Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Charlottesville spent more per resident in 2022 than 75% of similar cities
Charlottesville’s city government spent $321.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $7,081 per resident. Water and other utilities ($56.6 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Charlottesville is run
Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.
6 upcoming meetings at town hall
From Charlottesville’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.
- Nov3Electoral BoardTuesday · 7:00 pm · 120 7th St NE Rm 142Electoral Board Meeting- CanvassMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
- Nov4Electoral BoardWednesday · 9:00 am · 120 7th St NE Rm 142Electoral Board Meeting- CanvassMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
- Nov5Bike & Pedestrian Advisory CommitteeThursday · 5:00 pmBicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee MeetingMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
- Nov9Parks & Recreation Advisory CommitteeMonday · 5:00 pm · CitySpace, 100 5th St NEParks & Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting, 5pm-7pmMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
- Nov10Electoral BoardTuesday · 9:00 am · 120 7th St NE Rm 142Electoral Board Meeting- CanvassMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
- Nov10Planning CommissionTuesday · 5:30 pm · 610 East Main Street, City Council ChambersPlanning Commission Regular MeetingMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
Recent meetings
- Nov2City CouncilMonday · 4:00 pm · 605 E. Main St., Council ChamberCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Oct29Electoral BoardThursday · 9:00 am · 120 7th St NE Rm 142Electoral Board MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Oct28Retirement CommissionWednesday · 8:30 am · CitySpace 100 5th Street NERetirement Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Oct27Planning CommissionTuesday · 5:00 pm · 100 5th Street Northeast, City Space Conference RoomPlanning Commission Work SessionAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Oct21Housing Advisory CommitteeWednesday · 12:00 pm · 100 5th St NE, CitySpace - Large Conference RoomHousing Advisory Committee MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.
Agenda portal ↗About $7,081 per resident a year, or $19.40 a day
Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 30% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Charlottesville runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Virginia cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.
$5,560 per resident in 2022: more than 75% of them
Charlottesville’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($5,560 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 20 Virginia cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,668, and the middle half spent $3,881–$5,442. Charlottesville spent more than 75% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($14.9 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 →
Virginia cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Charlottesville itself left out).
Day-to-day spending is up 23% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Charlottesville reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $5,560 · 2023: $6,126 · 2024: $7,081.
full-time in March 2025, up from 1,868 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
Who’s in charge in Charlottesville
From public records with a current term; a name is hidden the day its term ends.
Council members and agencies: charlottesville.org ↗
The typical homeowner pays $3,915 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.80% of the home’s value, vs 0.73% across Virginia.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Charlottesville’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 Charlottesville’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Charlottesville →
One full-time city employee for every 22 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (45,373).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Charlottesville City Public Schools
Charlottesville’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Charlottesville, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $21,655 per pupil, $12,849 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.
Virginia districts overall: 49% local, 41% state, 10% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Charlottesville voted in 2024
Official results for Charlottesville’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat82.9%19,435 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican14.6%3,428 votesOthers: 2.4% (571 votes).
Most votes in Charlottesville: Kamala D Harris
Charlottesville city: Harris 82.9%, Trump 14.6% · Virginia: Harris 51.8%, Trump 46.1%
of Charlottesville’s 35,268 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Virginia: 71%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Charlottesville: Timothy M Kaine
Charlottesville city: Kaine 84.0%, Cao 15.8% · Virginia: Kaine 54.4%, Cao 45.4%
Most votes in the district: John J McGuire III
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Charlottesville, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | 82.9% | 14.6% | 2.4% | 23,434 |
| Charlottesville city | 82.9% | 14.6% | 2.4% | 23,434 |
| Virginia | 51.8% | 46.1% | 2.1% | 4,503,288 |
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 Charlottesville.
- 1Your cityMayorJuandiego Wadeas listed by Open States, October 9, 2026
- 2Virginia House of DelegatesState representatives
- 3Virginia SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Virginia
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Charlottesville compares with the towns next door
Charlottesville spent $5,560 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $5,560 | $3,915 |
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 Charlottesville’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Charlottesville’s government
How much does Charlottesville spend per resident?
About $7,081 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 $5,560 was more than 75% of 20 Virginia cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Charlottesville?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,915 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.80% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.73% across Virginia. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see charlottesville.org.
Who is the mayor of Charlottesville?
Juandiego Wade, as listed by Open States (checked October 9, 2026). The council and agencies are listed on charlottesville.org.
How did Charlottesville vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 82.9%, Donald J Trump 14.6% (23,434 votes, official results). Charlottesville city: Harris 82.9%, Trump 14.6%. Virginia: Harris 51.8%, Trump 46.1%.
How many people work for Charlottesville?
2,058 full-time and 397 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $13.3M (about $159.8M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Charlottesville in the state legislature?
State Senate District 11 (Creigh Deeds) and House of Delegates District 54 (Katrina Callsen). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
When is the next public meeting in Charlottesville?
The next posted meeting is Electoral Board on Tuesday, November 3, at 7:00 pm in 120 7th St NE Rm 142, from the city’s own agenda portal.
Ask neighbors about Charlottesville’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 →