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Marsh-Warthen HouseMarsh-Warthen House · Photo: Harold Bush-Brown, Photographer Enlarged by L.D. Andrew · Public domain
Town Hall · LaFayette

LaFayette spent more per resident in 2022 than 78% of similar cities

LaFayette’s city government spent $11.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $1,500 per resident. Water and other utilities ($11.9 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Georgia.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$11.3M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,500
In 2022: $1,500, more than 78% of 105 similar cities
Long-term debt
$12.3M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
128
full-time · 3 part-time · March payroll $348,831
Typical tax bill
$1,302
0.90% of home value · GA 0.77%

What stands out about how LaFayette is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,500 per resident, more than 78% of 105 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer57% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Walker County School District with 2 other towns.Its own police and fire26 sworn officers and 6 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
Compared with similar places

$1,500 per resident in 2022: more than 78% of them

LaFayette’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,500 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 $1,116, and the middle half spent $820–$1,437. LaFayette spent more than 78% of them.

Middle half of the group, $820–$1,437Median $1,116LaFayette

Includes sewer and trash ($1.5 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
105

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,500 per resident a year, or $4.11 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 31%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 54%Fees & charges 24%From other local governments 8%From the federal government 5%Sales taxes 3%Property taxes 2%Interest, fines & other 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%From the state <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $301,000; interest on debt $281,000; payments to other governments $310,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $24.3 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,302 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.90% of the home’s value, vs 0.77% across Georgia.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Georgia$2,341
LaFayette$1,302
$1,302
typical bill a year
0.90%
effective rate
$144,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in LaFayette

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

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

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

Who works for LaFayette

One full-time city employee for every 59 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 (7,508).

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

Water & other utilities37
Police28
Sewer & trash24
Parks & libraries15 + 1 pt
Administration & buildings12 + 2 pt
Fire6
Roads & transportation4
Other2
128
full-time
3
part-time
$348,831
payroll for March 2022
$4.2M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$32,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
26
sworn police officers
6
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.LaFayette had 17.0 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 89 of the 105 Georgia cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 9.5: LaFayette had more than 87% 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

Walker County School District

LaFayette’s K–12 school district, shared with Lookout Mountain, Rossville. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in LaFayette →
$15,668
per pupil · GA $15,800
8,422
students
$13.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,668 per pupil, $9,756 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 35%State 52%Federal 13%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

LaFayette’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Walker County’s results32,086 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican79.4%25,462 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat20.1%6,436 votes

Others: 0.6% (188 votes).

Most votes in Walker County: Donald J Trump

Georgia: Trump 50.7%, Harris 48.5%

The county’s page

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

Walker 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 LaFayette

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for LaFayette.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityoflafayettega.org ↗
  2. 2
    Georgia HouseState representatives
    Mike Cameron
  3. 3
    Georgia SenateState senator
    Lanny Thomas
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Brian Kemp
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Clay Fuller
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Georgia
    Jon OssoffRaphael G. Warnock

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

Reach LaFayette’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityoflafayettega.org ↗

Questions about LaFayette’s government

How much does LaFayette spend per resident?

About $1,500 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 $1,500 was more than 78% of 105 Georgia cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in LaFayette?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,302 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.90% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.77% across Georgia. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityoflafayettega.org.

Who runs LaFayette’s government?

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

How did LaFayette vote in 2024?

Georgia counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for LaFayette alone. Walker County, where 100% of LaFayette lies, voted Trump 79.4%, Harris 20.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for LaFayette?

128 full-time and 3 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $348,831 (about $4.2M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents LaFayette in the state legislature?

State Senate District 53 (Lanny Thomas) and State House District 1 (Mike Cameron). The House district also covers four other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about LaFayette’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 →