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4th ave main street historic franklin tennessee 2010Photo: Ichabod · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Franklin

Franklin spent more per resident in 2022 than 86% of similar cities

Franklin’s city government spent $167.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,928 per resident. Water and other utilities ($18 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Tennessee.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$167.6M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,928
In 2022: $1,286, more than 86% of 174 similar cities
Long-term debt
$136.4M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
785
full-time · 15 part-time · March payroll $6.0M
Typical tax bill
$3,011
0.43% of home value · TN 0.50%

What stands out about how Franklin is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$1,286 per resident in 2022: more than 86% of them

Franklin’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,286 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 174 Tennessee cities that don’t run their own schools: the median was $646, and the middle half spent $336–$1,061. Franklin spent more than 86% of them.

Middle half of the group, $336–$1,061Median $646Franklin

Includes sewer and trash ($27.5 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
174

Tennessee cities that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Franklin itself left out).

Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,928 per resident a year, or $5.28 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 21%.

Where the money comes from
From other local governments 28%Utility sales 21%Property taxes 11%From the state 10%Other taxes & licenses 8%Sales taxes 7%Fees & charges 6%Interest, fines & other 5%From the federal government 5%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $31 million; interest on debt $4.7 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $221.2 million.
Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 53% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$109.7 million
2023$115.7 million
2024$167.6 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,286 · 2023: $1,354 · 2024: $1,928.

City staff
785

full-time in March 2025, up from 699 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.

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 $3,011 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.43% of the home’s value, vs 0.50% across Tennessee.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Brentwood$4,192
Franklin$3,011
Thompson's Station$2,592
Tennessee$1,442
$3,011
typical bill a year
0.43%
effective rate
$705,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Franklin

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

See franklintn.gov for Franklin’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Franklin yet.franklintn.gov ↗
Agendas

Franklin’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on franklintn.gov ↗.

Who works for Franklin

One full-time city employee for every 111 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 (86,895).

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

Fire180
Police152 + 9 pt
Sewer & trash124
Administration & buildings102 + 3 pt
Roads & transportation71 + 2 pt
Parks & libraries47
Water & other utilities35
Courts, inspections & corrections9 + 1 pt
Other65
785
full-time
15
part-time
$6.0M
payroll for March 2025
$71.7M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$90,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
126
sworn police officers
166
full-time firefighters
Not compared.Staff are compared with the same group as the budget, and Franklin’s 2022 budget was a Census estimate, so there is no group to compare with.

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

Williamson County School District

Franklin’s K–12 school district, shared with Brentwood, Fairview, Nolensville, Thompson's Station, Spring Hill. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Franklin →
$12,771
per pupil · TN $13,059
41,909
students
$640.9 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,771 per pupil, $8,008 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 66%State 31%Federal 3%

Tennessee districts overall: 40% local, 44% state, 16% federal.

Also serving Franklin

Franklin Special School District · $20,556 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Franklin’s votes are counted by county

Tennessee reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Franklin alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Williamson County’s results.

President · Williamson County’s results144,668 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican65.4%94,562 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat33.0%47,695 votes

Others: 1.7% (2,411 votes).

Most votes in Williamson County: Donald J Trump

Tennessee: Trump 64.2%, Harris 34.5%

The county’s page

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

Williamson 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 Franklin

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Franklin.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Tennessee HouseFranklin is split between 3 districts
  3. 3
    Tennessee SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseSplit between districts
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Tennessee

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

Next door

How Franklin compares with the towns next door

Franklin spent $1,286 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $330. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Thompson's Station$330$2,592
Brentwoodestimate$4,192
Franklin$1,286$3,011

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 Franklin’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Franklin’s government

How much does Franklin spend per resident?

About $1,928 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 $1,286 was more than 86% of 174 Tennessee cities that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Franklin?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,011 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.43% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.50% across Tennessee. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see franklintn.gov.

Who runs Franklin’s government?

See franklintn.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Franklin yet.

How did Franklin vote in 2024?

Tennessee counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Franklin alone. Williamson County, where 100% of Franklin lies, voted Trump 65.4%, Harris 33.0% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Franklin?

785 full-time and 15 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $6.0M (about $71.7M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Franklin in the state legislature?

Franklin is split among 3 State House districts, so your address decides. The Tennessee Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 27 (Jack Johnson). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Franklin’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 →