Lancaster, PA town hall & government
Lancaster spent $196.7 million in the year to December 31, 2024, about $3,424 per resident.
Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Lancaster's government.
Who runs Lancaster
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 If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.
Coming up at Lancaster's town hall
- Sep 30Wed · 6:00 pmGeneralCity Council Special MeetingCity Hall - Nelson M. Polite, Sr. Council Chambers, 120 N. Duke St. Meeting page ↗
- Oct 5Mon · 6:00 pmCommitteeCity Council CommitteeCity Hall - Nelson M. Polite, Sr. Council Chambers, 120 N Duke St. Meeting page ↗
- Oct 13Tue · 6:30 pmRegular MeetingCity Council First Regular MeetingCity Hall - Nelson M. Polite, Sr. Council Chambers, 120 N Duke St. Meeting page ↗
- Oct 27Tue · 6:30 pmRegular MeetingCity Council Second Regular MeetingCity Hall - Nelson M. Polite, Sr. Council Chambers, 120 N Duke St. Meeting page ↗
- Nov 2Mon · 6:00 pmCommitteeCity Council CommitteeCity Hall - Nelson M. Polite, Sr. Council Chambers, 120 N Duke St. Meeting page ↗
- Nov 10Tue · 6:30 pmRegular MeetingCity Council First Regular MeetingCity Hall - Nelson M. Polite, Sr. Council Chambers, 120 N Duke St. Meeting page ↗
Recent meetings
- Sep 22Tue · 6:30 pmRegular MeetingCity Council Second Regular MeetingCity Hall - Nelson M. Polite, Sr. Council Chambers, 120 N Duke St. Meeting page ↗
- Sep 14Mon · 6:00 pmRegular MeetingCity Council Special Meeting - September 14, 2026City Hall - Nelson M. Polite, Sr. Council Chambers, 120 N. Duke St. Meeting page ↗
- Sep 8Tue · 6:30 pmRegular MeetingCity Council First Regular MeetingCity Hall - Nelson M. Polite, Sr. Council Chambers, 120 N Duke St. Meeting page ↗
- Sep 1Tue · 6:00 pmCommitteeCity Council CommitteeCity Hall - Nelson M. Polite, Sr. Council Chambers, 120 N Duke St. Meeting page ↗
- Aug 25Tue · 6:30 pmRegular MeetingCity Council Second Regular MeetingCity Hall - Nelson M. Polite, Sr. Council Chambers, 120 N Duke St. Meeting page ↗
- Aug 11Tue · 6:30 pmRegular MeetingCity Council First Regular MeetingCity Hall - Nelson M. Polite, Sr. Council Chambers, 120 N Duke St. Meeting page ↗
- Aug 3Mon · 6:00 pmCommitteeCity Council CommitteeCity Hall - Nelson M. Polite, Sr. Council Chambers, 120 N Duke St. Meeting page ↗
- Jul 28Tue · 6:30 pmRegular MeetingCity Council Second Regular MeetingCity Hall - Nelson M. Polite, Sr. Council Chambers, 120 N Duke St. Meeting page ↗
Official listings from Lancaster's agenda portal ↗, checked daily. Times are local. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check the portal before you go.
Where Lancaster's money goes
Where the money comes from
- Fees & charges 28%
- Utility sales 19%
- Property taxes 18%
- From the state 12%
- From the federal government 9%
- Interest, fines & other 6%
- Income taxes 5%
- Other taxes & licenses 3%
- From other local governments 1%
Who works for Lancaster
Staff on the town's payroll in March 2023. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.
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.
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.
Also serving Lancaster: Lampeter-Strasburg School District ($18,089 per pupil).
Which schools Lancaster kids attend, test scores and graduation rate →
What homeowners in Lancaster pay
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.
Contact Lancaster's government
Who represents Lancaster
Lancaster is represented in Congress by Senators John Fetterman and David McCormick and Representative Lloyd Smucker. Josh Shapiro is governor.
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.