Photo: Dr. Blazer · CC BY-SA 4.0Forest Acres spent less per resident in 2022 than 71% of similar cities
Forest Acres’ city government spent $7.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $771 per resident.
What stands out about how Forest Acres is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$771 per resident in 2022: less than 71% of them
Forest Acres’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($771 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 $1,144, and the middle half spent $710–$1,515. Forest Acres spent less than 71% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.4 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 →
South Carolina cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Forest Acres itself left out).
About $771 per resident a year, or $2.11 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 42%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Forest Acres reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $1,736 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.62% of the home’s value, vs 0.48% across South Carolina.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Forest Acres’ 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 Forest Acres’ Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Forest Acres →
Who’s in charge in Forest Acres
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Forest Acres’ meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on forestacres.net ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 158 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 (10,269).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Richland School District 1
Forest Acres’ K–12 school district, shared with Eastover, Columbia, Cayce. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $20,012 per pupil, $10,442 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.
South Carolina districts overall: 45% local, 43% state, 13% federal.
Richland School District 2 · $14,935 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Forest Acres’ votes are counted by county
South Carolina reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Forest Acres alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Richland County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat66.4%121,110 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican31.8%58,019 votesOthers: 1.8% (3,282 votes).
Most votes in Richland County: Kamala D Harris
South Carolina: Trump 58.2%, Harris 40.4%
100% of Forest Acres lies in Richland County. Every 2024 race in Richland County is on the county’s page.
Richland County’s 2024 results →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.
From town hall to Washington
Forest Acres sends 4 representatives to the South Carolina House alone.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: forestacres.net ↗
- 2South Carolina HouseForest Acres is split between 4 districts
- 3South Carolina SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseSplit between districts
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of South Carolina
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Forest Acres compares with the towns next door
Forest Acres spent $771 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $1,789. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $1,789 | $1,700 |
| Arcadia Lakes | estimate | $2,509 |
| Forest Acres | $771 | $1,736 |
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 Forest Acres’ government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Forest Acres’ government
How much does Forest Acres spend per resident?
About $771 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 $771 was less than 71% of 68 South Carolina cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Forest Acres?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,736 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.62% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.48% across South Carolina. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see forestacres.net.
Who runs Forest Acres’ government?
See forestacres.net for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Forest Acres yet.
How did Forest Acres vote in 2024?
South Carolina counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Forest Acres alone. Richland County, where 100% of Forest Acres lies, voted Harris 66.4%, Trump 31.8% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Forest Acres?
65 full-time and 2 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $287,100 (about $3.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Forest Acres in the state legislature?
Forest Acres is split among 4 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.
Ask neighbors about Forest Acres’ government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
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 →