Town Hall · West Reading

West Reading, PA town hall & government

West Reading spent $11.6 million in the year to December 31, 2022, about $2,690 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where West Reading's money goes

Spent
$11.6 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2022
Per resident
$2,690
typical Pennsylvania cities: $923
Long-term debt
$8.1 million
$1,883 per resident
Police
$2.6 million23%
Fire
$2.1 million18%
Roads & transportation
$1.7 million14%
Sewer & trash
$1.3 million12%
Administration & buildings
$940,0008%
Water & other utilities
$901,0008%
Parks & libraries
$705,0006%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$600,0005%
Interest on debt
$313,0003%
Housing & development
$97,0001%
Other
$265,0002%

Where the money comes from

  • Fees & charges 25%
  • Utility sales 18%
  • Property taxes 18%
  • Interest, fines & other 11%
  • Other taxes & licenses 11%
  • Income taxes 8%
  • From the state 6%
  • From the federal government 2%
  • From other local governments <1%
Town workforce

Who works for West Reading

Full-time staff
31
11 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$80,000
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
13
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
14 full-time1 part
Administration & buildings
7 full-time9 part
Roads & transportation
8 full-time
Parks & libraries
1 full-time
Other
1 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

Wyomissing Area School District

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

Spending per pupil
$20,387
Pennsylvania: $21,758
Students
1,882
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$40.4 million
at year end

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

  • Local 75%
  • State 21%
  • Federal 4%

Of the $20,387 per pupil, $12,728 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 West Reading pay

Typical tax bill
$3,390
a year · Pennsylvania typical $3,311
Effective rate
1.96%
of home value · Pennsylvania 1.30%
Typical home value
$173,100
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 West Reading's government

Town hall & decisions in West Reading →

Beyond town hall

Who represents West Reading

West Reading is represented in Congress by Senators John Fetterman and David McCormick and Representative Chrissy Houlahan. Josh Shapiro is governor.

All of West Reading'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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West Reading

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