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Town Hall · Rowlett

Rowlett spent less per resident in 2022 than 76% of similar cities

Rowlett’s city government spent $85.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, about $1,318 per resident. Water and other utilities ($16.7 million) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Texas.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$85.8M
year to September 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,318
In 2022: $1,043, less than 76% of 17 similar cities
Long-term debt
$164.4M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
392
full-time · 62 part-time · March payroll $2.7M
Typical tax bill
$5,867
1.59% of home value · TX 1.49%

What stands out about how Rowlett is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Mayor Jeff WingetAs listed by Open States, October 9, 2026.Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,043 per resident, less than 76% of 17 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer29% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

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 $1,318 per resident a year, or $3.61 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: fire, at 19%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 38%Fees & charges 19%Utility sales 18%Sales taxes 11%Interest, fines & other 8%Other taxes & licenses 3%From the federal government 2%From other local governments 1%From the state <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $24.4 million; interest on debt $5.8 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $132.9 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,043 per resident in 2022: less than 76% of them

Rowlett’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,043 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 17 Texas cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,223, and the middle half spent $1,105–$1,401. Rowlett spent less than 76% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,105–$1,401Median $1,223Rowlett

Includes sewer and trash ($12.3 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
17

Texas cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Rowlett itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 20% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$71.3 million
2023$68.9 million
2024$85.8 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,043 · 2023: $1,082 · 2024: $1,318. Per resident it went from $1,043 to $1,318 (up 26%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 68,388 to 65,113.

City staff
392

full-time in March 2025, down from 420 in 2022.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Rowlett

From public records with a current term; a name is hidden the day its term ends.

Jeff WingetMayor · as listed by Open States, October 9, 2026Office of the Mayor ↗
Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $5,867 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.59% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Rowlett$5,867
Dallas$5,075
Garland$4,263
Texas$4,232
$5,867
typical bill a year
1.59%
effective rate
$368,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who works for Rowlett

One full-time city employee for every 166 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 (65,113).

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

Police144 + 15 pt
Fire108
Parks & libraries39 + 27 pt
Administration & buildings35
Roads & transportation34
Water & other utilities13
Courts, inspections & corrections6 + 3 pt
Sewer & trash6
Housing & development5 + 1 pt
Health & welfare2
Other0 + 16 pt
392
full-time
62
part-time
$2.7M
payroll for March 2025
$32.5M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$81,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
114
sworn police officers
95
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Rowlett had 6.1 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 16 of the 17 Texas cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 7.4: Rowlett had fewer than 75% 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

Garland Independent School District

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

Schools in Rowlett →
$13,440
per pupil · TX $12,815
51,659
students
$1.1 billion
long-term debt

Of the $13,440 per pupil, $7,578 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 42%State 41%Federal 17%

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

Also serving Rowlett

Rockwall Independent School District · $10,301 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Rowlett’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Dallas County’s results853,336 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat59.9%511,027 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican37.8%322,468 votes

Others: 2.3% (19,841 votes).

Most votes in Dallas County: Kamala D Harris

Texas: Trump 56.1%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

88% of Rowlett lies in Dallas County; the rest in Rockwall County. Every 2024 race in Dallas County is on the county’s page.

Dallas 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 Rowlett

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Rowlett.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor
    Jeff Wingetas listed by Open States, October 9, 2026
  2. 2
    Texas HouseRowlett is split between 3 districts
    Angie ButtonRhetta BowersKatrina Pierson
  3. 3
    Texas SenateState senator
    Bob Hall
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Greg Abbott
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseSplit between districts
    Lance GoodenPat Fallon
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Texas
    John CornynTed Cruz
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 Rowlett compares with the towns next door

Rowlett spent $1,043 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,088 to $1,585. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Dallas: $1,585 per resident (2022)Garland: $1,088 per resident (2022)DallasGarlandRowlett
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Garland$1,088$4,263
Dallas$1,585$5,075
Rowlett$1,043$5,867

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 Rowlett’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Rowlett’s government

How much does Rowlett spend per resident?

About $1,318 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,043 was less than 76% of 17 Texas cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Rowlett?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $5,867 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.59% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who is the mayor of Rowlett?

Jeff Winget, as listed by Open States (checked October 9, 2026).

How did Rowlett vote in 2024?

Texas counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Rowlett alone. Dallas County, where 88% of Rowlett lies, voted Harris 59.9%, Trump 37.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Rowlett?

392 full-time and 62 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $2.7M (about $32.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Rowlett in the state legislature?

Rowlett is split among 3 State House districts, so your address decides. The Texas Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 2 (Bob Hall). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Rowlett?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Tuesday, November 3, at 7:00 pm in 4000 Main Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Rowlett’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 →