Town Hall · Damariscotta

Damariscotta, ME town hall & government

Damariscotta spent $4.8 million in the year to June 30, 2022, about $2,209 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Damariscotta's money goes

Spent
$4.8 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2022
Per resident
$2,209
typical Maine towns: $1,160
Long-term debt
$2.3 million
$1,064 per resident
Schools
$1.4 million29%
Police
$659,00014%
Administration & buildings
$638,00013%
Roads & transportation
$578,00012%
Fire
$408,0009%
Sewer & trash
$135,0003%
Health & welfare
$92,0002%
Paid to other governments
$50,0001%
Parks & libraries
$39,0001%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$14,000<1%
Interest on debt
$3,000<1%
Other
$767,00016%

Damariscotta runs its own schools, so school spending is part of its budget. Comparisons are with other Maine towns.

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 70%
  • From the state 28%
  • Fees & charges 1%
  • Interest, fines & other 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%

Revenue here is well above spending. That usually means Damariscotta collects property taxes for the school district and county and passes them on, so only its own spending is counted above.

Town workforce · Census estimate

Who works for Damariscotta

Full-time staff
10
8 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$42,000
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
5
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
6 full-time4 part
Administration & buildings
4 full-time1 part
Roads & transportation
0 full-time1 part
Other
0 full-time2 part

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

Schools · school year 2023–24

Great Salt Bay Community School District

Damariscotta's elementary school district, shared with Bremen and Newcastle. The schools are run by Damariscotta, so this money is part of the budget above.

Spending per pupil
$20,132
Maine: $20,630
Students
387
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$1.5 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Maine districts overall: 52% local, 40% state, 8% federal

  • Local 69%
  • State 24%
  • Federal 6%

Of the $20,132 per pupil, $11,561 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.

Also serving Damariscotta: Damariscotta ($1,674 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Damariscotta pay

Typical tax bill
$3,806
a year · Maine typical $3,036
Effective rate
1.05%
of home value · Maine 1.02%
Typical home value
$363,500
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 Damariscotta's government

🏛️ Official websitetownofdamariscotta.com ↗

Town hall & decisions in Damariscotta →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Damariscotta

Damariscotta is represented in Congress by Senators Susan M. Collins and Angus S. King, Jr. and Representative Chellie Pingree. Janet Mills is governor.

All of Damariscotta'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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Damariscotta

Maine · ME · Lincoln County
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