Town Hall · Sylva

Sylva, NC town hall & government

Sylva spent $5.5 million in the year to June 30, 2023, about $2,095 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Sylva's government.

Town budget

Where Sylva's money goes

Spent
$5.5 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2023
Per resident
$2,095
typical North Carolina cities: $2,755
Long-term debt
$100,000
$38 per resident
Police
$1.8 million32%
Fire
$929,00017%
Roads & transportation
$886,00016%
Parks & libraries
$853,00016%
Administration & buildings
$797,00015%
Sewer & trash
$170,0003%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$37,0001%
Housing & development
$24,000<1%
Interest on debt
$7,000<1%
Other
$23,000<1%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 36%
  • From the state 19%
  • Sales taxes 19%
  • From other local governments 18%
  • Interest, fines & other 8%
  • Fees & charges 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Sylva

Full-time staff
31
23 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$45,000
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
13
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
13 full-time2 part
Administration & buildings
2 full-time7 part
Roads & transportation
5 full-time
Sewer & trash
2 full-time
Parks & libraries
0 full-time2 part
Other
9 full-time12 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Jackson County Schools

Sylva's K–12 school district, shared with Dillsboro, Forest Hills and Webster. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$14,411
North Carolina: $13,045
Students
3,546
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$7.1 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from North Carolina districts overall: 26% local, 57% state, 17% federal

  • Local 27%
  • State 56%
  • Federal 17%

Of the $14,411 per pupil, $8,487 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Property tax

What homeowners in Sylva pay

Typical tax bill
$877
a year · North Carolina typical $1,896
Effective rate
0.44%
of home value · North Carolina 0.66%
Typical home value
$201,200
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Sylva's government

🏛️ Official websitetownofsylva.org ↗
Town hall phone(828) 586-2719

Town hall & decisions in Sylva →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Sylva

Sylva is represented in Congress by Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd and Representative Chuck Edwards. Josh Stein is governor.

All of Sylva's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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Sylva

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