Town Hall · Somerville

Somerville, MA town hall & government

Somerville spent $420.1 million in the year to June 30, 2022, about $5,191 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Somerville's money goes

Spent
$420.1 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2022
Per resident
$5,191
typical Massachusetts cities: $5,460
Long-term debt
$296.4 million
$3,662 per resident
Schools
$176.8 million42%
Sewer & trash
$42.8 million10%
Administration & buildings
$35.2 million8%
Fire
$20.5 million5%
Water & other utilities
$18.9 million5%
Police
$17.6 million4%
Interest on debt
$10.5 million2%
Roads & transportation
$9.6 million2%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$9.1 million2%
Paid to other governments
$7.1 million2%
Parks & libraries
$5.6 million1%
Housing & development
$3.5 million1%
Health & welfare
$1.9 million<1%
Other
$61 million15%

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

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 47%
  • From the state 17%
  • From the federal government 13%
  • Fees & charges 8%
  • Other taxes & licenses 7%
  • Utility sales 4%
  • Interest, fines & other 3%
  • Sales taxes 1%
Town workforce

Who works for Somerville

Full-time staff
1,655
485 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$90,700
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
126
and 113 full-time firefighters
Schools
893 full-time317 part
Police
160 full-time33 part
Fire
147 full-time1 part
Administration & buildings
101 full-time72 part
Housing & development
55 full-time11 part
Health & welfare
55 full-time8 part
Parks & libraries
29 full-time19 part
Roads & transportation
28 full-time
Water & other utilities
12 full-time
Courts, inspections & corrections
8 full-time3 part
Sewer & trash
3 full-time
Other
164 full-time21 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Property tax

What homeowners in Somerville pay

Typical tax bill
$6,186
a year · Massachusetts typical $5,992
Effective rate
0.68%
of home value · Massachusetts 1.07%
Typical home value
$911,300
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 Somerville's government

🏛️ Official websitesomervillema.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Somerville →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Somerville

Somerville is represented in Congress by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey and Representative Ayanna Pressley. Maura Healey is governor.

All of Somerville'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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Somerville

Massachusetts · MA
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