Town Hall · Cheshire

Cheshire, MA town hall & government

Cheshire spent $8 million in the year to June 30, 2022, about $2,585 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Cheshire's money goes

Spent
$8 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2022
Per resident
$2,585
typical Massachusetts towns: $4,883
Long-term debt
$586,000
$189 per resident
Paid to other governments
$3.3 million42%
Roads & transportation
$1.5 million19%
Administration & buildings
$720,0009%
Water & other utilities
$405,0005%
Housing & development
$207,0003%
Fire
$168,0002%
Sewer & trash
$142,0002%
Police
$140,0002%
Health & welfare
$44,0001%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$37,000<1%
Parks & libraries
$34,000<1%
Schools
$33,000<1%
Interest on debt
$26,000<1%
Other
$1.2 million15%

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

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 64%
  • From the state 20%
  • From the federal government 8%
  • Utility sales 4%
  • Fees & charges 2%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
  • Interest, fines & other <1%
  • Sales taxes <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Cheshire

Full-time staff
12
13 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$62,700
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
1
full-time, with power of arrest
Administration & buildings
4 full-time3 part
Roads & transportation
5 full-time
Police
1 full-time4 part
Sewer & trash
1 full-time2 part
Water & other utilities
1 full-time2 part
Parks & libraries
0 full-time1 part
Health & welfare
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

Hoosac Valley School District

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

Spending per pupil
$23,222
Massachusetts: $26,530
Students
978
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$6.8 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal

  • Local 38%
  • State 51%
  • Federal 11%

Of the $23,222 per pupil, $13,249 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 Cheshire pay

Typical tax bill
$3,005
a year · Massachusetts typical $5,992
Effective rate
1.12%
of home value · Massachusetts 1.07%
Typical home value
$268,200
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 Cheshire's government

Town hall & decisions in Cheshire →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Cheshire

Cheshire is represented in Congress by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey and Representative Richard E. Neal. Maura Healey is governor.

All of Cheshire'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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Cheshire

Massachusetts · MA · Berkshire County
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