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Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar HouseLucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar House · Photo: Fredlyfish4 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Oxford

Oxford spent more per resident in 2022 than 72% of similar cities

Oxford’s city government spent $48.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, about $1,848 per resident. Water and other utilities ($32 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Mississippi.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$48.9M
year to September 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,848
In 2022: $1,227, more than 72% of 18 similar cities
Long-term debt
$59.5M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
667
full-time · 217 part-time · March payroll $3.6M
Typical tax bill
$2,845
0.74% of home value · MS 0.72%

What stands out about how Oxford 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: $1,227 per resident, more than 72% of 18 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer48% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).Split between districts3 State House districts cover Oxford; your street decides yours.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Nov2
    Courthouse Square Historic Preservation CommissionMonday · 5:00 pm · City Hall Court Room, 107 Courthouse SquareCourthouse Square Historic Preservation Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct29
    Board of AldermenThursday · 4:15 pm · 107 Courthouse SquareBoard of Aldermen - Recess Meeting | October 29, 2026Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct26
    Courthouse Square Historic Preservation CommissionMonday · 5:00 pm · City Hall Court Room, 107 Courthouse SquarePathways Commission MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    Board of AldermenTuesday · 5:00 pm · City Hall Court Room, 107 Courthouse SquareBoard of Aldermen MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct19
    Planning CommissionMonday · 5:00 pm · City Hall Court Room, 107 Courthouse SquareHistoric Preservation Commission 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 2024 budget

About $1,848 per resident a year, or $5.06 a day

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

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 32%From the state 17%Property taxes 14%Fees & charges 11%From the federal government 9%Interest, fines & other 7%Sales taxes 7%From other local governments 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $19.9 million; interest on debt $1.8 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $104.6 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,227 per resident in 2022: more than 72% of them

Oxford’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,227 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 $1,041, and the middle half spent $969–$1,235. Oxford spent more than 72% of them.

Middle half of the group, $969–$1,235Median $1,041Oxford

Includes sewer and trash ($5.2 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; Oxford itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 39% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$35.1 million
2023$41.8 million
2024$48.9 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,227 · 2023: $1,582 · 2024: $1,848. Per resident it went from $1,227 to $1,848 (up 51%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 28,635 to 26,437.

City staff
667

full-time in March 2025, up from 297 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.

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 $2,845 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.74% of the home’s value, vs 0.72% across Mississippi.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Oxford$2,845
Mississippi$1,215
$2,845
typical bill a year
0.74%
effective rate
$385,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Oxford

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

See oxfordms.net for Oxford’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Oxford yet.oxfordms.net ↗
Who works for Oxford

One full-time city employee for every 40 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 (26,437).

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

Administration & buildings383 + 112 pt
Police107 + 5 pt
Fire76 + 2 pt
Parks & libraries27 + 87 pt
Sewer & trash37 + 9 pt
Roads & transportation20 + 1 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections9
Housing & development6
Health & welfare2 + 1 pt
667
full-time
217
part-time
$3.6M
payroll for March 2025
$42.9M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$61,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
85
sworn police officers
75
full-time firefighters
Not compared.Staff are compared with the same group as the budget, and Oxford’s 2022 budget was a Census estimate, so there is no group to compare with.

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

Oxford School District

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

Schools in Oxford →
$12,495
per pupil · MS $12,392
4,790
students
$95.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,495 per pupil, $7,519 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 54%State 37%Federal 8%

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

Also serving Oxford

Lafayette County School District · $11,562 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Oxford’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Lafayette County’s results23,409 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican60.0%14,050 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat38.3%8,956 votes

Others: 1.7% (403 votes).

Most votes in Lafayette County: Donald J Trump

Mississippi: Trump 60.9%, Harris 38.0%

The county’s page

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

Lafayette 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 Oxford

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Oxford.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: oxfordms.net ↗
  2. 2
    Mississippi HouseOxford is split between 3 districts
    Clay DeweeseJosh HawkinsSteve Massengill
  3. 3
    Mississippi SenateState senator
    Nicole Boyd
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Tate Reeves
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Trent Kelly
  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.

Reach Oxford’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteoxfordms.net ↗

Questions about Oxford’s government

How much does Oxford spend per resident?

About $1,848 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 $1,227 was more than 72% of 18 Mississippi cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Oxford?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,845 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.74% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.72% across Mississippi. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see oxfordms.net.

Who runs Oxford’s government?

See oxfordms.net for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Oxford yet.

How did Oxford vote in 2024?

Mississippi counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Oxford alone. Lafayette County, where 100% of Oxford lies, voted Trump 60.0%, Harris 38.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Oxford?

667 full-time and 217 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $3.6M (about $42.9M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Oxford in the state legislature?

Oxford is split among 3 State House districts, so your address decides. The Mississippi Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 9 (Nicole Boyd). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Oxford?

The next posted meeting is Board of Aldermen on Tuesday, November 3, at 5:00 pm in City Hall Court Room, 107 Courthouse Square, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Oxford’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 →