Photo: John Trainor · CC BY 2.0Watkinsville spent less per resident in 2022 than 74% of similar cities
Watkinsville’s city government spent $2.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $826 per resident.
What stands out about how Watkinsville is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$826 per resident in 2022: less than 74% of them
Watkinsville’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($826 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. Watkinsville spent less than 74% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($156,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Georgia cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Watkinsville itself left out).
About $826 per resident a year, or $2.26 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 28%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Watkinsville reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $2,902 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.79% of the home’s value, vs 0.77% across Georgia.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Watkinsville’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 Watkinsville’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Watkinsville →
Who’s in charge in Watkinsville
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Watkinsville’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofwatkinsville.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 228 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 (2,962).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Oconee County School District
Watkinsville’s K–12 school district, shared with Bishop, North High Shoals, Bogart. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $13,402 per pupil, $8,845 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.
Georgia districts overall: 49% local, 39% state, 12% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Watkinsville’s votes are counted by county
Georgia reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Watkinsville alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Oconee County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican67.5%18,424 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat31.6%8,620 votesOthers: 0.9% (243 votes).
Most votes in Oconee County: Donald J Trump
Georgia: Trump 50.7%, Harris 48.5%
100% of Watkinsville lies in Oconee County. Every 2024 race in Oconee County is on the county’s page.
Oconee County’s 2024 results →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.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Watkinsville.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofwatkinsville.com ↗
- 2Georgia HouseState representatives
- 3Georgia SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Georgia
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Watkinsville’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Watkinsville’s government
How much does Watkinsville spend per resident?
About $826 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 $826 was less than 74% of 105 Georgia cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Watkinsville?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,902 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.79% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.77% across Georgia. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofwatkinsville.com.
Who runs Watkinsville’s government?
See cityofwatkinsville.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Watkinsville yet.
How did Watkinsville vote in 2024?
Georgia counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Watkinsville alone. Oconee County, where 100% of Watkinsville lies, voted Trump 67.5%, Harris 31.6% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Watkinsville?
13 full-time and 7 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $52,799 (about $633,588 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Watkinsville in the state legislature?
State Senate District 46 (Bill Cowsert) and State House District 121 (Eric Gisler). The House district also covers two neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Watkinsville’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
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 →