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Fred J White Municipal Building Portland Tennessee 2012Photo: Ichabod · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Portland

How is Portland run?

Portland’s city government spent $17.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,299 per resident. Water and other utilities ($8.8 million) and the airport ($511,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

Planning Commission

5:00 pm · 100 South Russell Street, 100 South Russell Street

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$17.5M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,299
2022 was an estimate · not compared
Long-term debt
$37.1M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2022
124
full-time · 17 part-time · March payroll $551,752
Typical tax bill
$1,351
0.48% of home value · TN 0.50%

What stands out about how Portland is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer53% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Sumner County School District with 6+ other towns.Split between districts2 State House and 2 U.S. House districts cover Portland; your street decides yours.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Portland’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

  • Nov10
    Planning CommissionTuesday · 5:00 pm · 100 South Russell Street, 100 South Russell StreetPlanning Commission MeetingMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Nov12
    Municipal Airport AuthorityThursday · 5:00 pm · Portland Municipal Airport, 601 Airport RoadMunicipal Airport Special Call November 12, 2026Meeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Nov17
    Industrial Development BoardTuesday · 5:00 pm · Council Chambers, 100 S. Russell St.Industrial Development Board Meeting - November 17, 2026Meeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Dec1
    GeneralTuesday · 5:00 pm · 100 South Russell Street, Room 111Board Of Zoning AppealsMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Dec7
    City CouncilMonday · 5:00 pm · Council Chambers, 100 S. Russell St.City Council Meeting - December 7, 2026Meeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Dec8
    Ad HocTuesday · 10:00 am · 100 South Russell St - Council Chamber Room 111Operations and Programs Ad Hoc December 8, 2026Meeting page ↗Add to calendar

Recent meetings

  • Nov3
    GeneralTuesday · 5:00 pm · 100 South Russell Street, Room 111Board of Zoning AppealsAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Nov3
    Ad HocTuesday · 9:00 am · Council Chambers, 100 S. Russell St.Fees Ad Hoc Committee Meeting, November 3, 2026Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Nov2
    City CouncilMonday · 5:00 pm · Council Chambers, 100 S. Russell St.City Council Meeting - November 2, 2026Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct19
    City CouncilMonday · 5:00 pm · Council Chambers, 100 S. Russell St.City Council Meeting - October 19, 2026Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    Planning CommissionTuesday · 5:00 pm · 100 South Russell Street, 100 South Russell StreetPlanning Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,299 per resident a year, or $3.56 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 30%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 32%Fees & charges 21%From the state 14%Property taxes 13%Sales taxes 12%Interest, fines & other 6%Other taxes & licenses 2%From other local governments 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $15 million; interest on debt $1.3 million; payments to other governments $368,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $43.4 million.
Compared with similar places · Over the years

No comparison or trend for Portland yet

The fair comparison uses 2022, the last year the Census Bureau counted every government (later years are a sample), and Portland’s 2022 figures are a Census estimate (it reported none of its 2022 dollars). It reported 2024 only (2022 and 2023 are estimates), so there is no trend yet either. The next full count is 2027.

How Town Hall compares budgets →
Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,351 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.48% of the home’s value, vs 0.50% across Tennessee.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Orlinda$1,534
Tennessee$1,442
Portland$1,351
$1,351
typical bill a year
0.48%
effective rate
$282,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Portland

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

See cityofportlandtn.gov for Portland’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Portland yet.cityofportlandtn.gov ↗
Who works for Portland

One full-time city employee for every 109 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (13,482).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Police37
Fire25 + 3 pt
Sewer & trash24 + 3 pt
Water & other utilities22
Parks & libraries9 + 9 pt
Roads & transportation7 + 2 pt
124
full-time
17
part-time
$551,752
payroll for March 2022
$6.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$51,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
34
sworn police officers
25
full-time firefighters
Not compared.Staff are compared with the same group as the budget, and Portland’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

Sumner County School District

Portland’s K–12 school district, shared with Gallatin, Hendersonville, Mitchellville, Westmoreland, Millersville and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Portland →
$12,082
per pupil · TN $13,059
30,661
students
$175.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,082 per pupil, $7,615 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 41%State 49%Federal 10%

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

Also serving Portland

Robertson County School District · $12,007 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Portland’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Sumner County’s results97,761 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican70.3%68,767 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat28.5%27,874 votes

Others: 1.1% (1,120 votes).

Most votes in Sumner County: Donald J Trump

Tennessee: Trump 64.2%, Harris 34.5%

The county’s page

100% of Portland lies in Sumner County; the rest in Robertson County. Every 2024 race in Sumner County is on the county’s page.

Sumner 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 Portland

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Portland.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofportlandtn.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Tennessee HousePortland is split between 2 districts
    William LamberthDoc Kumar
  3. 3
    Tennessee SenateState senator
    Ferrell HaileKerry Roberts
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Bill Lee
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseSplit between districts
    John W. RoseMatt Van Epps
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Tennessee
    Marsha BlackburnBill Hagerty
Find your state legislators by address ↗Find your House district by ZIP code ↗

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

Next door

How Portland compares with the towns next door

Portland’s 2022 figures are a Census estimate, so it isn’t placed among them. Neighbors that reported 2022 spent $496 per resident. Tap a town to see its page.

Orlinda: $496 per resident (2022)OrlindaPortland
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Orlinda$496$1,534
Portlandestimate$1,351

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 Portland’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofportlandtn.gov ↗

Questions about Portland’s government

How much does Portland spend per resident?

About $1,299 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau.

What is the property tax rate in Portland?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,351 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.48% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.50% across Tennessee. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofportlandtn.gov.

Who runs Portland’s government?

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

How did Portland vote in 2024?

Tennessee counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Portland alone. Sumner County, where 100% of Portland lies, voted Trump 70.3%, Harris 28.5% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Portland?

124 full-time and 17 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $551,752 (about $6.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Portland in the state legislature?

Portland 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.

When is the next public meeting in Portland?

The next posted meeting is Planning Commission on Tuesday, November 10, at 5:00 pm in 100 South Russell Street, 100 South Russell Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Portland’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 →