Town Hall · New Bern

New Bern, NC town hall & government

New Bern spent $148.6 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $4,711 per resident.

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

Local leadership

Who runs New Bern

Jeffrey T. OdhamMayorTerm ends 2029 252-636-4000Email Source ↗ Out of date?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 If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.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 New Bern's money goes

Spent
$148.6 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$4,711
typical North Carolina cities: $2,639
Long-term debt
$37.4 million
$1,187 per resident
Water & other utilities
$68.6 million46%
Sewer & trash
$18.9 million13%
Police
$15.1 million10%
Parks & libraries
$14.8 million10%
Administration & buildings
$10.8 million7%
Fire
$8.5 million6%
Roads & transportation
$4.1 million3%
Housing & development
$1.8 million1%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$1.3 million1%
Interest on debt
$294,000<1%
Other
$4.3 million3%

Where the money comes from

  • Utility sales 51%
  • Fees & charges 15%
  • Property taxes 14%
  • From the state 9%
  • Sales taxes 8%
  • Interest, fines & other 2%
  • From the federal government 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
Town workforce

Who works for New Bern

Full-time staff
472
21 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$69,900
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
87
and 70 full-time firefighters
Police
111 full-time5 part
Water & other utilities
96 full-time
Fire
72 full-time
Administration & buildings
56 full-time6 part
Sewer & trash
46 full-time
Roads & transportation
31 full-time1 part
Parks & libraries
27 full-time8 part
Housing & development
3 full-time
Other
30 full-time1 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

Craven County Schools

New Bern's K–12 school district, shared with Bridgeton, Cove City, Dover, Havelock, River Bend and Trent Woods. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$12,672
North Carolina: $13,045
Students
12,584
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$3.7 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from North Carolina districts overall: 26% local, 57% state, 17% federal

  • Local 17%
  • State 60%
  • Federal 23%

Of the $12,672 per pupil, $7,291 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 New Bern pay

Typical tax bill
$1,734
a year · North Carolina typical $1,896
Effective rate
0.72%
of home value · North Carolina 0.66%
Typical home value
$240,100
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 New Bern's government

🏛️ Official websitenewbernnc.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in New Bern →

Beyond town hall

Who represents New Bern

New Bern is represented in Congress by Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd and Representative Gregory F. Murphy. Josh Stein is governor.

All of New Bern'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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New Bern

North Carolina · NC
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