,655

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 Williston’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Williston’s government

How much does Williston spend per resident?

About $1,884 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 $1,884 was more than 68% of 97 Florida cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Williston?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,655 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.65% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see willistonfl.com.

Who runs Williston’s government?

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

How did Williston vote in 2024?

Florida counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Williston alone. Levy County, where 100% of Williston lies, voted Trump 74.6%, Harris 24.5% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Williston?

61 full-time and 38 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $287,116 (about $3.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Williston in the state legislature?

State Senate District 9 (Stan McClain) and State House District 22 (Chad Johnson). The House district also covers 12 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Williston’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 →