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Cumberland Aerial 2022Photo: Matthew Binebrink · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Cumberland

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

Cumberland’s city government spent $38.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $2,031 per resident. Water and other utilities ($7.8 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Maryland.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$38.1M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$2,031
In 2022: $1,751, more than 96% of 53 similar cities
Long-term debt
$63.5M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2022
229
full-time · 26 part-time · March payroll $1.1M
Typical tax bill
$1,696
1.38% of home value · MD 0.97%

What stands out about how Cumberland 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: $1,751 per resident, more than 96% of 53 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer43% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Allegany County Public Schools with 6+ other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

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 2024 budget

About $2,031 per resident a year, or $5.56 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 32%.

Where the money comes from
From the federal government 27%Fees & charges 21%Property taxes 21%Utility sales 12%Interest, fines & other 6%From the state 6%From other local governments 3%Income taxes 2%Sales taxes 1%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.7 million; interest on debt $2.8 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $50.8 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,751 per resident in 2022: more than 96% of them

Cumberland’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,751 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 53 Maryland cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,042, and the middle half spent $783–$1,417. Cumberland spent more than 96% of them.

Middle half of the group, $783–$1,417Median $1,042Cumberland

Includes sewer and trash ($10.7 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
53

Maryland cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Cumberland itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 14% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Cumberland reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$33.5 million
2023$39.7 million
2024$38.1 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,751 · 2023: $2,119 · 2024: $2,031.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,696 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.38% of the home’s value, vs 0.97% across Maryland.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Maryland$4,093
Bowling Green$1,707
Cumberland$1,696
Bowmans Addition$1,557
$1,696
typical bill a year
1.38%
effective rate
$123,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Cumberland

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 82 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (18,769).

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

Police49 + 12 pt
Fire50
Water & other utilities32
Sewer & trash27
Administration & buildings22 + 7 pt
Roads & transportation22
Housing & development11 + 5 pt
Parks & libraries4 + 2 pt
Other12
229
full-time
26
part-time
$1.1M
payroll for March 2022
$13.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$56,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
40
sworn police officers
47
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Cumberland had 12.0 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 43 of the 53 Maryland cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 5.9: Cumberland had more than 88% 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

Allegany County Public Schools

Cumberland’s K–12 school district, shared with Barton, Frostburg, Lonaconing, Luke, Midland and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Cumberland →
$19,329
per pupil · MD $20,258
8,205
students
$13.9 million
long-term debt

Of the $19,329 per pupil, $11,976 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 24%State 60%Federal 16%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Cumberland’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Allegany County’s results32,137 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican68.9%22,141 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat28.7%9,231 votes

Others: 2.4% (765 votes).

Most votes in Allegany County: Donald J Trump

Maryland: Harris 62.6%, Trump 34.1%

The county’s page

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

Allegany 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 Cumberland

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Cumberland.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cumberlandmd.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Maryland House of DelegatesState representatives
    Jason Buckel
  3. 3
    Maryland SenateState senator
    Mike McKay
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Wes Moore
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    April McClain Delaney
  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.

Next door

How Cumberland compares with the towns next door

Cumberland spent $1,751 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Bowmans Addition: unincorporated, no town budgetBowling Green: unincorporated, no town budgetBowmans AdditionBowling GreenCumberland
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Cumberland$1,751$1,696

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 Cumberland’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecumberlandmd.gov ↗

Questions about Cumberland’s government

How much does Cumberland spend per resident?

About $2,031 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 $1,751 was more than 96% of 53 Maryland cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Cumberland?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,696 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.38% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.97% across Maryland. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cumberlandmd.gov.

Who runs Cumberland’s government?

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

How did Cumberland vote in 2024?

Maryland counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Cumberland alone. Allegany County, where 100% of Cumberland lies, voted Trump 68.9%, Harris 28.7% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Cumberland?

229 full-time and 26 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.1M (about $13.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Cumberland in the state legislature?

State Senate District 1 (Mike McKay) and House of Delegates District 1B (Jason Buckel). The House of Delegates district also covers two neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Cumberland?

The next posted meeting is General on Wednesday, November 4, at 5:00 pm in 57 N. Liberty Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Cumberland’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 →