Town Hall · Chester

Chester, VT town hall & government

Chester spent $6.2 million in the year to December 31, 2023, about $2,060 per resident.

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

Town budget · Census estimate

Where Chester's money goes

Spent
$6.2 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2023
Per resident
$2,060
typical Vermont towns: $1,529
Long-term debt
$418,000
$138 per resident
Roads & transportation
$2 million32%
Sewer & trash
$627,00010%
Administration & buildings
$603,00010%
Police
$583,0009%
Parks & libraries
$335,0005%
Health & welfare
$186,0003%
Water & other utilities
$177,0003%
Fire
$84,0001%
Interest on debt
$64,0001%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$14,000<1%
Other
$1.6 million26%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 59%
  • Interest, fines & other 19%
  • Fees & charges 11%
  • From the state 8%
  • Utility sales 3%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%

Chester didn't report all of its 2023 figures to the Census Bureau, so most of these numbers are the Bureau's estimates.

Town workforce · Census estimate

Who works for Chester

Full-time staff
36
23 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$110,400
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
10
full-time, with power of arrest
Roads & transportation
16 full-time
Police
10 full-time12 part
Administration & buildings
5 full-time1 part
Parks & libraries
0 full-time10 part
Water & other utilities
4 full-time
Sewer & trash
1 full-time

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate. Chester didn't report its staffing to the Census Bureau, so these are the Bureau's estimates.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Green Mountain Unified School District

Chester's high school school district, shared with Andover, Baltimore and Cavendish. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$21,407
Vermont: $25,064
Students
669
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$533,000
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Vermont districts overall: 5% local, 89% state, 6% federal

  • Local 7%
  • State 93%
  • Federal <1%

Of the $21,407 per pupil, $12,296 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 Chester: Two Rivers Supervisory Union.

Property tax

What homeowners in Chester pay

Typical tax bill
$4,262
a year · Vermont typical $5,039
Effective rate
1.83%
of home value · Vermont 1.59%
Typical home value
$232,900
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 Chester's government

🏛️ Official websitechestervt.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Chester →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Chester

Chester is represented in Congress by Senators Bernard Sanders and Peter Welch and Representative Becca Balint. Phil Scott is governor.

All of Chester'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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Chester

Vermont · VT · Windsor County
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