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Monterey-Lake GarfieldPhoto: ToddC4176 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Monterey

Monterey spent more per resident in 2022 than 88% of similar towns

Monterey’s town government spent $2.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $2,955 per resident.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Massachusetts.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$2.7M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$2,955
In 2022: $2,955, more than 88% of 34 similar towns
Long-term debt
$150,000
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
8
full-time · 41 part-time · March payroll $78,351
Typical tax bill
$2,858
0.47% of home value · MA 1.07%

What stands out about how Monterey is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$2,955 per resident in 2022: more than 88% of them

Monterey’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,955 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 34 Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $2,057, and the middle half spent $1,652–$2,633. Monterey spent more than 88% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,652–$2,633Median $2,057Monterey

Includes sewer and trash ($122,000), 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
34

Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Monterey itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $2,955 per resident a year, or $8.10 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 26%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 78%From the state 10%From the federal government 6%Other taxes & licenses 3%Interest, fines & other 2%Fees & charges 2%Sales taxes <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $848,000; interest on debt $15,000; payments to other governments $1.6 million. With these, the whole budget was $5.2 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

Monterey reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,858 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.47% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Massachusetts$5,992
Great Barrington$5,935
New Marlborough$4,689
Tyringham$4,632
Sandisfield$3,328
Monterey$2,858
Otis$2,408
$2,858
typical bill a year
0.47%
effective rate
$603,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Monterey’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. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Monterey

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

See montereyma.gov for Monterey’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Monterey yet.montereyma.gov ↗
Agendas

Monterey’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on montereyma.gov ↗.

Who works for Monterey

One full-time town employee for every 115 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (918).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Fire0 + 17 pt
Administration & buildings1 + 8 pt
Roads & transportation5
Police2 + 5 pt
Health & welfare0 + 5 pt
Parks & libraries0 + 3 pt
Sewer & trash0 + 2 pt
Other0 + 1 pt
8
full-time
41
part-time
$78,351
payroll for March 2022
$940,212
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$74,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
2
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Monterey had 8.7 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 19 of the 34 Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 7.0: Monterey had more than 68% 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

Southern Berkshire School District

Monterey’s K–12 school district, shared with Alford, Egremont, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Sheffield. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Monterey →
$34,583
per pupil · MA $26,530
614
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $34,583 per pupil, $15,389 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 70%State 25%Federal 5%

Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Monterey voted in 2024

Official results for Monterey’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President597 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat80.7%482 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican15.9%95 votes

Others: 3.4% (20 votes).

Most votes in Monterey: Kamala D Harris

Berkshire County: Harris 68.6%, Trump 28.8% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%

Turnout
71%

of Monterey’s 841 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate593 votes
Elizabeth Ann WarrenDemocrat81.3%
John DeatonRepublican18.5%
Others0.2%

Most votes in Monterey: Elizabeth Ann Warren

Berkshire County: Warren 70.0%, Deaton 29.9% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%

U.S. House · Massachusetts’s 1st District358,058 votes
Richard E NealDemocrat62.4%
Nadia Donya Milleron37.3%
Others0.3%

Most votes in the district: Richard E Neal

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Monterey, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Monterey80.7%15.9%3.4%597
Berkshire County68.6%28.8%2.6%68,674
Massachusetts61.2%36.0%2.8%3,473,668
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 Monterey

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Monterey.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
  2. 2
    Massachusetts HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Massachusetts SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts

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

Next door

How Monterey compares with the towns next door

Monterey spent $2,955 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,866 to $4,410. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Great Barrington$1,866$5,935
Sandisfield$2,455$3,328
Otis$2,504$2,408
New Marlborough$2,650$4,689
Tyringham$4,410 runs schools$4,632
Monterey$2,955$2,858

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 Monterey’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Monterey’s government

How much does Monterey spend per resident?

About $2,955 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $2,955 was more than 88% of 34 Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Monterey?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,858 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.47% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see montereyma.gov.

Who runs Monterey’s government?

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

How did Monterey vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 80.7%, Donald J Trump 15.9% (597 votes, official results). Berkshire County: Harris 68.6%, Trump 28.8%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.

How many people work for Monterey?

8 full-time and 41 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $78,351 (about $940,212 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Monterey in the state legislature?

State Senate District Berkshire-Hampden-Franklin-Hampshire (Paul Mark) and State House District 3rd Berkshire (Leigh Davis). The House district also covers 17 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Monterey’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 →