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Ocean Isle Beach NC Fishing Pier Jun 10Photo: Pubdog · Public domain
Town Hall · Ocean Isle Beach

Ocean Isle Beach spent more per resident in 2022 than 99% of similar cities

Ocean Isle Beach’s town government spent $24.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $34,086 per resident. Water and other utilities ($4.2 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$24.2M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$34,086
In 2022: $34,086, more than 99% of 221 similar cities
Long-term debt
$6.6M
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
51
full-time · 13 part-time · March payroll $252,145
Typical tax bill
$3,648
0.44% of home value · NC 0.66%

What stands out about how Ocean Isle Beach is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $34,086 per resident, more than 99% of 221 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer19% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Brunswick County Schools with 6+ other towns.Its own police and fire10 sworn officers and 13 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
Compared with similar places

$34,086 per resident in 2022: more than 99% of them

Ocean Isle Beach’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($34,086 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 221 North Carolina cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $800, and the middle half spent $425–$1,295. Ocean Isle Beach spent more than 99% of them.

Middle half of the group, $425–$1,295Median $800Ocean Isle Beach

Includes sewer and trash ($1.2 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
221

North Carolina cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Ocean Isle Beach itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $34,086 per resident a year, or $93.39 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: housing & development, at 12%.

Where the money comes from
Interest, fines & other 33%Fees & charges 18%Utility sales 17%Sales taxes 13%Property taxes 11%From the state 9%From other local governments <1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.4 million; interest on debt $254,000; payments to other governments $8,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $30 million.
About “Other”.65% of Ocean Isle Beach’s day-to-day spending ($15.6 million) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

Ocean Isle Beach reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $3,648 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.44% of the home’s value, vs 0.66% across North Carolina.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Ocean Isle Beach$3,648
North Carolina$1,896
$3,648
typical bill a year
0.44%
effective rate
$835,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Ocean Isle Beach’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. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

Tax bills are one input to Ocean Isle Beach’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Ocean Isle Beach →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Ocean Isle Beach

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

See oibgov.com for Ocean Isle Beach’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Ocean Isle Beach yet.oibgov.com ↗
Agendas

Ocean Isle Beach’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on oibgov.com ↗.

Who works for Ocean Isle Beach

One full-time town employee for every 14 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 (709).

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

Fire13 + 6 pt
Police11 + 1 pt
Administration & buildings10 + 1 pt
Sewer & trash8
Water & other utilities3
Parks & libraries1
Other5 + 5 pt
51
full-time
13
part-time
$252,145
payroll for March 2022
$3.0M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$56,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
10
sworn police officers
13
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Ocean Isle Beach had 71.9 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 196 of the 221 North Carolina cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.0: Ocean Isle Beach had more than 96% 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

Brunswick County Schools

Ocean Isle Beach’s K–12 school district, shared with Bald Head Island, Belville, Boiling Spring Lakes, Bolivia, Calabash and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Ocean Isle Beach →
$13,563
per pupil · NC $13,045
13,262
students
$129.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,563 per pupil, $7,787 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 48%Federal 16%

North Carolina districts overall: 26% local, 57% state, 17% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Ocean Isle Beach’s votes are counted by county

North Carolina reports official results by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Ocean Isle Beach alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Brunswick County’s results.

President · Brunswick County’s results109,378 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican61.9%67,658 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat37.1%40,557 votes

Others: 1.1% (1,163 votes).

Most votes in Brunswick County: Donald J Trump

North Carolina: Trump 50.9%, Harris 47.6%

The county’s page

100% of Ocean Isle Beach lies in Brunswick County. Every 2024 race in Brunswick County is on the county’s page.

Brunswick 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 Isle Beach

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Ocean Isle Beach.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Officials: oibgov.com ↗
  2. 2
    North Carolina HouseState representatives
    Frank Iler
  3. 3
    North Carolina SenateState senator
    Bill Rabon
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Josh Stein
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    David Rouzer
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of North Carolina
    Thom TillisTed Budd

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

Reach Ocean Isle Beach’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteoibgov.com ↗

Questions about Ocean Isle Beach’s government

How much does Ocean Isle Beach spend per resident?

About $34,086 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 $34,086 was more than 99% of 221 North Carolina cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Ocean Isle Beach?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,648 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.44% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.66% across North Carolina. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see oibgov.com.

Who runs Ocean Isle Beach’s government?

See oibgov.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Ocean Isle Beach yet.

How did Ocean Isle Beach vote in 2024?

North Carolina counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Ocean Isle Beach alone. Brunswick County, where 100% of Ocean Isle Beach lies, voted Trump 61.9%, Harris 37.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Ocean Isle Beach?

51 full-time and 13 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $252,145 (about $3.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Ocean Isle Beach in the state legislature?

State Senate District 8 (Bill Rabon) and State House District 17 (Frank Iler). The House district also covers 10 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Ocean Isle Beach’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 →