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Town Hall · Huntsville

Huntsville spent less per resident in 2022 than 87% of similar cities

Huntsville’s city government spent $35.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2023, about $765 per resident. Water and other utilities ($9.6 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

General

12:00 pm · 1212 Avenue M, Conference Room 110

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2023
$35.4M
year to September 30, 2023
Per resident, 2023
$765
In 2022: $786, less than 87% of 30 similar cities
Long-term debt
$103.0M
end of FY2023, reported
City staff, 2022
277
full-time · 55 part-time · March payroll $1.4M
Typical tax bill
$3,064
1.30% of home value · TX 1.49%

What stands out about how Huntsville is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $786 per resident, less than 87% of 30 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer42% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2023).A shared school districtShares Huntsville Independent School District with 1 other town.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Nov5
    Planning CommissionThursday · 5:30 pm · 1212 Avenue MPlanning Commission MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Nov5
    Cemetery Advisory BoardThursday · 11:00 am · 448 State Hwy 75 NorthCemetery Advisory Board MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Nov3
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:00 pm · 1212 Avenue MCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Nov3
    City Council Finance CommitteeTuesday · 9:00 am · 1212 Avenue M, City Hall Large Conference Room 110Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct29
    Board of AdjustmentsThursday · 12:00 pm · 1212 Avenue MMeeting 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 2023 budget

About $765 per resident a year, or $2.10 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 26%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 25%Fees & charges 21%Sales taxes 19%From the federal government 14%Property taxes 10%Interest, fines & other 7%Other taxes & licenses 2%From other local governments 1%From the state <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $14 million; interest on debt $3.1 million; payments to other governments $1.8 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $64 million.
Compared with similar places

$786 per resident in 2022: less than 87% of them

Huntsville’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($786 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 30 Texas cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,078, and the middle half spent $896–$1,268. Huntsville spent less than 87% of them.

Middle half of the group, $896–$1,268Median $1,078Huntsville

Includes sewer and trash ($7.3 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
30

Texas cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Huntsville itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 9% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$32.5 million
2023$35.4 million

Per resident: 2022: $786 · 2023: $765. Per resident it went from $786 to $765 (down 3%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 41,392 to 46,288.

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 $3,064 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.30% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Texas$4,232
Huntsville$3,064
$3,064
typical bill a year
1.30%
effective rate
$236,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Huntsville

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 167 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (46,288).

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

Police68
Administration & buildings41 + 17 pt
Sewer & trash46 + 2 pt
Fire22 + 19 pt
Parks & libraries23 + 7 pt
Water & other utilities18 + 1 pt
Roads & transportation11 + 2 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections6 + 1 pt
Health & welfare6
Other36 + 6 pt
277
full-time
55
part-time
$1.4M
payroll for March 2022
$17.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$61,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
60
sworn police officers
22
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Huntsville had 6.7 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 23 of the 30 Texas cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 8.8: Huntsville had fewer than 78% 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

Huntsville Independent School District

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

Schools in Huntsville →
$10,208
per pupil · TX $12,815
11,318
students
$124.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $10,208 per pupil, $7,364 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 34%State 55%Federal 11%

Texas districts overall: 51% local, 36% state, 13% federal.

Also serving Huntsville

New Waverly Independent School District · $14,254 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Huntsville’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Walker County’s results25,175 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican69.6%17,515 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat29.6%7,461 votes

Others: 0.8% (199 votes).

Most votes in Walker County: Donald J Trump

Texas: Trump 56.1%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Walker 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 Huntsville

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Huntsville.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: huntsvilletx.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Texas HouseState representatives
    Trey Wharton
  3. 3
    Texas SenateState senator
    Charles Schwertner
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Greg Abbott
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseSplit between districts
    Pete SessionsMorgan Luttrell
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Texas
    John CornynTed Cruz
Find your House district by ZIP code ↗

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

Reach Huntsville’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitehuntsvilletx.gov ↗

Questions about Huntsville’s government

How much does Huntsville spend per resident?

About $765 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $786 was less than 87% of 30 Texas cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Huntsville?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,064 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.30% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see huntsvilletx.gov.

Who runs Huntsville’s government?

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

How did Huntsville vote in 2024?

Texas counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Huntsville alone. Walker County, where 100% of Huntsville lies, voted Trump 69.6%, Harris 29.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Huntsville?

277 full-time and 55 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.4M (about $17.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Huntsville in the state legislature?

State Senate District 5 (Charles Schwertner) and State House District 12 (Trey Wharton). The House district also covers 21 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Huntsville?

The next posted meeting is General on Friday, November 13, at 12:00 pm in 1212 Avenue M, Conference Room 110, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Huntsville’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 →