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McDonough courthousePhoto: John Trainor from Roswell, GA, USA · CC BY 2.0
Town Hall · McDonough

McDonough spent less per resident in 2022 than 68% of similar cities

McDonough’s city government spent $23.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $837 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.1 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Georgia.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$23.1M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$837
In 2022: $837, less than 68% of 22 similar cities
Long-term debt
$7.0M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
157
full-time · 20 part-time · March payroll $773,638 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$2,973
0.95% of home value · GA 0.77%

What stands out about how McDonough is run

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

Agendas posted online4 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $837 per resident, less than 68% of 22 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer31% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Henry County School District with 3 other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

4 upcoming meetings at town hall

From McDonough’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 $837 per resident a year, or $2.29 a day

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

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 29%From other local governments 22%Property taxes 16%Sales taxes 16%Other taxes & licenses 6%Interest, fines & other 5%Utility sales 5%From the state 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.5 million; interest on debt $198,000; payments to other governments $55,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $27 million.
Compared with similar places

$837 per resident in 2022: less than 68% of them

McDonough’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($837 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 22 Georgia cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $998, and the middle half spent $730–$1,251. McDonough spent less than 68% of them.

Middle half of the group, $730–$1,251Median $998McDonough

Includes sewer and trash ($5.6 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
22

Georgia cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; McDonough itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,973 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.95% of the home’s value, vs 0.77% across Georgia.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

McDonough$2,973
Georgia$2,341
$2,973
typical bill a year
0.95%
effective rate
$314,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in McDonough

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

See mcdonoughga.org for McDonough’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for McDonough yet.mcdonoughga.org ↗
Who works for McDonough

One full-time city employee for every 176 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 (27,582).

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

Police53
Administration & buildings25 + 13 pt
Fire26 + 4 pt
Water & other utilities19
Roads & transportation13
Courts, inspections & corrections11 + 3 pt
Sewer & trash9
Other1
157
full-time
20
part-time
$773,638
payroll for March 2022
$9.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$56,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
48
sworn police officers
22
full-time firefighters
Estimates.McDonough 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

Henry County School District

McDonough’s K–12 school district, shared with Hampton, Locust Grove, Stockbridge. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in McDonough →
$13,908
per pupil · GA $15,800
43,258
students
$261 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,908 per pupil, $8,240 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 54%State 36%Federal 9%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

McDonough’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Henry County’s results129,034 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat64.5%83,253 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican34.9%44,982 votes

Others: 0.6% (799 votes).

Most votes in Henry County: Kamala D Harris

Georgia: Trump 50.7%, Harris 48.5%

The county’s page

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

Henry 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 McDonough

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for McDonough.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: mcdonoughga.org ↗
  2. 2
    Georgia HouseMcDonough is split between 3 districts
    Mary Ann SantosNoelle KahaianDemetrius Douglas
  3. 3
    Georgia SenateState senator
    Gail DavenportBrian Strickland
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Brian Kemp
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseSplit between districts
    Mike CollinsBrian Jack
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Georgia
    Jon OssoffRaphael G. Warnock
Find your state legislators by address ↗Find your House district by ZIP code ↗

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

Reach McDonough’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitemcdonoughga.org ↗

Questions about McDonough’s government

How much does McDonough spend per resident?

About $837 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 $837 was less than 68% of 22 Georgia cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in McDonough?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,973 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.95% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.77% across Georgia. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see mcdonoughga.org.

Who runs McDonough’s government?

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

How did McDonough vote in 2024?

Georgia counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for McDonough alone. Henry County, where 100% of McDonough lies, voted Harris 64.5%, Trump 34.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for McDonough?

157 full-time and 20 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $773,638 (about $9.3M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents McDonough in the state legislature?

McDonough is split among 3 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Georgia Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in McDonough?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Thursday, November 5, at 6:00 pm, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about McDonough’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 →