Town Hall · Waltham

Waltham, MA town hall & government

Waltham spent $531.4 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $8,294 per resident.

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

Local leadership

Who runs Waltham

Jeannette A. McCarthyMayorTerm ends 2027 781-314-3100Email Source ↗ Out of date? Sign in to tell us

From public records (Open States and Wikidata), which can lag behind an election. If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.

Town budget

Where Waltham's money goes

Spent
$531.4 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$8,294
typical Massachusetts cities: $6,897
Long-term debt
$360 million
$5,619 per resident
Schools
$271.7 million51%
Fire
$33.4 million6%
Police
$32.4 million6%
Sewer & trash
$29.6 million6%
Water & other utilities
$19.7 million4%
Roads & transportation
$19.4 million4%
Administration & buildings
$13.1 million2%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$8.9 million2%
Interest on debt
$8 million1%
Parks & libraries
$6.1 million1%
Paid to other governments
$3.2 million1%
Health & welfare
$2 million<1%
Housing & development
$1 million<1%
Other
$83.1 million16%

Waltham 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 61%
  • From the state 16%
  • Fees & charges 10%
  • Utility sales 4%
  • Interest, fines & other 3%
  • From the federal government 2%
  • Sales taxes 2%
  • Other taxes & licenses 2%
Town workforce

Who works for Waltham

Full-time staff
1,731
189 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$94,600
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
150
and 165 full-time firefighters
Schools
1,122 full-time101 part
Police
186 full-time2 part
Fire
167 full-time
Parks & libraries
42 full-time55 part
Roads & transportation
60 full-time3 part
Administration & buildings
45 full-time9 part
Water & other utilities
21 full-time2 part
Health & welfare
16 full-time7 part
Sewer & trash
9 full-time
Courts, inspections & corrections
7 full-time1 part
Housing & development
2 full-time
Other
54 full-time9 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Waltham School District

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

Spending per pupil
$28,352
Massachusetts: $26,530
Students
5,709
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 62%
  • State 32%
  • Federal 6%

Of the $28,352 per pupil, $16,962 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 Waltham pay

Typical tax bill
$4,766
a year · Massachusetts typical $5,992
Effective rate
0.64%
of home value · Massachusetts 1.07%
Typical home value
$748,700
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 Waltham's government

🏛️ Official websitecity.waltham.ma.us ↗

Town hall & decisions in Waltham →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Waltham

Waltham is represented in Congress by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey and Representative Katherine M. Clark. Maura Healey is governor.

All of Waltham'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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Waltham

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