Town Hall · Portland

Portland, ME town hall & government

Portland spent $491.2 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $7,179 per resident.

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

Local leadership

Who runs Portland

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 If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.

Meetings

Coming up at Portland's town hall

Recent meetings

Official listings from Portland's agenda portal ↗, checked daily. Times are local. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check the portal before you go.

Town budget

Where Portland's money goes

Spent
$491.2 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$7,179
spending per person
Long-term debt
$460.6 million
$6,732 per resident
Schools
$158.8 million32%
Health & welfare
$65.7 million13%
Roads & transportation
$63.6 million13%
Sewer & trash
$47.7 million10%
Police
$21.6 million4%
Fire
$19.8 million4%
Parks & libraries
$18.5 million4%
Interest on debt
$17.9 million4%
Administration & buildings
$17.7 million4%
Housing & development
$8.3 million2%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$3.5 million1%
Paid to other governments
$102,000<1%
Other
$48.1 million10%

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

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 42%
  • From the state 24%
  • Fees & charges 21%
  • Interest, fines & other 8%
  • Other taxes & licenses 4%
  • From the federal government 1%
  • From other local governments <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Portland

Full-time staff
2,326
726 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$75,000
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
137
and 192 full-time firefighters
Schools
1,175 full-time426 part
Health & welfare
258 full-time133 part
Fire
205 full-time1 part
Police
190 full-time
Administration & buildings
141 full-time14 part
Parks & libraries
83 full-time109 part
Roads & transportation
95 full-time1 part
Sewer & trash
60 full-time2 part
Housing & development
19 full-time
Courts, inspections & corrections
8 full-time
Other
92 full-time40 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

Portland

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

Spending per pupil
$22,215
Maine: $20,630
Students
6,649
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$74.2 million
at year end

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

  • Local 66%
  • State 21%
  • Federal 13%

Of the $22,215 per pupil, $12,483 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 Portland pay

Typical tax bill
$5,601
a year · Maine typical $3,036
Effective rate
1.14%
of home value · Maine 1.02%
Typical home value
$489,600
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 Portland's government

🏛️ Official websiteportlandmaine.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Portland →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Portland

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

All of Portland'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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Portland

Maine · ME
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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01