Town Hall · Fairhaven

Fairhaven, MA town hall & government

Fairhaven spent $68.5 million in the year to June 30, 2022, about $4,252 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Fairhaven's money goes

Spent
$68.5 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2022
Per resident
$4,252
typical Massachusetts towns: $4,883
Long-term debt
$15.1 million
$939 per resident
Schools
$34.5 million50%
Sewer & trash
$5.5 million8%
Police
$4.7 million7%
Water & other utilities
$4.1 million6%
Fire
$3.2 million5%
Roads & transportation
$3.2 million5%
Paid to other governments
$2.8 million4%
Administration & buildings
$2.2 million3%
Parks & libraries
$1.1 million2%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$1 million2%
Health & welfare
$942,0001%
Interest on debt
$424,0001%
Housing & development
$11,000<1%
Other
$4.7 million7%

Fairhaven 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 46%
  • From the state 19%
  • Fees & charges 15%
  • From the federal government 7%
  • Utility sales 4%
  • From other local governments 3%
  • Interest, fines & other 3%
  • Sales taxes 2%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
Town workforce

Who works for Fairhaven

Full-time staff
387
115 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$77,900
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
26
and 18 full-time firefighters
Schools
270 full-time45 part
Police
31 full-time4 part
Administration & buildings
24 full-time2 part
Fire
19 full-time12 part
Roads & transportation
17 full-time
Sewer & trash
12 full-time
Health & welfare
4 full-time11 part
Parks & libraries
3 full-time11 part
Water & other utilities
6 full-time
Other
1 full-time30 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

Fairhaven School District

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

Spending per pupil
$19,103
Massachusetts: $26,530
Students
1,759
in the whole district
Long-term debt
None
at year end

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

  • Local 54%
  • State 37%
  • Federal 9%

Of the $19,103 per pupil, $10,856 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 Fairhaven pay

Typical tax bill
$3,566
a year · Massachusetts typical $5,992
Effective rate
0.80%
of home value · Massachusetts 1.07%
Typical home value
$446,700
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 Fairhaven's government

🏛️ Official websitefairhaven-ma.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Fairhaven →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Fairhaven

Fairhaven is represented in Congress by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey and Representative William R. Keating. Maura Healey is governor.

All of Fairhaven'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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Fairhaven

Massachusetts · MA · Bristol County
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