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Hebron Church, Cemetery, and AcademyHebron Church, Cemetery, and Academy · Photo: Gwringle · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Commerce

How is Commerce run?

Commerce’s city government spent $7.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,037 per resident. Water and other utilities ($15.9 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Georgia.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$7.6M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,037
In 2022: $1,037, less than 61% of 105 similar cities
Long-term debt
$15.8M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
92
full-time · 87 part-time · March payroll $472,784 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$2,218
0.92% of home value · GA 0.77%

What stands out about how Commerce is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,037 per resident a year, or $2.84 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 30%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 59%Fees & charges 18%From other local governments 12%Property taxes 4%Sales taxes 3%Other taxes & licenses 2%Interest, fines & other 1%From the state 1%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.8 million; interest on debt $406,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $25.6 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,037 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Commerce’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,037 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 105 Georgia cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,117, and the middle half spent $820–$1,467. Commerce spent less than 61% of them.

Middle half of the group, $820–$1,467Median $1,117Commerce

Includes sewer and trash ($704,000), 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
105

Georgia cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Commerce itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,218 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.92% of the home’s value, vs 0.77% across Georgia.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Georgia$2,341
Commerce$2,218
$2,218
typical bill a year
0.92%
effective rate
$239,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Commerce

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

See commercega.org for Commerce’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Commerce yet.commercega.org ↗
Agendas

Commerce’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on commercega.org ↗.

Who works for Commerce

One full-time city employee for every 80 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (7,328).

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

Police26 + 2 pt
Fire0 + 47 pt
Water & other utilities19
Administration & buildings9 + 18 pt
Parks & libraries6 + 19 pt
Sewer & trash15 + 1 pt
Roads & transportation11
Health & welfare1
Other5
92
full-time
87
part-time
$472,784
payroll for March 2022
$5.7M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$51,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
21
sworn police officers
Estimates.Commerce didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

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

Commerce City School District

Commerce’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Commerce →
$15,017
per pupil · GA $15,800
1,868
students
$9 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,017 per pupil, $8,632 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 56%State 38%Federal 6%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Commerce’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Jackson County’s results47,243 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican77.3%36,497 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat22.2%10,472 votes

Others: 0.6% (274 votes).

Most votes in Jackson County: Donald J Trump

Georgia: Trump 50.7%, Harris 48.5%

The county’s page

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

Jackson 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 Commerce

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Commerce.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Georgia HouseCommerce is split between 3 districts
  3. 3
    Georgia SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Georgia

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

Reach Commerce’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Commerce’s government

How much does Commerce spend per resident?

About $1,037 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,037 was less than 61% of 105 Georgia cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Commerce?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,218 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.92% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.77% across Georgia. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see commercega.org.

Who runs Commerce’s government?

See commercega.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Commerce yet.

How did Commerce vote in 2024?

Georgia counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Commerce alone. Jackson County, where 100% of Commerce lies, voted Trump 77.3%, Harris 22.2% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Commerce?

92 full-time and 87 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $472,784 (about $5.7M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Commerce in the state legislature?

Commerce is split among 3 State House districts, so your address decides. The Georgia Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 50 (Bo Hatchett). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Commerce’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 →