Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0Erwin spent less per resident in 2022 than 88% of similar cities
Erwin’s city government spent $1.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $316 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau.
What stands out about how Erwin is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$316 per resident in 2022: less than 88% of them
Erwin’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($316 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 43 Tennessee cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $757, and the middle half spent $429–$1,168. Erwin spent less than 88% of them.
Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Tennessee cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Erwin itself left out).
About $316 per resident a year, or $0.87 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 83%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Erwin reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau (2024 is an estimate), so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $1,309 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.72% of the home’s value, vs 0.50% across Tennessee.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Erwin’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 Erwin’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Erwin →
Who’s in charge in Erwin
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Erwin’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on erwintn.org ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 45 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 (5,854).
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.
Unicoi County School District
Erwin’s K–12 school district, shared with Unicoi. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $12,632 per pupil, $7,608 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.
Tennessee districts overall: 40% local, 44% state, 16% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Erwin’s votes are counted by county
Tennessee reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Erwin alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Unicoi County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican80.5%6,876 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat18.5%1,578 votesOthers: 1.0% (87 votes).
Most votes in Unicoi County: Donald J Trump
Tennessee: Trump 64.2%, Harris 34.5%
100% of Erwin lies in Unicoi County. Every 2024 race in Unicoi County is on the county’s page.
Unicoi 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
Every level of government that speaks for Erwin.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: erwintn.org ↗
- 2Tennessee HouseState representatives
- 3Tennessee SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Tennessee
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Erwin compares with the towns next door
Erwin spent $316 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Erwin | $316 | $1,309 |
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 Erwin’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Erwin’s government
How much does Erwin spend per resident?
About $316 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 $316 was less than 88% of 43 Tennessee cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Erwin?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,309 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.72% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.50% across Tennessee. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see erwintn.org.
Who runs Erwin’s government?
See erwintn.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Erwin yet.
How did Erwin vote in 2024?
Tennessee counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Erwin alone. Unicoi County, where 100% of Erwin lies, voted Trump 80.5%, Harris 18.5% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Erwin?
130 full-time and 0 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $660,051 (about $7.9M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Erwin in the state legislature?
State Senate District 9 (Steve Southerland) and State House District 4 (Renea Jones). The House district also covers four other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Erwin’s 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 →