Photo: Thomas R Machnitzki · CC BY 3.0Germantown spent more per resident in 2022 than 78% of similar cities
Germantown’s city government spent $158.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $3,878 per resident. Water and other utilities ($8.4 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Germantown is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$3,441 per resident in 2022: more than 78% of them
Germantown’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,441 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 23 Tennessee cities that run their own schools: the median was $2,910, and the middle half spent $2,300–$3,269. Germantown spent more than 78% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($6.8 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 →
Tennessee cities that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Germantown itself left out).
About $3,878 per resident a year, or $10.62 a day
Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 47% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Germantown runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Tennessee cities that run their own schools.
Day-to-day spending is up 17% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Germantown reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $3,441 · 2023: $3,602 · 2024: $3,878.
full-time in March 2025, up from 1,052 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.
The typical homeowner pays $4,786 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.02% 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 Germantown’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 Germantown’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Germantown →
Who’s in charge in Germantown
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Germantown’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on germantown-tn.gov ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 36 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (40,816).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Germantown Municipal School District
Germantown’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Germantown, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $12,430 per pupil, $7,404 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.
Germantown’s votes are counted by county
Tennessee reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Germantown alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Shelby County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat61.8%201,759 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican36.4%118,917 votesOthers: 1.8% (5,821 votes).
Most votes in Shelby County: Kamala D Harris
Tennessee: Trump 64.2%, Harris 34.5%
100% of Germantown lies in Shelby County. Every 2024 race in Shelby County is on the county’s page.
Shelby 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 Germantown.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: germantown-tn.gov ↗
- 2Tennessee HouseGermantown is split between 2 districts
- 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 Germantown compares with the towns next door
Germantown spent $3,441 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $3,162. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Collierville | $3,162 runs schools | $4,834 |
| Memphis | estimate | $1,845 |
| Germantown | $3,441 | $4,786 |
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 Germantown’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Germantown’s government
How much does Germantown spend per resident?
About $3,878 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 $3,441 was more than 78% of 23 Tennessee cities that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Germantown?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,786 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.02% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.50% across Tennessee. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see germantown-tn.gov.
Who runs Germantown’s government?
See germantown-tn.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Germantown yet.
How did Germantown vote in 2024?
Tennessee counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Germantown alone. Shelby County, where 100% of Germantown lies, voted Harris 61.8%, Trump 36.4% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Germantown?
1,138 full-time and 125 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $6.6M (about $79.2M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Germantown in the state legislature?
Germantown is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Tennessee Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 31 (Brent Taylor). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Germantown’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 →