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Florence, MississippiPhoto: Roastedbeanz1 · CC BY 4.0
Town Hall · Florence

Florence spent less per resident in 2022 than 78% of similar cities

Florence’s city government spent $3.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $783 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($563,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Mississippi.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$3.6M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$783
In 2022: $783, less than 78% of 27 similar cities
Long-term debt
$4.4M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
33
full-time · 22 part-time · March payroll $154,314
Typical tax bill
$1,523
0.66% of home value · MS 0.72%

What stands out about how Florence is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$783 per resident in 2022: less than 78% of them

Florence’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($783 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 27 Mississippi cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $931, and the middle half spent $788–$1,109. Florence spent less than 78% of them.

Middle half of the group, $788–$1,109Median $931Florence

Includes sewer and trash ($603,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
27

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $783 per resident a year, or $2.15 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 35%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 34%Property taxes 22%Fees & charges 17%Utility sales 15%Interest, fines & other 9%Sales taxes 3%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $220,000; interest on debt $125,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $4.5 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

Florence reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau (2023 is an estimate), so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,523 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.66% of the home’s value, vs 0.72% across Mississippi.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Florence$1,523
Cleary$1,523
Mississippi$1,215
Richland$926
$1,523
typical bill a year
0.66%
effective rate
$230,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Florence

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

See florencems.com for Florence’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Florence yet.florencems.com ↗
Agendas

Florence’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on florencems.com ↗.

Who works for Florence

One full-time city employee for every 137 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 (4,531).

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

Police16 + 1 pt
Administration & buildings5 + 9 pt
Fire0 + 11 pt
Roads & transportation5
Parks & libraries5
Courts, inspections & corrections2 + 1 pt
33
full-time
22
part-time
$154,314
payroll for March 2022
$1.9M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$51,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
13
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Florence had 7.3 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 19 of the 27 Mississippi cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 9.9: Florence had fewer than 74% 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

Rankin County School District

Florence’s K–12 school district, shared with Brandon, Pelahatchie, Puckett, Flowood, Richland. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Florence →
$11,987
per pupil · MS $12,392
18,485
students
$170.9 million
long-term debt

Of the $11,987 per pupil, $7,266 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 43%State 46%Federal 11%

Mississippi districts overall: 33% local, 45% state, 23% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Florence’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Rankin County’s results69,678 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican73.0%50,896 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat25.9%18,060 votes

Others: 1.0% (722 votes).

Most votes in Rankin County: Donald J Trump

Mississippi: Trump 60.9%, Harris 38.0%

The county’s page

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

Rankin 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 Florence

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Florence.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Mississippi HouseFlorence is split between 2 districts
  3. 3
    Mississippi SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Mississippi

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

Next door

How Florence compares with the towns next door

Florence spent $783 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Richlandestimate$926
Florence$783$1,523

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 Florence’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Florence’s government

How much does Florence spend per resident?

About $783 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 $783 was less than 78% of 27 Mississippi cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Florence?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,523 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.66% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.72% across Mississippi. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see florencems.com.

Who runs Florence’s government?

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

How did Florence vote in 2024?

Mississippi counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Florence alone. Rankin County, where 100% of Florence lies, voted Trump 73.0%, Harris 25.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Florence?

33 full-time and 22 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $154,314 (about $1.9M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Florence in the state legislature?

Florence is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Mississippi Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 36 (Brian Rhodes). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Florence’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 →