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Charles and Edith Liedlich HouseCharles and Edith Liedlich House · Photo: Choess · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Newark

Newark spent more per resident in 2022 than 69% of similar cities

Newark’s city government spent $39.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,154 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($38.7 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Delaware.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$39.1M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,154
In 2022: $1,154, more than 69% of 32 similar cities
Long-term debt
$24.6M
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2025
258
full-time · 100 part-time · March payroll $2.2M
Typical tax bill
$3,023
0.79% of home value · DE 0.50%

What stands out about how Newark is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,154 per resident, more than 69% of 32 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer58% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Christina School District with 1 other town.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Newark’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Oct26
    City CouncilMonday · 7:00 pm · 220 S. Main Street, 220 S. Main StreetCity Council MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Oct19
    City CouncilMonday · 7:00 pm · 220 S. Main Street, 220 S. Main StreetCity Council MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Oct12
    City CouncilMonday · 7:00 pm · 220 S. Main Street, 220 S. Main StreetCity Council MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Sep28
    City CouncilMonday · 7:00 pm · 220 S. Main Street, 220 S. Main StreetCity Council MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Sep21
    City CouncilMonday · 7:00 pm · 220 S. Main Street, 220 S. Main StreetCity Council MeetingMeeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,154 per resident a year, or $3.16 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 41%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 63%Fees & charges 15%Property taxes 8%Other taxes & licenses 5%From the state 4%Interest, fines & other 3%Sales taxes <1%From other local governments <1%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $16.5 million; interest on debt $503,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $96.5 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,154 per resident in 2022: more than 69% of them

Newark’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,154 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 32 Delaware cities that don’t run their own schools: the median was $604, and the middle half spent $312–$1,399. Newark spent more than 69% of them.

Middle half of the group, $312–$1,399Median $604Newark

Includes sewer and trash ($7.3 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
32

Delaware cities that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Newark itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

Newark reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau (2023, 2024 are estimates), so there is no trend yet.

City staff
258

full-time in March 2025, up from 238 in 2022.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $3,023 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.79% of the home’s value, vs 0.50% across Delaware.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Newark$3,023
Brookside$1,779
Delaware$1,768
$3,023
typical bill a year
0.79%
effective rate
$382,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Newark’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Newark’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Newark →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Newark

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See newarkde.gov for Newark’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Newark yet.newarkde.gov ↗
Who works for Newark

One full-time city employee for every 131 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (33,849).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Police92 + 4 pt
Parks & libraries17 + 49 pt
Water & other utilities38 + 1 pt
Administration & buildings32 + 9 pt
Roads & transportation18
Sewer & trash14
Courts, inspections & corrections3 + 8 pt
Fire2
Housing & development2
Health & welfare1
Other39 + 29 pt
258
full-time
100
part-time
$2.2M
payroll for March 2025
$26.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$97,100
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
73
sworn police officers
2
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Newark had 7.0 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 26 of the 32 Delaware cities that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.3: Newark had more than 54% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Christina School District

Newark’s K–12 school district, shared with Wilmington. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Newark →
$34,491
per pupil · DE $22,312
13,076
students
$91.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $34,491 per pupil, $17,320 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 41%State 49%Federal 10%

Delaware districts overall: 32% local, 57% state, 11% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

Newark’s votes are counted by county

Delaware reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Newark alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are New Castle County’s results.

President · New Castle County’s results275,917 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat65.5%180,700 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican32.9%90,868 votes

Others: 1.6% (4,349 votes).

Most votes in New Castle County: Kamala D Harris

Delaware: Harris 56.5%, Trump 41.8%

The county’s page

100% of Newark lies in New Castle County. Every 2024 race in New Castle County is on the county’s page.

New Castle County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Newark

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Newark.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: newarkde.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Delaware HouseNewark is split between 3 districts
    Mara GormanCyndie RomerEd Osienski
  3. 3
    Delaware SenateState senator
    Dave SokolaJack Walsh
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Matt Meyer
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Sarah McBride
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Delaware
    Christopher A. CoonsLisa Blunt Rochester
Find your state legislators by address ↗

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Newark compares with the towns next door

Newark spent $1,154 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Brookside: unincorporated, no town budgetBrooksideNewark
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Newark$1,154$3,023

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Newark’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websitenewarkde.gov ↗

Questions about Newark’s government

How much does Newark spend per resident?

About $1,154 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,154 was more than 69% of 32 Delaware cities that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Newark?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,023 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.79% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.50% across Delaware. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see newarkde.gov.

Who runs Newark’s government?

See newarkde.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Newark yet.

How did Newark vote in 2024?

Delaware counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Newark alone. New Castle County, where 100% of Newark lies, voted Harris 65.5%, Trump 32.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Newark?

258 full-time and 100 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $2.2M (about $26.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Newark in the state legislature?

Newark is split among 3 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Delaware Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Newark?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Monday, November 9, at 7:00 pm in 220 S. Main Street, 220 S. Main Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Newark’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →