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J.C. Stribling BarnJ.C. Stribling Barn · Photo: KudzuVine · Public domain
Town Hall · Clemson

How is Clemson run?

Clemson’s city government spent $19.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,095 per resident. Water and other utilities ($7.4 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

City Council

5:30 pm · Clemson City Hall - Council Chambers, 1250 Tiger Blvd STE 1

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$19.5M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,095
In 2022: $1,185, more than 57% of 68 similar cities
Long-term debt
$23.6M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
191
full-time · 105 part-time · March payroll $1.1M
Typical tax bill
$1,912
0.48% of home value · SC 0.48%

What stands out about how Clemson is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer45% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Pickens County School District with 6+ other towns.Split between districts2 State House districts cover Clemson; your street decides yours.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Oct27
    City CouncilTuesday · 8:00 am · 1051 Tiger BlvdGoodwill Grand OpeningAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct22
    Police Advisory BoardThursday · 6:00 pm · Clemson City Hall - Council Chambers, 1250 Tiger Blvd STE 1Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct19
    GeneralMonday · 5:30 pm · 1250 Tiger BlvdPublic Hearing: Proposed Map Amendment Rezoning 835 Old Greenville Hwy and Old Greenville CommercialAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct19
    City CouncilMonday · 5:30 pm · Clemson City Hall - Council Chambers, 1250 Tiger Blvd STE 1Clemson City CouncilAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct15
    Sustainability CommitteeThursday · 6:30 pm · Kite Hill Brewing Company, 150 Thomas Green BlvdAgenda ↗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 $1,095 per resident a year, or $3.00 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 26%.

Where the money comes from
Interest, fines & other 19%From the federal government 16%Property taxes 15%Fees & charges 14%Other taxes & licenses 8%Utility sales 8%From other local governments 8%Sales taxes 7%From the state 6%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $16.1 million; interest on debt $551,000; payments to other governments $2 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $45.7 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,185 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Clemson’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,185 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 68 South Carolina cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,138, and the middle half spent $710–$1,515. Clemson spent more than 57% of them.

Middle half of the group, $710–$1,515Median $1,138Clemson

Includes sewer and trash ($4.3 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
68

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

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is down 7% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$21.1 million
2023$20.7 million
2024$19.5 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,185 · 2023: $1,150 · 2024: $1,095.

City staff
191

full-time in March 2025, up from 179 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 $1,912 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.48% of the home’s value, vs 0.48% across South Carolina.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Clemson$1,912
Pendleton$1,341
South Carolina$1,251
Central$936
$1,912
typical bill a year
0.48%
effective rate
$398,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Clemson

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

See cityofclemson.org for Clemson’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Clemson yet.cityofclemson.org ↗
Who works for Clemson

One full-time city employee for every 93 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 (17,843).

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

Roads & transportation34 + 37 pt
Administration & buildings48 + 4 pt
Police47
Parks & libraries12 + 60 pt
Sewer & trash28 + 2 pt
Water & other utilities7
Courts, inspections & corrections3
Other12 + 2 pt
191
full-time
105
part-time
$1.1M
payroll for March 2025
$12.9M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$63,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
34
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Clemson had 10.1 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 54 of the 68 South Carolina cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 11.0: Clemson had fewer than 61% 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

Pickens County School District

Clemson’s K–12 school district, shared with Central, Liberty, Norris, Pickens, Six Mile and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Clemson →
$12,476
per pupil · SC $15,090
16,223
students
$160.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,476 per pupil, $7,214 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 39%State 49%Federal 12%

South Carolina districts overall: 45% local, 43% state, 13% federal.

Also serving Clemson

Anderson School District 4 · $15,654 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Clemson’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Pickens County’s results60,451 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican75.6%45,728 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat23.0%13,891 votes

Others: 1.4% (832 votes).

Most votes in Pickens County: Donald J Trump

South Carolina: Trump 58.2%, Harris 40.4%

The county’s page

100% of Clemson lies in Pickens County; the rest in Anderson County. Every 2024 race in Pickens County is on the county’s page.

Pickens 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 Clemson

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Clemson.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofclemson.org ↗
  2. 2
    South Carolina HouseClemson is split between 2 districts
    Phillip BowersApril Cromer
  3. 3
    South Carolina SenateState senator
    Tom AlexanderRichard Cash
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Henry McMaster
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Sheri Biggs
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of South Carolina
    Tim ScottDarline Graham
Find your state legislators by address ↗

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

Next door

How Clemson compares with the towns next door

Clemson spent $1,185 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $1,021. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Clemson University: unincorporated, no town budgetCentral: no reported 2022 figuresPendleton: $1,021 per resident (2022)Clemson UniversityCentralPendletonClemson
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Pendleton$1,021$1,341
Centralestimate$936
Clemson$1,185$1,912

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 Clemson’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofclemson.org ↗

Questions about Clemson’s government

How much does Clemson spend per resident?

About $1,095 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,185 was more than 57% of 68 South Carolina cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Clemson?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,912 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.48% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.48% across South Carolina. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofclemson.org.

Who runs Clemson’s government?

See cityofclemson.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Clemson yet.

How did Clemson vote in 2024?

South Carolina counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Clemson alone. Pickens County, where 100% of Clemson lies, voted Trump 75.6%, Harris 23.0% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Clemson?

191 full-time and 105 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.1M (about $12.9M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Clemson in the state legislature?

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

When is the next public meeting in Clemson?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Monday, November 2, at 5:30 pm in Clemson City Hall - Council Chambers, 1250 Tiger Blvd STE 1, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Clemson’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 →