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Milam Park Pool at DuskPhoto: City of Clarkston Government · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Clarkston

Clarkston spent less per resident in 2022 than 98% of similar cities

Clarkston’s city government spent $6.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $525 per resident.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Georgia.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$6.6M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$525
In 2022: $525, less than 98% of 42 similar cities
Long-term debt
$10.2M
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
35
full-time · 12 part-time · March payroll $182,441
Typical tax bill
$3,229
1.07% of home value · GA 0.77%

What stands out about how Clarkston 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: $525 per resident, less than 98% of 42 similar cities.A shared school districtShares DeKalb County School District with 6+ other towns.Split between districts2 State House districts cover Clarkston; your street decides yours.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Clarkston’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Oct27
    City CouncilTuesday · 7:00 pm · 736 Park North Blvd., Suite 120City Council Work SessionAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct27
    GeneralTuesday · 6:00 pm · 736 Park North Blvd., Suite 120Special Called City Council Meeting/Public HearingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    Planning & Zoning BoardTuesday · 7:00 pm · 736 Park North Blvd., Suite 120Planning & Zoning Board MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct15
    Historic Preservation CommissionThursday · 3:00 pm · 736 Park North Boulevard, Suite 120Historic Preservation Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    Downtown Development AuthorityTuesday · 10:00 am · 736 Park North Blvd., Suite 120Downtown Development Authority MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
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 $525 per resident a year, or $1.44 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 35%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 30%From the federal government 20%From other local governments 18%Sales taxes 14%Fees & charges 7%Interest, fines & other 6%Other taxes & licenses 5%From the state 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $3 million; interest on debt $456,000. With these, the whole budget was $10 million.
Compared with similar places

$525 per resident in 2022: less than 98% of them

Clarkston’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($525 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 42 Georgia cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,183, and the middle half spent $942–$1,687. Clarkston spent less than 98% of them.

Middle half of the group, $942–$1,687Median $1,183Clarkston

Includes sewer and trash ($219,000), 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
42

Georgia cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Clarkston itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $3,229 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.07% of the home’s value, vs 0.77% across Georgia.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Tucker$3,572
Scottdale$3,368
Clarkston$3,229
Georgia$2,341
$3,229
typical bill a year
1.07%
effective rate
$302,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Clarkston

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 361 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 (12,627).

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

Police19
Administration & buildings2 + 12 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections3
Other11
35
full-time
12
part-time
$182,441
payroll for March 2022
$2.2M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$61,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
19
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Clarkston had 2.8 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 33 of the 42 Georgia cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 8.4: Clarkston had fewer than 100% 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

DeKalb County School District

Clarkston’s K–12 school district, shared with Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Lithonia, Pine Lake and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Clarkston →
$17,739
per pupil · GA $15,800
91,398
students
$24.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $17,739 per pupil, $10,348 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 58%State 28%Federal 14%

Georgia districts overall: 49% local, 39% state, 12% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Clarkston’s votes are counted by county

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

President · DeKalb County’s results366,008 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat81.9%299,630 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican17.1%62,622 votes

Others: 1.0% (3,756 votes).

Most votes in DeKalb County: Kamala D Harris

Georgia: Trump 50.7%, Harris 48.5%

The county’s page

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

DeKalb 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 Clarkston

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Clarkston.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: clarkstonga.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Georgia HouseClarkston is split between 2 districts
    Karla DrennerImani Barnes
  3. 3
    Georgia SenateState senator
    Kim Jackson
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Brian Kemp
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr.
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Georgia
    Jon OssoffRaphael G. Warnock
Find your state legislators by address ↗

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

Next door

How Clarkston compares with the towns next door

Clarkston spent $525 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Scottdale: unincorporated, no town budgetTucker: no reported 2022 figuresScottdaleTuckerClarkston
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Tuckerestimate$3,572
Clarkston$525$3,229

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 Clarkston’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteclarkstonga.gov ↗

Questions about Clarkston’s government

How much does Clarkston spend per resident?

About $525 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $525 was less than 98% of 42 Georgia cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Clarkston?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,229 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.07% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.77% across Georgia. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see clarkstonga.gov.

Who runs Clarkston’s government?

See clarkstonga.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Clarkston yet.

How did Clarkston vote in 2024?

Georgia counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Clarkston alone. DeKalb County, where 100% of Clarkston lies, voted Harris 81.9%, Trump 17.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Clarkston?

35 full-time and 12 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $182,441 (about $2.2M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Clarkston in the state legislature?

Clarkston is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Georgia Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 41 (Kim Jackson). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Clarkston?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Thursday, November 5, at 7:00 pm in 736 Park North Blvd., Suite 120, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Clarkston’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 →