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Town Hall · Ocean Springs

Ocean Springs spent more per resident in 2022 than 66% of similar cities

Ocean Springs’ city government spent $19 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $1,070 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($1.4 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

Zoning & Adjustments Board

5:00 pm · 1018 Porter Avenue Ocean Springs, MS 39564

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$19.0M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,070
In 2022: $1,070, more than 66% of 44 similar cities
Long-term debt
$13.5M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2025
178
full-time · 56 part-time · March payroll $883,284 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$2,046
0.79% of home value · MS 0.72%

What stands out about how Ocean Springs 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: $1,070 per resident, more than 66% of 44 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer24% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).Split between districts4 State House districts cover Ocean Springs; your street decides yours.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Nov3
    Board of AldermenTuesday · 6:00 pm · City Hall Board RoomBoard of Aldermen Regular MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    Board of AldermenTuesday · 6:00 pm · City Hall Board RoomBoard of Aldermen Recess MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct15
    Historic Preservation CommissionThursday · 6:00 pm · 1018 Porter Avenue Ocean Springs, MS 39564Historic Preservation Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    Planning CommissionTuesday · 6:00 pm · 1018 Porter Ave. Ocean Springs, MS 39564Planning Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    Zoning & Adjustments BoardTuesday · 5:00 pm · 1018 Porter Avenue Ocean Springs, MS 39564Zoning & Adjustment Board MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting 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 $1,070 per resident a year, or $2.93 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 23%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 42%Fees & charges 20%Property taxes 19%Utility sales 10%Sales taxes 3%Interest, fines & other 3%Other taxes & licenses 2%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.4 million; interest on debt $403,000; payments to other governments $2.5 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $24.8 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,070 per resident in 2022: more than 66% of them

Ocean Springs’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,070 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 44 Mississippi cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,004, and the middle half spent $794–$1,191. Ocean Springs spent more than 66% of them.

Middle half of the group, $794–$1,191Median $1,004Ocean Springs

Includes sewer and trash ($3.5 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
44

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

Over the years

No trend yet

Ocean Springs reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau (2023, 2024 are estimates), so there is no trend yet.

City staff
178

full-time in March 2025, up from 175 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,046 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.79% of the home’s value, vs 0.72% across Mississippi.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Ocean Springs$2,046
Gulf Park Estates$1,491
Gulf Hills$1,433
Biloxi$1,354
Mississippi$1,215
Gautier$1,134
St. Martin$1,019
$2,046
typical bill a year
0.79%
effective rate
$259,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Ocean Springs

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

See oceansprings-ms.gov for Ocean Springs’ current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Ocean Springs yet.oceansprings-ms.gov ↗
Who works for Ocean Springs

One full-time city employee for every 100 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 (17,791).

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

Police51 + 14 pt
Fire39
Parks & libraries18 + 25 pt
Administration & buildings19 + 10 pt
Sewer & trash23
Courts, inspections & corrections6 + 6 pt
Water & other utilities7
Other15 + 1 pt
178
full-time
56
part-time
$883,284
payroll for March 2025
$10.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$52,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
41
sworn police officers
39
full-time firefighters
Estimates.Ocean Springs didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

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

Ocean Springs School District

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

Schools in Ocean Springs →
$10,831
per pupil · MS $12,392
5,808
students
$7.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $10,831 per pupil, $6,438 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 36%State 54%Federal 10%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Ocean Springs’ votes are counted by county

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

President · Jackson County’s results52,410 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican69.4%36,376 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat29.5%15,469 votes

Others: 1.1% (565 votes).

Most votes in Jackson County: Donald J Trump

Mississippi: Trump 60.9%, Harris 38.0%

The county’s page

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

Jackson 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 Ocean Springs

From town hall to Washington

Ocean Springs sends 4 representatives to the Mississippi House alone.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: oceansprings-ms.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Mississippi HouseOcean Springs is split between 4 districts
    Hank ZuberJimmy FondrenJeff GuiceJohn Read
  3. 3
    Mississippi SenateState senator
    Brice WigginsJeremy England
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Tate Reeves
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Mike Ezell
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Mississippi
    Roger F. WickerCindy Hyde-Smith
Find your state legislators by address ↗

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

Next door

How Ocean Springs compares with the towns next door

Ocean Springs spent $1,070 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $682 to $1,493. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Gulf Hills: unincorporated, no town budgetGulf Park Estates: unincorporated, no town budgetBiloxi: $1,493 per resident (2022)Gautier: $682 per resident (2022)St. Martin: unincorporated, no town budgetGulf HillsGulf Park EstatesBiloxiGautierSt. MartinOcean Springs
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Gautier$682$1,134
Biloxi$1,493$1,354
Ocean Springs$1,070$2,046

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 Ocean Springs’ government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteoceansprings-ms.gov ↗

Questions about Ocean Springs’ government

How much does Ocean Springs spend per resident?

About $1,070 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 $1,070 was more than 66% of 44 Mississippi cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Ocean Springs?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,046 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.79% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.72% across Mississippi. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see oceansprings-ms.gov.

Who runs Ocean Springs’ government?

See oceansprings-ms.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Ocean Springs yet.

How did Ocean Springs vote in 2024?

Mississippi counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Ocean Springs alone. Jackson County, where 100% of Ocean Springs lies, voted Trump 69.4%, Harris 29.5% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Ocean Springs?

178 full-time and 56 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $883,284 (about $10.6M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Ocean Springs in the state legislature?

Ocean Springs is split among 4 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.

When is the next public meeting in Ocean Springs?

The next posted meeting is Zoning & Adjustments Board on Tuesday, November 10, at 5:00 pm in 1018 Porter Avenue Ocean Springs, MS 39564, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Ocean Springs’ 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 →