Town Hall · James Island

James Island, SC town hall & government

James Island spent $3.3 million in the year to October 31, 2022, about $273 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where James Island's money goes

Spent
$3.3 million
fiscal year to October 31, 2022
Per resident
$273
typical South Carolina cities: $1,686
Long-term debt
None
none outstanding at year end
Administration & buildings
$579,00017%
Police
$206,0006%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$111,0003%
Parks & libraries
$26,0001%
Other
$2.4 million72%

Where the money comes from

  • Sales taxes 44%
  • From the state 29%
  • Interest, fines & other 18%
  • Other taxes & licenses 9%
  • Fees & charges <1%
  • From other local governments <1%
Town workforce · Census estimate

Who works for James Island

Full-time staff
9
14 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$64,200
a year, before benefits
Administration & buildings
5 full-time5 part
Police
0 full-time8 part
Parks & libraries
1 full-time
Other
3 full-time1 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate. James Island didn't report its staffing to the Census Bureau, so these are the Bureau's estimates.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Charleston County School District

James Island's K–12 school district, shared with Awendaw, Folly Beach, Hollywood, Isle of Palms, Kiawah Island and McClellanville. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$18,199
South Carolina: $15,090
Students
50,400
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$775.4 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from South Carolina districts overall: 45% local, 43% state, 13% federal

  • Local 64%
  • State 23%
  • Federal 13%

Of the $18,199 per pupil, $9,517 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 James Island pay

Typical tax bill
$1,784
a year · South Carolina typical $1,251
Effective rate
0.35%
of home value · South Carolina 0.48%
Typical home value
$508,600
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 James Island's government

🏛️ Official websitejamesislandsc.us ↗

Town hall & decisions in James Island →

Beyond town hall

Who represents James Island

James Island is represented in Congress by Senators Tim Scott and Darline Graham and Representative Nancy Mace. Henry McMaster is governor.

All of James Island'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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James Island

South Carolina · SC
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