Photo: Matthew Binebrink · CC BY-SA 4.0Baltimore spent more per resident in 2022 than 82% of similar big cities
Baltimore’s city government spent $4.6 billion on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $8,003 per resident. Water and other utilities ($276 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Baltimore is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
Who’s in charge in Baltimore
From public records with a current term; a name is hidden the day its term ends.
Council members and agencies: baltimorecity.gov ↗
Baltimore’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on baltimorecity.gov ↗.
About $8,003 per resident a year, or $21.93 a day
Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 40% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Baltimore runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with U.S. cities of 100,000+ that run their own schools.
$6,595 per resident in 2022: more than 82% of them
Baltimore’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($6,595 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 28 U.S. cities of 100,000+ that run their own schools: the median was $5,222, and the middle half spent $4,328–$5,900. Baltimore spent more than 82% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($392.4 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 →
U.S. cities of 100,000+ that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Baltimore itself left out).
Day-to-day spending is up 18% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Baltimore reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $6,595 · 2023: $7,612 · 2024: $8,003.
full-time in March 2025, down from 25,063 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $3,354 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.46% of the home’s value, vs 0.97% across Maryland.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Baltimore’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 Baltimore’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Baltimore →
One full-time city employee for every 23 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (569,931).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Baltimore City Public Schools
Baltimore’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Baltimore, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $24,053 per pupil, $15,271 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.
Maryland districts overall: 47% local, 44% state, 9% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Baltimore voted in 2024
Official results for Baltimore’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat84.6%195,109 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican12.1%27,984 votesOthers: 3.3% (7,661 votes).
Most votes in Baltimore: Kamala D Harris
Baltimore city: Harris 84.6%, Trump 12.1% · Maryland: Harris 62.6%, Trump 34.1%
of Baltimore’s 428,733 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Maryland: 69%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Baltimore: Angela Alsobrooks
Baltimore city: Alsobrooks 80.0%, Hogan 18.3% · Maryland: Alsobrooks 54.6%, Hogan 42.8%
U.S. House, 2024: 2 districts cover Baltimore, so your street decides which race was yours. All 2 districts’ results →
President, 2024: Baltimore, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | 84.6% | 12.1% | 3.3% | 230,754 |
| Baltimore city | 84.6% | 12.1% | 3.3% | 230,754 |
| Maryland | 62.6% | 34.1% | 3.3% | 3,038,334 |
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.
From town hall to Washington
Baltimore sends 14 representatives to the Maryland House alone.
- 1Your cityMayorBrandon M. Scottas listed by Open States, October 9, 2026
- 2Maryland House of DelegatesBaltimore is split between 5 districts
- 3Maryland SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseSplit between districts
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Maryland
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Baltimore compares with the towns next door
No neighbor is close in size, so the comparison above uses U.S. cities of 100,000+ that run their own schools. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $6,595 | $3,354 |
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 Baltimore’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Baltimore’s government
How much does Baltimore spend per resident?
About $8,003 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $6,595 was more than 82% of 28 U.S. cities of 100,000+ that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Baltimore?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,354 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.46% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.97% across Maryland. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see baltimorecity.gov.
Who is the mayor of Baltimore?
Brandon M. Scott, as listed by Open States (checked October 9, 2026). The council and agencies are listed on baltimorecity.gov.
How did Baltimore vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 84.6%, Donald J Trump 12.1% (230,754 votes, official results). Baltimore city: Harris 84.6%, Trump 12.1%. Maryland: Harris 62.6%, Trump 34.1%.
How many people work for Baltimore?
24,289 full-time and 3,002 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $188.7M (about $2.3B a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Baltimore in the state legislature?
Baltimore is split among 5 House of Delegates districts and 5 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Maryland Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Baltimore’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
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 →