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Morristown Main Street looking eastPhoto: AppalachianCentrist · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Morristown

Morristown spent more per resident in 2022 than 99% of similar cities

Morristown’s city government spent $9.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $305 per resident. Water and other utilities ($85.3 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$9.6M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$305
In 2022: $2,666, more than 99% of 174 similar cities
Long-term debt
$79.5M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
455
full-time · 30 part-time · March payroll $3.0M
Typical tax bill
$880
0.49% of home value · TN 0.50%

What stands out about how Morristown is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$2,666 per resident in 2022: more than 99% of them

Morristown’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,666 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. Morristown spent more than 99% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($13.6 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; Morristown itself left out).

Your share of the 2024 budget

About $305 per resident a year, or $0.84 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 100%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 61%Sales taxes 12%Fees & charges 12%Property taxes 9%From the state 4%Interest, fines & other 1%From other local governments <1%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $2 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $96.9 million.
Over the years

Day-to-day spending is down 88% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$80.7 million
2023$45.2 million
2024$9.6 million

Per resident: 2022: $2,666 · 2023: $1,469 · 2024: $305.

City staff
455

full-time in March 2025, up from 426 in 2022.

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 $880 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.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Tennessee$1,442
Jefferson City$1,045
Morristown$880
Russellville$717
$880
typical bill a year
0.49%
effective rate
$181,100
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Morristown

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

See mymorristown.com for Morristown’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Morristown yet.mymorristown.com ↗
Agendas

Morristown’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on mymorristown.com ↗.

Who works for Morristown

One full-time city employee for every 69 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 (31,425).

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

Water & other utilities102 + 1 pt
Police91
Fire86
Sewer & trash58
Administration & buildings33 + 4 pt
Parks & libraries17 + 25 pt
Roads & transportation29
Courts, inspections & corrections1
Other38
455
full-time
30
part-time
$3.0M
payroll for March 2025
$35.9M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$78,100
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
86
sworn police officers
80
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Morristown had 14.1 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 139 of the 174 Tennessee cities that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 7.0: Morristown had more than 83% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

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

Hamblen County School District

Morristown’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Morristown →
$11,169
per pupil · TN $13,059
10,287
students
$32.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $11,169 per pupil, $7,155 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 28%State 55%Federal 18%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Morristown’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Hamblen County’s results25,501 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican79.0%20,154 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat20.1%5,132 votes

Others: 0.8% (215 votes).

Most votes in Hamblen County: Donald J Trump

Tennessee: Trump 64.2%, Harris 34.5%

The county’s page

100% of Morristown lies in Hamblen County; the rest in Jefferson County. Every 2024 race in Hamblen County is on the county’s page.

Hamblen 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 Morristown

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Morristown.

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

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

Next door

How Morristown compares with the towns next door

Morristown spent $2,666 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $1,212. 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
Jefferson City$1,212$1,045
Morristown$2,666$880

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 Morristown’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Morristown’s government

How much does Morristown spend per resident?

About $305 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 $2,666 was more than 99% of 174 Tennessee cities that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Morristown?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $880 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 mymorristown.com.

Who runs Morristown’s government?

See mymorristown.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Morristown yet.

How did Morristown vote in 2024?

Tennessee counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Morristown alone. Hamblen County, where 100% of Morristown lies, voted Trump 79.0%, Harris 20.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Morristown?

455 full-time and 30 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $3.0M (about $35.9M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Morristown in the state legislature?

Morristown is split among 2 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Tennessee Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Morristown’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 →