Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Franklin

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Woods HillWoods Hill · Photo: Kingrichard4867 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Franklin

Franklin spent more per resident in 2022 than 82% of similar cities

Franklin’s city government spent $53 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $6,426 per resident. Water and other utilities ($16.9 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Virginia.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$53.0M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$6,426
In 2022: $5,707, more than 82% of 34 similar cities
Long-term debt
$35.3M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
408
full-time · 79 part-time · March payroll $2.2M
Typical tax bill
$1,821
0.71% of home value · VA 0.73%

What stands out about how Franklin is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$5,707 per resident in 2022: more than 82% of them

Franklin’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($5,707 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 34 Virginia cities that run their own schools: the median was $4,692, and the middle half spent $4,188–$5,471. Franklin spent more than 82% of them.

Middle half of the group, $4,188–$5,471Median $4,692Franklin

Includes sewer and trash ($2.6 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
34

Virginia cities that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Franklin itself left out).

Your share of the 2024 budget

About $6,426 per resident a year, or $17.61 a day

Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 39% of day-to-day spending.

Where the money comes from
From the state 25%Utility sales 25%Interest, fines & other 14%Property taxes 13%Fees & charges 10%Sales taxes 8%Other taxes & licenses 2%From the federal government 2%From other local governments 1%
Schools included

Franklin runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Virginia cities that run their own schools.

Not in the receipt.Building projects $7.9 million; interest on debt $1.1 million; payments to other governments $510,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $79.6 million.
Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 19% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$44.7 million
2023$47.4 million
2024$53 million

Per resident: 2022: $5,707 · 2023: $5,767 · 2024: $6,426. Per resident it went from $5,707 to $6,426 (up 13%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 7,833 to 8,247.

City staff
408

full-time in March 2025, up from 356 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 $1,821 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.71% of the home’s value, vs 0.73% across Virginia.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Virginia$2,790
Camptown$2,205
Franklin$1,821
$1,821
typical bill a year
0.71%
effective rate
$256,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Franklin

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

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

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

Who works for Franklin

One full-time city employee for every 20 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 (8,247).

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

Schools229 + 39 pt
Fire42 + 16 pt
Police33
Administration & buildings25 + 11 pt
Health & welfare21 + 7 pt
Water & other utilities19
Sewer & trash12
Roads & transportation5 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries4 + 1 pt
Other18 + 4 pt
408
full-time
79
part-time
$2.2M
payroll for March 2025
$26.4M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$61,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
27
sworn police officers
41
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Franklin had 45.4 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 23 of the 34 Virginia cities that run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 36.5: Franklin 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

Franklin City Public Schools

Franklin’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Franklin, so this money is part of the budget above.

Schools in Franklin →
$20,544
per pupil · VA $17,169
1,015
students
$3 million
long-term debt

Of the $20,544 per pupil, $11,011 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 21%State 56%Federal 24%

Virginia districts overall: 49% local, 41% state, 10% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Franklin voted in 2024

Official results for Franklin’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President3,887 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat60.7%2,359 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican38.0%1,476 votes

Others: 1.3% (52 votes).

Most votes in Franklin: Kamala D Harris

Franklin city: Harris 60.7%, Trump 38.0% · Virginia: Harris 51.8%, Trump 46.1%

Turnout
65%

of Franklin’s 5,964 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Virginia: 71%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate3,732 votes
Timothy M KaineDemocrat63.4%
Hung CaoRepublican36.4%
Others0.2%

Most votes in Franklin: Timothy M Kaine

Franklin city: Kaine 63.4%, Cao 36.4% · Virginia: Kaine 54.4%, Cao 45.4%

U.S. House · Virginia’s 2nd District408,702 votes
Jen A KiggansRepublican50.7%
Missy Cotter SmasalDemocrat46.9%
Others2.4%

Most votes in the district: Jen A Kiggans

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Franklin, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Franklin60.7%38.0%1.3%3,887
Franklin city60.7%38.0%1.3%3,887
Virginia51.8%46.1%2.1%4,503,288
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 Franklin

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Franklin.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Virginia House of DelegatesState representatives
  3. 3
    Virginia SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Virginia

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

Next door

How Franklin compares with the towns next door

Franklin spent $5,707 per resident in 2022. 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
Franklin$5,707$1,821

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 Franklin’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Franklin’s government

How much does Franklin spend per resident?

About $6,426 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 $5,707 was more than 82% of 34 Virginia cities that run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Franklin?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,821 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.71% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.73% across Virginia. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see franklinva.com.

Who runs Franklin’s government?

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

How did Franklin vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 60.7%, Donald J Trump 38.0% (3,887 votes, official results). Franklin city: Harris 60.7%, Trump 38.0%. Virginia: Harris 51.8%, Trump 46.1%.

How many people work for Franklin?

408 full-time and 79 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $2.2M (about $26.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Franklin in the state legislature?

State Senate District 17 (Emily Jordan) and House of Delegates District 84 (Nadarius Clark). The House of Delegates district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Franklin’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 →