Town Hall · Lancaster

Lancaster, PA town hall & government

Lancaster spent $7.5 million in the year to December 31, 2022, about $438 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Lancaster's money goes

Spent
$7.5 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2022
Per resident
$438
typical Pennsylvania towns: $466
Long-term debt
None
none outstanding at year end
Police
$2.1 million27%
Roads & transportation
$1.9 million26%
Sewer & trash
$1.2 million16%
Administration & buildings
$1.1 million14%
Fire
$416,0006%
Parks & libraries
$225,0003%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$38,0001%
Health & welfare
$10,000<1%
Other
$607,0008%

Where the money comes from

  • Income taxes 26%
  • Interest, fines & other 19%
  • Fees & charges 15%
  • Other taxes & licenses 13%
  • Property taxes 10%
  • From the federal government 9%
  • From the state 6%
  • From other local governments 1%
Town workforce

Who works for Lancaster

Full-time staff
15
3 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$69,700
a year, before benefits
Roads & transportation
8 full-time2 part
Administration & buildings
7 full-time1 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

Lancaster School District

Lancaster's K–12 school district, shared with Lancaster. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$24,706
Pennsylvania: $21,758
Students
10,015
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$225.2 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Pennsylvania districts overall: 55% local, 37% state, 8% federal

  • Local 36%
  • State 48%
  • Federal 16%

Of the $24,706 per pupil, $15,059 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 Lancaster pay

Typical tax bill
$4,050
a year · Pennsylvania typical $3,311
Effective rate
1.45%
of home value · Pennsylvania 1.30%
Typical home value
$278,900
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 Lancaster's government

🏛️ Official websitecityoflancasterpa.com ↗

Town hall & decisions in Lancaster →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Lancaster

Lancaster is represented in Congress by Senators John Fetterman and David McCormick and Representative Lloyd Smucker. Josh Shapiro is governor.

All of Lancaster'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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Lancaster

Pennsylvania · PA · Lancaster County
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