Town Hall · Essex

Essex, CT town hall & government

Essex spent $31.6 million in the year to June 30, 2022, about $4,766 per resident.

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

Town budget · Census estimate

Where Essex's money goes

Spent
$31.6 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2022
Per resident
$4,766
typical Connecticut towns: $4,935
Long-term debt
$6.4 million
$962 per resident
Administration & buildings
$9.6 million30%
Schools
$9.1 million29%
Roads & transportation
$3.3 million10%
Health & welfare
$2.4 million8%
Fire
$2 million6%
Parks & libraries
$1.9 million6%
Police
$1.2 million4%
Sewer & trash
$851,0003%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$364,0001%
Paid to other governments
$224,0001%
Interest on debt
$171,0001%
Other
$641,0002%

Essex runs its own schools, so school spending is part of its budget. Comparisons are with other Connecticut towns.

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 92%
  • From the state 4%
  • Fees & charges 3%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
  • Interest, fines & other 1%

Essex didn't report all of its 2022 figures to the Census Bureau, so most of these numbers are the Bureau's estimates.

Town workforce

Who works for Essex

Full-time staff
80
27 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$64,900
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
3
full-time, with power of arrest
Schools
53 full-time6 part
Administration & buildings
15 full-time11 part
Roads & transportation
5 full-time1 part
Police
3 full-time4 part
Health & welfare
1 full-time3 part
Parks & libraries
2 full-time
Sewer & trash
1 full-time
Fire
0 full-time1 part
Other
0 full-time1 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

Regional School District 04

Essex's high school school district, shared with Chester and Deep River. The schools are run by Essex, so this money is part of the budget above.

Spending per pupil
$32,549
Connecticut: $25,892
Students
723
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$7.2 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Connecticut districts overall: 58% local, 35% state, 8% federal

  • Local 84%
  • State 11%
  • Federal 4%

Of the $32,549 per pupil, $16,115 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.

Also serving Essex: Essex School District ($31,823 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Essex pay

Typical tax bill
$5,678
a year · Connecticut typical $6,643
Effective rate
1.03%
of home value · Connecticut 1.81%
Typical home value
$552,000
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 Essex's government

🏛️ Official websiteessexct.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Essex →

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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Essex

Connecticut · CT · Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
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