Photo: AppalachianCentrist · CC BY-SA 4.0Jefferson City spent more per resident in 2022 than 79% of similar cities
Jefferson City’s city government spent $10 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,212 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($1.8 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Jefferson City is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,212 per resident in 2022: more than 79% of them
Jefferson City’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,212 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 $698, and the middle half spent $418–$1,116. Jefferson City spent more than 79% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.5 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 →
Tennessee cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Jefferson City itself left out).
About $1,212 per resident a year, or $3.32 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 25%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Jefferson City reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau (2023, 2024 are estimates), so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $1,045 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.49% 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 Jefferson City’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 Jefferson City’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Jefferson City →
Who’s in charge in Jefferson City
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Jefferson City’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on jeffcitytn.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 76 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 (8,234).
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.
Jefferson County School District
Jefferson City’s K–12 school district, shared with Baneberry, Dandridge, New Market, White Pine. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $11,030 per pupil, $6,650 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.
Jefferson City’s votes are counted by county
Tennessee reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Jefferson City alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Jefferson County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican81.6%21,068 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat17.4%4,503 votesOthers: 0.9% (244 votes).
Most votes in Jefferson County: Donald J Trump
Tennessee: Trump 64.2%, Harris 34.5%
100% of Jefferson City lies in Jefferson County. Every 2024 race in Jefferson County is on the county’s page.
Jefferson 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 Jefferson City.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: jeffcitytn.com ↗
- 2Tennessee HouseJefferson City 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 Jefferson City compares with the towns next door
Jefferson City spent $1,212 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $725 to $2,666. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| New Market | $725 | $782 |
| Morristown | $2,666 | $880 |
| Dandridge | estimate | $1,479 |
| Jefferson City | $1,212 | $1,045 |
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 Jefferson City’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Jefferson City’s government
How much does Jefferson City spend per resident?
About $1,212 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 $1,212 was more than 79% of 43 Tennessee cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Jefferson City?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,045 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.49% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.50% across Tennessee. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see jeffcitytn.com.
Who runs Jefferson City’s government?
See jeffcitytn.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Jefferson City yet.
How did Jefferson City vote in 2024?
Tennessee counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Jefferson City alone. Jefferson County, where 100% of Jefferson City lies, voted Trump 81.6%, Harris 17.4% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Jefferson City?
109 full-time and 35 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $499,559 (about $6.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Jefferson City in the state legislature?
Jefferson City is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Tennessee Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 8 (Jessie Seal). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Jefferson City’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 →