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First African Baptist Church and ParsonageFirst African Baptist Church and Parsonage · Photo: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Waycross

Waycross spent more per resident in 2022 than 67% of similar cities

Waycross’ city government spent $19.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,418 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.1 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

City Commission

5:00 pm · City Hall Commission Chambers, 417 Pendleton Street

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$19.1M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,418
In 2022: $1,418, more than 67% of 42 similar cities
Long-term debt
$3.1M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2025
210
full-time · 15 part-time · March payroll $898,111 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$818
0.97% of home value · GA 0.77%

What stands out about how Waycross is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,418 per resident, more than 67% of 42 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer40% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).Split between districts3 State House districts cover Waycross; your street decides yours.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Waycross’ own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Nov3
    City CommissionTuesday · 5:00 pm · City Hall Commission Chambers, 417 Pendleton StreetCity Commission MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Nov2
    City CommissionMonday · 5:00 pm · City Hall Commission Chambers, 417 Pendleton StreetWork SessionMeeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    City CommissionTuesday · 5:00 pm · 417 Pendleton StreetCity Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct19
    City CommissionMonday · 5:00 pm · City Hall Commission Chambers, 417 Pendleton StreetWork SessionAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct6
    City CommissionTuesday · 6:00 pm · City Hall Commission Chambers, 417 Pendleton StreetOne Time EventMeeting page ↗
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 $1,418 per resident a year, or $3.88 a day

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

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 31%From other local governments 30%Property taxes 15%Sales taxes 11%Utility sales 5%Other taxes & licenses 4%From the state 2%Interest, fines & other 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $932,000; interest on debt $160,000; payments to other governments $50,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $23.5 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,418 per resident in 2022: more than 67% of them

Waycross’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,418 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 42 Georgia cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,175, and the middle half spent $865–$1,687. Waycross spent more than 67% of them.

Middle half of the group, $865–$1,687Median $1,175Waycross

Includes sewer and trash ($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
42

Georgia cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Waycross itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

City staff
210

full-time in March 2025, up from 193 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $818 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.97% of the home’s value, vs 0.77% across Georgia.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Georgia$2,341
Deenwood$1,215
Sunnyside$1,168
Waycross$818
$818
typical bill a year
0.97%
effective rate
$84,100
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Waycross

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

See waycrossga.com for Waycross’ current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Waycross yet.waycrossga.com ↗
Who works for Waycross

One full-time city employee for every 64 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (13,466).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Police66 + 1 pt
Fire58
Roads & transportation32
Administration & buildings17 + 7 pt
Health & welfare4
Sewer & trash4
Parks & libraries1
Other28 + 7 pt
210
full-time
15
part-time
$898,111
payroll for March 2025
$10.8M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$50,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
52
sworn police officers
57
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Waycross had 14.3 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 33 of the 42 Georgia cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 8.3: Waycross had more than 85% 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

Ware County School District

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

Schools in Waycross →
$16,364
per pupil · GA $15,800
5,977
students
$20.2 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,364 per pupil, $10,117 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 28%State 53%Federal 19%

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

Also serving Waycross

Pierce County School District · $13,981 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Waycross’ votes are counted by county

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

President · Ware County’s results14,392 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican71.4%10,279 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat28.3%4,068 votes

Others: 0.3% (45 votes).

Most votes in Ware County: Donald J Trump

Georgia: Trump 50.7%, Harris 48.5%

The county’s page

100% of Waycross lies in Ware County; the rest in Pierce County. Every 2024 race in Ware County is on the county’s page.

Ware 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 Waycross

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Waycross.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: waycrossga.com ↗
  2. 2
    Georgia HouseWaycross is split between 3 districts
    John CorbettJames BurchettSteven Meeks
  3. 3
    Georgia SenateState senator
    Mike HodgesRuss Goodman
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Brian Kemp
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Earl L. "Buddy" Carter
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Georgia
    Jon OssoffRaphael G. Warnock
Find your state legislators by address ↗

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

Next door

How Waycross compares with the towns next door

Waycross spent $1,418 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Sunnyside: unincorporated, no town budgetDeenwood: unincorporated, no town budgetSunnysideDeenwoodWaycross
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Waycross$1,418$818

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Waycross’ government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitewaycrossga.com ↗

Questions about Waycross’ government

How much does Waycross spend per resident?

About $1,418 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 $1,418 was more than 67% of 42 Georgia cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Waycross?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $818 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.97% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.77% across Georgia. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see waycrossga.com.

Who runs Waycross’ government?

See waycrossga.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Waycross yet.

How did Waycross vote in 2024?

Georgia counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Waycross alone. Ware County, where 100% of Waycross lies, voted Trump 71.4%, Harris 28.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Waycross?

210 full-time and 15 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $898,111 (about $10.8M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Waycross in the state legislature?

Waycross 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 Waycross?

The next posted meeting is City Commission on Monday, November 16, at 5:00 pm in City Hall Commission Chambers, 417 Pendleton Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Waycross’ 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 →