Town Hall · Bristol

Bristol, RI town hall & government

Bristol spent $74.9 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $3,387 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Bristol's money goes

Spent
$74.9 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$3,387
typical Rhode Island towns: $4,541
Long-term debt
$73.1 million
$3,303 per resident
Schools
$29.7 million40%
Sewer & trash
$15.1 million20%
Police
$10.1 million14%
Health & welfare
$4 million5%
Administration & buildings
$3 million4%
Fire
$2.5 million3%
Roads & transportation
$2.4 million3%
Interest on debt
$2.4 million3%
Parks & libraries
$352,000<1%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$305,000<1%
Housing & development
$291,000<1%
Other
$4.8 million6%

Bristol runs its own schools, so school spending is part of its budget. Comparisons are with other Rhode Island towns.

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 67%
  • From the state 10%
  • Fees & charges 9%
  • Interest, fines & other 7%
  • Other taxes & licenses 6%
  • From the federal government <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Bristol

Full-time staff
136
103 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$69,600
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
40
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
48 full-time2 part
Fire
5 full-time59 part
Parks & libraries
11 full-time29 part
Administration & buildings
21 full-time3 part
Sewer & trash
20 full-time
Roads & transportation
19 full-time
Health & welfare
2 full-time3 part
Other
10 full-time7 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2023. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Bristol-Warren Regional School District

Bristol's K–12 school district, shared with Warren. The schools are run by Bristol, so this money is part of the budget above.

Spending per pupil
$20,479
Rhode Island: $23,945
Students
2,794
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$5.5 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Rhode Island districts overall: 48% local, 40% state, 13% federal

  • Local 65%
  • State 28%
  • Federal 7%

Of the $20,479 per pupil, $11,601 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 Bristol pay

Typical tax bill
$5,393
a year · Rhode Island typical $4,900
Effective rate
1.11%
of home value · Rhode Island 1.21%
Typical home value
$485,000
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 Bristol's government

🏛️ Official websitebristolri.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Bristol →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Bristol

Bristol is represented in Congress by Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Representative Gabe Amo. Dan McKee is governor.

All of Bristol'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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