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Madison Central High SchoolPhoto: Justinsanders · Public domain
Town Hall · Madison

Madison spent less per resident in 2022 than 67% of similar cities

Madison’s city government spent $34.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, about $1,247 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.1 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Mississippi.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$34.6M
year to September 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,247
In 2022: $986, less than 67% of 18 similar cities
Long-term debt
$38.6M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
224
full-time · 13 part-time · March payroll $1.3M
Typical tax bill
$2,569
0.73% of home value · MS 0.72%

What stands out about how Madison is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$986 per resident in 2022: less than 67% of them

Madison’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($986 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 18 Mississippi cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,048, and the middle half spent $969–$1,247. Madison spent less than 67% of them.

Middle half of the group, $969–$1,247Median $1,048Madison

Includes sewer and trash ($3.9 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
18

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

Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,247 per resident a year, or $3.42 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 39%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 37%Property taxes 31%Fees & charges 15%Interest, fines & other 6%Other taxes & licenses 3%Sales taxes 3%Utility sales 3%From other local governments 2%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $4.7 million; interest on debt $1.1 million; payments to other governments $1.3 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $43.1 million.
Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 37% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$25.3 million
2023$28.3 million
2024$34.6 million

Per resident: 2022: $986 · 2023: $1,022 · 2024: $1,247. Per resident it went from $986 to $1,247 (up 26%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 25,701 to 27,775.

City staff
224

full-time in March 2025, up from 182 in 2022.

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 $2,569 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.73% of the home’s value, vs 0.72% across Mississippi.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Madison$2,569
Ridgeland$1,909
Mississippi$1,215
$2,569
typical bill a year
0.73%
effective rate
$352,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Madison

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

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

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

Who works for Madison

One full-time city employee for every 124 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (27,775).

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

Police101 + 4 pt
Fire52
Roads & transportation28
Water & other utilities16
Parks & libraries8 + 5 pt
Administration & buildings7
Housing & development3 + 1 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections1
Other8 + 3 pt
224
full-time
13
part-time
$1.3M
payroll for March 2025
$15.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$68,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
80
sworn police officers
48
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Madison had 7.1 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 12 of the 18 Mississippi cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 10.9: Madison had fewer than 100% 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

Madison County School District

Madison’s K–12 school district, shared with Flora, Ridgeland, Gluckstadt. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Madison →
$12,712
per pupil · MS $12,392
12,971
students
$41.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,712 per pupil, $7,692 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 50%State 41%Federal 10%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Madison’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Madison County’s results55,710 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican58.0%32,333 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat40.7%22,700 votes

Others: 1.2% (677 votes).

Most votes in Madison County: Donald J Trump

Mississippi: Trump 60.9%, Harris 38.0%

The county’s page

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

Madison 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 Madison

From town hall to Washington

Madison sends 5 representatives to the Mississippi House alone.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Mississippi HouseMadison is split between 5 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 Madison compares with the towns next door

Madison spent $986 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $970. 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
Ridgeland$970$1,909
Madison$986$2,569

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 Madison’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Madison’s government

How much does Madison spend per resident?

About $1,247 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $986 was less than 67% of 18 Mississippi cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Madison?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,569 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.73% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.72% across Mississippi. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see madisonthecity.com.

Who runs Madison’s government?

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

How did Madison vote in 2024?

Mississippi counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Madison alone. Madison County, where 100% of Madison lies, voted Trump 58.0%, Harris 40.7% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Madison?

224 full-time and 13 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.3M (about $15.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Madison in the state legislature?

Madison is split among 5 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Mississippi Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Madison’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 →