How Williamsburg is run
Who runs Williamsburg, what it costs, and where your money goes
The city manager, council pay, the budget, your property tax bill and who provides each service, from Williamsburg's own public documents. Every number links to its source and says which year it describes. Checked Oct 10, 2026.
Who runs Williamsburg
A city manager hired by the council runs the city government day to day. The five-member council, including the mayor, sets policy and adopts the budget. It also appoints the city attorney and the clerk of council.
What they are paid
Williamsburg city staff
248 full-time-equivalent positions. FY2026-27. Adopted FY2027 budget, after adding 8.5 positions. City of Williamsburg · May 27, 2026
The budget lists positions by department without pay. We found no posted salary list or pay plan for city staff. We name pay only for elected officials and the city manager.
Is Williamsburg in the red?
Cities must pass a balanced budget, so "profit" and "deficit" mean something different here. The useful questions: does the city's everyday money (the general fund) cover its everyday costs, how much does it keep in savings compared with its own target, and how big are its pension and debt bills.
The city's own outlook
The budget's five-year forecast projects that unassigned fund balance will stay above the 35% policy through FY2031. The FY2027 budget is balanced with a $1.4 million draw from fund balance. City of Williamsburg · May 27, 2026
Savings against the city's own target
Unassigned general fund balance: $26.7M (2025-06-30). The city's own target: The city's policy requires unassigned general fund balance of at least 35% of operating revenues. At June 30, 2025 it was 51.4%. The city meets this target. City of Williamsburg · Dec 1, 2025
Why we skip the "budgeted deficit": many cities plan to dip into savings, then spend less than planned. The audited result tells you what really happened.
Where the money comes from and goes
The general fund only: the city's everyday money for FY2026-27.
Comes from
- Property taxes$26.2M · 42%
- Other local taxes (meals, lodging, sales, utility, business license)$24.7M · 39%
- State and federal aid$4.9M · 8%
- Miscellaneous revenue$3.1M · 5%
- Draw from fund balance$1.4M · 2%
- Interest and rents (use of money and property)$971,750 · 2%
- Other (charges for services, fines, licenses and permits)$1.3M · 2%
Goes to (FY2026-27)
- Public safety (police, fire and EMS, 911, jail, courts services)$17.8M · 28%
- Schools: city payment to Williamsburg-James City County Schools$14.5M · 23%
- General government administration$10.8M · 17%
- Public works$5.4M · 9%
- Parks, recreation and culture$3.5M · 6%
- Transfer to the capital improvement fund$3M · 5%
- Health and welfare$2.6M · 4%
- Other (transfer to the tourism fund, community development, courts)$5.1M · 8%
Your property tax bill: who gets it
Williamsburg is an independent city, so there is no county property tax. The city pays its share of the joint Williamsburg-James City County schools from the general fund. The rate did not change for FY2027.
100¢
of each property-tax dollar goes to the city of Williamsburg
- City of Williamsburg0.62 · 100%
- Total ($ per $100 of assessed value)0.62
FY2027 real estate tax rate for a home in the City of Williamsburg. City of Williamsburg · May 27, 2026
See what a Williamsburg house pays, line by line →Who provides your services
Not everything in Williamsburg is run by the city. Who provides a service decides whose budget pays for it and whose election decides it.
- PoliceThe cityWilliamsburg Police DepartmentCity of Williamsburg · May 27, 2026
- Fire and EMSThe cityWilliamsburg Fire DepartmentCareer firefighters handle both fire and emergency medical calls.City of Williamsburg · May 27, 2026
- 911 dispatchThe countyYork County (consolidated regional 911 center)City of Williamsburg · May 27, 2026
- WaterThe cityCity Public UtilitiesCity of Williamsburg · May 27, 2026
- Sewer collectionThe cityCity Public UtilitiesCity sewer lines carry sewage to HRSD for treatment.City of Williamsburg · May 27, 2026
- Sewage treatmentSeparate districtHampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD)HRSD bills customers directly for sewer charges since FY26.City of Williamsburg · May 27, 2026
Compared with similar cities
The cities in this state closest in population that we cover. Read it for scale, not as a ranking: cities provide different services.
| Per city | Front RoyalVA | WilliamsburgVA | BristolVA | RadfordVA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 15,722 | 15,861 | 16,418 | 17,243 |
| Top administrator's base pay | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | $185,000 | Not confirmed |
| Council member pay | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not current (2018) | Not confirmed |
| General fund per resident | $985 | $3,949 | $5,915 | $2,052 |
| Debt per resident | $2,326 | $2,977 | $9,124 | $1,831 |
| Unfunded pension per resident | $404 | $792 | $972 | $355 |
| City staff per 1,000 residents | 11.2 | 15.6 | 18.4 | — |
Figures as shown in each city's section, divided by its population. Years differ by state, and pension figures are measured differently in each state (each city page says how).
What Williamsburg publishes
What a resident can find online today. A "no" is something you can ask the council to publish.
- Yes: Adopted budget posted onlineThe Budget page posts the full FY2027 adopted budget and each of its sections. City of Williamsburg
- No: City manager's contract findable onlineThe council approved an appointment agreement with Michele Mixner DeWitt dated May 27, 2026. We found no posted copy. Williamsburg City Council · Jun 11, 2026
- Yes: Council votes recorded member by member online Williamsburg City Council · Jun 11, 2026
- Partly: Council pay stated in a public documentThe FY2027 budget shows $38,400 in council salaries in total, not each member's or the mayor's pay. City of Williamsburg · May 27, 2026
- No: Employee pay publishedThe budget lists staff counts by department without salaries. We found no posted pay plan. City of Williamsburg · May 27, 2026
Questions to ask your council
- Unassigned general fund balance was $26.7 million at June 30, 2025, or 51.4% of operating revenue against a 35% policy. Why does the FY2027 budget draw $1.4 million from fund balance?
- The city's payment to Williamsburg-James City County Schools is $14.5 million in FY2027, the second-largest general fund line. How is the city's share set under the new joint contract?
- The council approved an appointment agreement with City Manager Michele Mixner DeWitt dated May 27, 2026. Will the city post it, including her salary?
- The city's pension plan was 86.26% funded with a $12.6 million net liability. What is the plan to close that gap?
The fiscal year starts July 1. The FY2027 proposed budget was published March 30, 2026 and presented at the April 6, 2026 work session. After public input at four council meetings, the council adopted the budget at a special meeting on May 27, 2026. See who is running for council
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