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La Plata, Maryland (8146322119)Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0
Town Hall · La Plata

La Plata spent more per resident in 2022 than 84% of similar cities

La Plata’s town government spent $18.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,716 per resident. Water and other utilities ($523,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Maryland.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$18.3M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,716
In 2022: $1,306, more than 84% of 37 similar cities
Long-term debt
$17.3M
end of FY2024, reported
Town staff, 2022
64
full-time · 8 part-time · March payroll $391,718
Typical tax bill
$4,852
1.13% of home value · MD 0.97%

What stands out about how La Plata is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,306 per resident, more than 84% of 37 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer48% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Charles County Public Schools with 2 other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Oct27
    Town CouncilTuesday · 6:00 pm · Council Chambers, La Plata Town Hall, 305 Queen Anne St.Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct27
    Town CouncilTuesday · 5:00 pm · La Plata Town Hall (Executive Conference Room), 305 Queen Anne St.Town Council Special MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct27
    Town CouncilTuesday · 5:00 pm · La Plata Town Hall (Executive Conference Room), Box 2268Town Council Closed SessionAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct24
    News ReleaseSaturday · 10:00 am · 505 Saint Marys AveNews Release - Wills Memorial Park Grand OpeningMeeting page ↗
  • Oct21
    Parks & Recreation CommissionWednesday · 12:00 pm · Meets virtually via Microsoft TeamsAgenda ↗Meeting 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 2024 budget

About $1,716 per resident a year, or $4.70 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 46%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 45%From the federal government 20%Property taxes 17%Income taxes 7%Interest, fines & other 7%From the state 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%Utility sales <1%Sales taxes <1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $16.4 million; interest on debt $100,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $35.3 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,306 per resident in 2022: more than 84% of them

La Plata’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,306 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 37 Maryland cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $906, and the middle half spent $721–$1,264. La Plata spent more than 84% of them.

Middle half of the group, $721–$1,264Median $906La Plata

Includes sewer and trash ($6.1 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
37

Maryland cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; La Plata itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 43% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$12.8 million
2023$14.6 million
2024$18.3 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,306 · 2023: $1,407 · 2024: $1,716. Per resident it went from $1,306 to $1,716 (up 31%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 9,800 to 10,676.

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 $4,852 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.13% of the home’s value, vs 0.97% across Maryland.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

La Plata$4,852
Maryland$4,093
$4,852
typical bill a year
1.13%
effective rate
$428,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in La Plata

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

See townoflaplata.org for La Plata’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for La Plata yet.townoflaplata.org ↗
Who works for La Plata

One full-time town employee for every 167 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 (10,676).

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

Police20
Sewer & trash14
Administration & buildings9 + 7 pt
Water & other utilities5
Roads & transportation2
Parks & libraries1
Other13 + 1 pt
64
full-time
8
part-time
$391,718
payroll for March 2022
$4.7M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$71,600
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
19
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.La Plata had 6.5 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 30 of the 37 Maryland cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 5.4: La Plata had more than 70% 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

Charles County Public Schools

La Plata’s K–12 school district, shared with Indian Head, Port Tobacco Village. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in La Plata →
$18,598
per pupil · MD $20,258
27,765
students
$98.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $18,598 per pupil, $10,499 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 46%State 48%Federal 6%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

La Plata’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Charles County’s results92,097 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat68.9%63,454 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican28.4%26,145 votes

Others: 2.7% (2,498 votes).

Most votes in Charles County: Kamala D Harris

Maryland: Harris 62.6%, Trump 34.1%

The county’s page

100% of La Plata lies in Charles County. Every 2024 race in Charles County is on the county’s page.

Charles 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 La Plata

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for La Plata.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Officials: townoflaplata.org ↗
  2. 2
    Maryland House of DelegatesState representatives
    C.T. WilsonDebra DavisEdith Patterson
  3. 3
    Maryland SenateState senator
    Arthur Ellis
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Wes Moore
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Steny H. Hoyer
  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 La Plata’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitetownoflaplata.org ↗

Questions about La Plata’s government

How much does La Plata spend per resident?

About $1,716 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 $1,306 was more than 84% of 37 Maryland cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in La Plata?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,852 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.13% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.97% across Maryland. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see townoflaplata.org.

Who runs La Plata’s government?

See townoflaplata.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for La Plata yet.

How did La Plata vote in 2024?

Maryland counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for La Plata alone. Charles County, where 100% of La Plata lies, voted Harris 68.9%, Trump 28.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for La Plata?

64 full-time and 8 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $391,718 (about $4.7M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents La Plata in the state legislature?

State Senate District 28 (Arthur Ellis) and House of Delegates District 28 (C.T. Wilson, Debra Davis and Edith Patterson). 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 La Plata?

The next posted meeting is Planning Commission on Tuesday, November 3, at 6:00 pm in Council Chambers, La Plata Town Hall, 305 Queen Anne St., from the town’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about La Plata’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 →