Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Betterton

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Betterton Historic DistrictBetterton Historic District · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Betterton

Betterton spent more per resident in 2022 than 96% of similar cities

Betterton’s town government spent $844,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $2,714 per resident. Water and other utilities ($150,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Maryland.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$844,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$2,714
In 2022: $2,714, more than 96% of 79 similar cities
Long-term debt
$2.4M
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
2
full-time · 9 part-time · March payroll $20,659
Typical tax bill
$2,780
1.23% of home value · MD 0.97%

What stands out about how Betterton is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $2,714 per resident, more than 96% of 79 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer69% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Kent County Public Schools with 4 other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $2,780 a year: 1.23% of the home’s value, vs 0.97% across Maryland.
Compared with similar places

$2,714 per resident in 2022: more than 96% of them

Betterton’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,714 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 79 Maryland cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $808, and the middle half spent $441–$1,257. Betterton spent more than 96% of them.

Middle half of the group, $441–$1,257Median $808Betterton

Includes sewer and trash ($535,000), 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
79

Maryland cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Betterton itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $2,714 per resident a year, or $7.44 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 63%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 33%From the federal government 21%Property taxes 21%Utility sales 12%Interest, fines & other 5%From the state 4%Income taxes 3%Other taxes & licenses 1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $67,000; interest on debt $98,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $1.2 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,780 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.23% of the home’s value, vs 0.97% across Maryland.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Maryland$4,093
Betterton$2,780
$2,780
typical bill a year
1.23%
effective rate
$226,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Betterton’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 Betterton’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Betterton →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Betterton

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

See townofbetterton.com for Betterton’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Betterton yet.townofbetterton.com ↗
Agendas

Betterton’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on townofbetterton.com ↗.

Who works for Betterton

One full-time town employee for every 156 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 (311).

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

Administration & buildings0 + 5 pt
Roads & transportation0 + 3 pt
Sewer & trash1 + 1 pt
Water & other utilities1
2
full-time
9
part-time
$20,659
payroll for March 2022
$247,908
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$53,100
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Betterton had 6.4 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 54 of the 79 Maryland cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 3.6: Betterton had more than 72% 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

Kent County Public Schools

Betterton’s K–12 school district, shared with Chestertown, Galena, Rock Hall, Millington. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Betterton →
$54,576
per pupil · MD $20,258
1,732
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $54,576 per pupil, $37,507 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 21%State 71%Federal 9%

Maryland districts overall: 47% local, 44% state, 9% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Betterton’s votes are counted by county

Maryland reports official results by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Betterton alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Kent County’s results.

President · Kent County’s results11,128 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican50.0%5,561 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat47.2%5,251 votes

Others: 2.8% (316 votes).

Most votes in Kent County: Donald J Trump

Maryland: Harris 62.6%, Trump 34.1%

The county’s page

100% of Betterton lies in Kent County. Every 2024 race in Kent County is on the county’s page.

Kent 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 Betterton

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Betterton.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Officials: townofbetterton.com ↗
  2. 2
    Maryland House of DelegatesState representatives
    Jay JacobsJeff GhristSteve Arentz
  3. 3
    Maryland SenateState senator
    Steve Hershey
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Wes Moore
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Andy Harris
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Maryland
    Chris Van HollenAngela D. Alsobrooks

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

Reach Betterton’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitetownofbetterton.com ↗

Questions about Betterton’s government

How much does Betterton spend per resident?

About $2,714 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 $2,714 was more than 96% of 79 Maryland cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Betterton?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,780 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.23% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.97% across Maryland. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see townofbetterton.com.

Who runs Betterton’s government?

See townofbetterton.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Betterton yet.

How did Betterton vote in 2024?

Maryland counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Betterton alone. Kent County, where 100% of Betterton lies, voted Trump 50.0%, Harris 47.2% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Betterton?

2 full-time and 9 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $20,659 (about $247,908 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Betterton in the state legislature?

State Senate District 36 (Steve Hershey) and House of Delegates District 36 (Jay Jacobs, Jeff Ghrist and Steve Arentz). The House of Delegates district also covers 19 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Betterton’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 →