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Jefferson City, Missouri
| Jefferson City, Missouri | |
 | |
| General information | |
Mayor of Jefferson City
Ron L. Fitzwater | |
| Last mayoral election: | 2023 |
| Next mayoral election: | 2027 |
| Last city council election: | 2025 |
| Next city council election: | 2026 |
| City council seats: | 10 |
| City website | |
| Composition data | |
| Population: | 43,228 |
| Race: | White 74.3% African American 15.8% Asian 1.8% Native American 0.3% Pacific Islander 0.1% Multiple 6.3% |
| Ethnicity: | Hispanic or Latino origin 3.6% |
| Median household income: | $67,205 |
| High school graduation rate: | 92% |
| College graduation rate: | 36.9% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 census and 2023 ACS data. Percentages are rounded to the nearest 0.1%. | |
| Related Jefferson City offices | |
| Missouri Congressional Delegation Missouri State Legislature Missouri state executive offices | |
Jefferson City is a city in Cole County, Missouri. The city's population was 43,228 as of 2020, according to the United States Census Bureau.
Click on the links below to learn more about the city's...
- Mayor
- City council
- Other elected officials
- Elections
- Census information
- Budget
- Contact information
- Ballot measures
City government
- See also: Mayor-council government
The city of Jefferson City utilizes a mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and the mayor serves as the city's chief executive. The mayor, however, appoints a city administrator for the administration of all city affairs.[1]
Mayor
The mayor serves as the city's chief executive. The responsibilities of the mayor include proposing a budget, signing legislation into law, enforcing laws, and appointing departmental directors and board members. The mayor also represents the city on the state, national, and international levels. The mayor can also cast tie-breaking votes in city council meetings.[2]
The current Mayor of Jefferson City is Ron L. Fitzwater (nonpartisan). Fitzwater assumed office in 2023.
City administrator
The city administrator is responsible for making recommendations for the appointment or removal of department heads to the mayor and city council. He or she is also responsible for preparing an annual budget for the mayor, and appointing and removing city employees.[3]
City council
The Jefferson City Council is the city's primary legislative body. It is responsible for adopting the city budget, approving mayoral appointees, levying taxes, and making or amending city laws, policies, and ordinances.
The city council is made up of 10 members. Two members are each elected by the city's five wards to staggered two-year terms.[4]
Other elected officials
Although there may be other elected officials in Jefferson City, Ballotpedia currently only covers the city prosecutor.
Mayoral partisanship
Jefferson City has a Republican mayor. As of September 2025, the mayors of 35 state capitals are affiliated with the Democratic Party, seven are Republicans, one is independent, and two are nonpartisan. The partisan affiliation of five state capital mayors is unknown. While most mayoral elections in state capital cities are nonpartisan, most officeholders are affiliated with a political party.
Elections
2025
The city of Jefferson City, Missouri, held general elections for city council and prosecutor on April 8, 2025. The filing deadline for this election was December 31, 2024.
2024
The city of Jefferson City, Missouri, held general elections for city council on April 2, 2024. The filing deadline for this election was December 26, 2023.
2023
The city of Jefferson City, Missouri, held general elections for mayor, city council, and city prosecutor on April 4, 2023. The filing deadline for this election was December 27, 2022.
2022
The city of Jefferson City, Missouri, held general elections for city council on April 5, 2022. The filing deadline for this election was December 28, 2021.
2021
The city of Jefferson City, Missouri, held general elections for city council and city prosecutor on April 6, 2021. The filing deadline for this election was January 19, 2021.
Census information
The table below shows demographic information about the city.
| Demographic Data for Jefferson City | |
|---|---|
| Jefferson City | |
| Population | 43,228 |
| Land area (sq mi) | 36 |
| Race and ethnicity** | |
| White | 72.5% |
| Black/African American | 17.4% |
| Asian | 2.8% |
| Native American | 0.3% |
| Pacific Islander | 0% |
| Other (single race) | 1.5% |
| Multiple | 5.5% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 4.2% |
| Education | |
| High school graduation rate | 92% |
| College graduation rate | 36.9% |
| Income | |
| Median household income | $67,205 |
| Persons below poverty level | 12.5% |
| Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2018-2023). | |
| **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | |
Budget
The city's budget process operates by fiscal years running from November 1 to October 31 of the next year. The city administrator is responsible for preparing and submitting the annual budget to the mayor. The mayor will review the budget and submit the budget to the city council for consideration. Property tax rates must be approved by the city council by September 1. The city council adopts the budget on or before October 31 of each year. The city council also holds hearings to allow for public input in the budget process.[5][6]
Revenue and expenditure by year
The total revenue and expenditure figures were pulled from the all funds revenue and expenditures tables in the city's annual financial reports.[7][8][9][10][11]
| Jefferson City historical revenue and expenditures | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiscal year | Budget type | Total revenue | Total expenditure |
| 2025 | Adopted | $86,463,675 | $86,463,675 |
| 2024 | Adopted | $82,467,801 | $82,467,801 |
| 2023 | Actual | $96,791,590 | $88,630,187 |
| 2022 | Actual | $83,833,135 | $78,368,889 |
| 2021 | Actual | $83,316,153 | $77,251,670 |
| 2020 | Actual | $82,667,566 | $82,090,535 |
Contact information
Mayor's office
John G. Christy Municipal Building
320 E. McCarty St.
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Phone: 573-634-6303
City Clerk's office
John G. Christy Municipal Building
320 E. McCarty St.
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Phone: 573-634-6311
Click here for city council contact information.
Ballot measures
- See also: Cole County, Missouri ballot measures
The city of Jefferson City is in Cole County. A list of ballot measures in Cole County is available here.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Missouri Municipal League, "Forms of Government for Missouri Municipalities," accessed December 15, 2021
- ↑ City of Jefferson, "City Charter: Section 4.4. Mayor's Powers and Duties," accessed December 15, 2021
- ↑ City of Jefferson, "City Charter: Section 5.2. Duties and Powers," accessed December 14, 2021
- ↑ City of Jefferson, "City Charter: Article III- The Council," accessed December 15, 2021
- ↑ City of Jefferson, "Budget," accessed December 14, 2021
- ↑ City of Jefferson, "Budget Process Information," accessed December 14, 2021
- ↑ City of Jefferson, "FY2022 Adopted Annual City Budget," accessed December 14, 2021
- ↑ City of Jefferson, "FY2023 Mayor's Amendment's Based on Council Direction," accessed October 20, 2022
- ↑ City of Jefferson, "FY2024 Mayor's Amendment's Based on Council Direction," accessed August 25, 2023
- ↑ City of Jefferson, "Revenue Summary by Fund FY2025 Annual Budget," accessed October 29, 2024
- ↑ City of Jefferson, "Expenditure Summary by Fund FY2025 Annual Budget," accessed October 29, 2024
