Town Hall · Chester

Chester, MA town hall & government

Chester spent $5.6 million in the year to June 30, 2022, about $4,098 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Chester's money goes

Spent
$5.6 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2022
Per resident
$4,098
typical Massachusetts towns: $4,883
Long-term debt
$301,000
$221 per resident
Paid to other governments
$1.6 million29%
Water & other utilities
$1.4 million25%
Roads & transportation
$837,00015%
Housing & development
$396,0007%
Administration & buildings
$361,0006%
Schools
$179,0003%
Health & welfare
$120,0002%
Fire
$42,0001%
Parks & libraries
$41,0001%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$22,000<1%
Other
$550,00010%

Chester 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 45%
  • Utility sales 22%
  • From the federal government 18%
  • From the state 11%
  • Fees & charges 2%
  • Sales taxes 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%
Town workforce · Census estimate

Who works for Chester

Full-time staff
4
63 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$29,000
a year, before benefits
Administration & buildings
0 full-time31 part
Water & other utilities
4 full-time4 part
Health & welfare
0 full-time4 part
Police
0 full-time4 part
Roads & transportation
0 full-time3 part
Parks & libraries
0 full-time3 part
Fire
0 full-time1 part
Sewer & trash
0 full-time1 part
Other
0 full-time12 part

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

Property tax

What homeowners in Chester pay

Typical tax bill
$4,522
a year · Massachusetts typical $5,992
Effective rate
1.60%
of home value · Massachusetts 1.07%
Typical home value
$281,900
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. In a town this small the survey estimate has a wide margin.

Local

Contact Chester's government

🏛️ Official websitetownofchester.net/chestermass ↗

Town hall & decisions in Chester →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Chester

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

All of Chester'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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Chester

Massachusetts · MA · Hampden County
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