Town Hall · Gardner

Gardner, MA town hall & government

Gardner spent $116.2 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $5,559 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Gardner's money goes

Spent
$116.2 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$5,559
typical Massachusetts cities: $6,897
Long-term debt
$75 million
$3,590 per resident
Schools
$52.8 million45%
Roads & transportation
$6.7 million6%
Police
$6.4 million5%
Fire
$5.9 million5%
Water & other utilities
$4.2 million4%
Sewer & trash
$3.7 million3%
Paid to other governments
$3.5 million3%
Health & welfare
$3.3 million3%
Administration & buildings
$3.3 million3%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$2.6 million2%
Interest on debt
$2.4 million2%
Parks & libraries
$2 million2%
Housing & development
$689,0001%
Other
$18.8 million16%

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

Where the money comes from

  • From the state 38%
  • Property taxes 35%
  • Fees & charges 10%
  • From the federal government 9%
  • Utility sales 4%
  • Interest, fines & other 2%
  • From other local governments 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
  • Sales taxes <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Gardner

Full-time staff
528
161 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$64,600
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
24
and 36 full-time firefighters
Schools
350 full-time37 part
Roads & transportation
40 full-time
Fire
39 full-time
Police
35 full-time4 part
Administration & buildings
19 full-time11 part
Parks & libraries
12 full-time6 part
Health & welfare
6 full-time
Housing & development
5 full-time
Sewer & trash
3 full-time
Water & other utilities
3 full-time
Courts, inspections & corrections
2 full-time
Other
14 full-time103 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

Gardner School District

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

Spending per pupil
$18,857
Massachusetts: $26,530
Students
2,472
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 28%
  • State 62%
  • Federal 10%

Of the $18,857 per pupil, $11,649 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 Gardner pay

Typical tax bill
$4,150
a year · Massachusetts typical $5,992
Effective rate
1.38%
of home value · Massachusetts 1.07%
Typical home value
$301,600
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 Gardner's government

🏛️ Official websitegardner-ma.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Gardner →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Gardner

Gardner is represented in Congress by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey and Representative Lori Trahan. Maura Healey is governor.

All of Gardner'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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Gardner

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