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Town Hall · Cottageville

Cottageville spent less per resident in 2022 than 71% of similar cities

Cottageville’s town government spent $190,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $254 per resident.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$190,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$254
In 2022: $254, less than 71% of 73 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
5
full-time · 9 part-time · March payroll $30,117 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$1,087
0.66% of home value · SC 0.48%

What stands out about how Cottageville is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$254 per resident in 2022: less than 71% of them

Cottageville’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($254 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 73 South Carolina cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $531, and the middle half spent $233–$923. Cottageville spent less than 71% of them.

Middle half of the group, $233–$923Median $531Cottageville

Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
73

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $254 per resident a year, or $0.70 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 100%.

Over the years

No trend yet

Cottageville reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,087 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.66% of the home’s value, vs 0.48% across South Carolina.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

South Carolina$1,251
Cottageville$1,087
$1,087
typical bill a year
0.66%
effective rate
$164,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Cottageville

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

See cottageville.org for Cottageville’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Cottageville yet.cottageville.org ↗
Agendas

Cottageville’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on cottageville.org ↗.

Who works for Cottageville

One full-time town employee for every 149 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (747).

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

Police4 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings1 + 5 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections0 + 2 pt
5
full-time
9
part-time
$30,117
payroll for March 2022
$361,404
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$45,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
4
sworn police officers
Estimates.Cottageville 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

Colleton County School District

Cottageville’s K–12 school district, shared with Edisto Beach, Lodge, Smoaks, Walterboro, Williams. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Cottageville →
$15,670
per pupil · SC $15,090
4,777
students
$58.2 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,670 per pupil, $7,154 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 43%Federal 21%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Cottageville’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Colleton County’s results18,276 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican58.5%10,696 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat40.4%7,376 votes

Others: 1.1% (204 votes).

Most votes in Colleton County: Donald J Trump

South Carolina: Trump 58.2%, Harris 40.4%

The county’s page

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

Colleton 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 Cottageville

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Cottageville.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
  2. 2
    South Carolina HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    South Carolina SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of South Carolina

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

Reach Cottageville’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Cottageville’s government

How much does Cottageville spend per resident?

About $254 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 $254 was less than 71% of 73 South Carolina cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Cottageville?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,087 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.66% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.48% across South Carolina. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cottageville.org.

Who runs Cottageville’s government?

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

How did Cottageville vote in 2024?

South Carolina counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Cottageville alone. Colleton County, where 100% of Cottageville lies, voted Trump 58.5%, Harris 40.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Cottageville?

5 full-time and 9 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $30,117 (about $361,404 a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Cottageville in the state legislature?

State Senate District 41 (Matt Leber) and State House District 97 (Robby Robbins). The House district also covers parts of two neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Cottageville’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 →