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Rockmart Downtown Historic DistrictRockmart Downtown Historic District · Photo: Ecto1699 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Rockmart

Rockmart spent more per resident in 2022 than 95% of similar cities

Rockmart’s city government spent $12.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $2,603 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.4 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2023
$12.5M
year to June 30, 2023
Per resident, 2023
$2,603
In 2022: $2,313, more than 95% of 105 similar cities
Long-term debt
$3.6M
end of FY2023, reported
City staff, 2022
82
full-time · 8 part-time · March payroll $317,875
Typical tax bill
$1,303
0.65% of home value · GA 0.77%

What stands out about how Rockmart is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$2,313 per resident in 2022: more than 95% of them

Rockmart’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,313 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. Rockmart spent more than 95% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($4.3 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; Rockmart itself left out).

Your share of the 2023 budget

About $2,603 per resident a year, or $7.13 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 43%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 37%From other local governments 24%Property taxes 15%Utility sales 10%Sales taxes 10%Other taxes & licenses 2%Interest, fines & other 1%From the state 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $29,000; interest on debt $143,000; payments to other governments $100,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $15.2 million.
Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 21% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Rockmart reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$10.4 million
2023$12.5 million

Per resident: 2022: $2,313 · 2023: $2,603. Per resident it went from $2,313 to $2,603 (up 13%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 4,492 to 4,811.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,303 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.65% of the home’s value, vs 0.77% across Georgia.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Georgia$2,341
Rockmart$1,303
$1,303
typical bill a year
0.65%
effective rate
$201,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Rockmart

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

See rockmart-ga.gov for Rockmart’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Rockmart yet.rockmart-ga.gov ↗
Agendas

Rockmart’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on rockmart-ga.gov ↗.

Who works for Rockmart

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 2023 finance file (4,811).

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

Police22
Fire17 + 1 pt
Sewer & trash13
Parks & libraries5 + 3 pt
Roads & transportation6
Water & other utilities5
Housing & development3 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings3
Other8 + 2 pt
82
full-time
8
part-time
$317,875
payroll for March 2022
$3.8M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$45,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
20
sworn police officers
17
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Rockmart had 18.3 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: Rockmart had more than 92% 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

Polk County School District

Rockmart’s K–12 school district, shared with Aragon, Cedartown, Braswell, Taylorsville. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Rockmart →
$14,013
per pupil · GA $15,800
7,893
students
$32.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,013 per pupil, $8,391 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 30%State 57%Federal 13%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Rockmart’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Polk County’s results19,171 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican80.1%15,352 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat19.6%3,749 votes

Others: 0.4% (70 votes).

Most votes in Polk County: Donald J Trump

Georgia: Trump 50.7%, Harris 48.5%

The county’s page

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

Polk 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 Rockmart

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Rockmart.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Georgia HouseState representatives
  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 Rockmart’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Rockmart’s government

How much does Rockmart spend per resident?

About $2,603 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $2,313 was more than 95% of 105 Georgia cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Rockmart?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,303 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.65% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.77% across Georgia. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see rockmart-ga.gov.

Who runs Rockmart’s government?

See rockmart-ga.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Rockmart yet.

How did Rockmart vote in 2024?

Georgia counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Rockmart alone. Polk County, where 100% of Rockmart lies, voted Trump 80.1%, Harris 19.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Rockmart?

82 full-time and 8 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $317,875 (about $3.8M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Rockmart in the state legislature?

State Senate District 31 (Jason Anavitarte) and State House District 16 (Trey Kelley). The House district also covers four other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Rockmart’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 →