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LaurelMuseumPhoto: Adavidb at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Laurel

How is Laurel run?

Laurel’s city government spent $48.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $1,658 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Maryland.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2023
$48.9M
year to June 30, 2023
Per resident, 2023
$1,658
In 2022: $1,417, more than 58% of 19 similar cities
Long-term debt
$4.1M
end of FY2023, reported
City staff, 2025
174
full-time · 0 part-time · March payroll $1.3M
Typical tax bill
$4,549
1.18% of home value · MD 0.97%

What stands out about how Laurel is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.A shared school districtShares Prince George's County Public Schools with 6+ other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Oct29
    Redistricting Advisory CommitteeThursday · 6:00 pm · Council Chambers, Laurel Municipal Center, 8103 Sandy Spring RdRedistricting Advisory Committee - In PersonAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct29
    Board of AppealsThursday · 6:00 pmBoard of Appeals- CANCELLEDMeeting page ↗
  • Oct28
    Pride Celebration CommitteeWednesday · 6:30 pmPride Day Celebration CommitteeAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct27
    Ethics CommissionTuesday · 6:30 pmAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct26
    Citizens Advisory Committee for Parks and RecreationMonday · 6:00 pmCitizens Advisory Committee for Parks & RecreationAgenda ↗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 2023 budget

About $1,658 per resident a year, or $4.54 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 23%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 50%From the federal government 19%Income taxes 9%Interest, fines & other 9%From the state 5%Other taxes & licenses 3%Fees & charges 2%Sales taxes 1%From other local governments 1%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $172,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $49.1 million.
About “Other”.37% of Laurel’s day-to-day spending ($18 million) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Compared with similar places

$1,417 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Laurel’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,417 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 19 Maryland cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,345, and the middle half spent $1,230–$1,544. Laurel spent more than 58% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,230–$1,544Median $1,345Laurel

Includes sewer and trash ($2.3 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
19

Maryland cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Laurel itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 35% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$36.2 million
2023$48.9 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,417 · 2023: $1,658. Per resident it went from $1,417 to $1,658 (up 17%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 25,548 to 29,490.

City staff
174

full-time in March 2025, down from 194 in 2022.

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 $4,549 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.18% of the home’s value, vs 0.97% across Maryland.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Konterra$6,514
West Laurel$6,153
North Laurel$5,554
South Laurel$5,340
Laurel$4,549
Maryland$4,093
Maryland City$3,502
$4,549
typical bill a year
1.18%
effective rate
$385,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Laurel

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 169 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (29,490).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Police84
Administration & buildings27
Sewer & trash16
Parks & libraries15
Roads & transportation14
Housing & development8
Health & welfare3
Other7
174
full-time
0
part-time
$1.3M
payroll for March 2025
$15.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$89,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
63
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Laurel had 7.6 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 14 of the 19 Maryland cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 8.0: Laurel had fewer than 64% 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

Prince George's County Public Schools

Laurel’s K–12 school district, shared with Berwyn Heights, Bladensburg, Bowie, Brentwood, Capitol Heights and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Laurel →
$21,592
per pupil · MD $20,258
131,310
students
$695.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $21,592 per pupil, $12,853 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 39%State 52%Federal 9%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Laurel’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Prince George's County’s results404,009 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat85.9%347,038 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican11.1%45,008 votes

Others: 3.0% (11,963 votes).

Most votes in Prince George's County: Kamala D Harris

Maryland: Harris 62.6%, Trump 34.1%

The county’s page

100% of Laurel lies in Prince George's County. Every 2024 race in Prince George's County is on the county’s page.

Prince George's 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 Laurel

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Laurel.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityoflaurel.org ↗
  2. 2
    Maryland House of DelegatesState representatives
    Ben BarnesJoseline Peña-MelnykMary Lehman
  3. 3
    Maryland SenateState senator
    Jim Rosapepe
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Wes Moore
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Glenn Ivey
  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 Laurel compares with the towns next door

Laurel spent $1,417 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Maryland City: unincorporated, no town budgetKonterra: unincorporated, no town budgetSouth Laurel: unincorporated, no town budgetNorth Laurel: unincorporated, no town budgetWest Laurel: unincorporated, no town budgetMaryland CityKonterraSouth LaurelNorth LaurelWest LaurelLaurel
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Laurel$1,417$4,549

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 Laurel’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityoflaurel.org ↗

Questions about Laurel’s government

How much does Laurel spend per resident?

About $1,658 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,417 was more than 58% of 19 Maryland cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Laurel?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,549 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.18% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.97% across Maryland. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityoflaurel.org.

Who runs Laurel’s government?

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

How did Laurel vote in 2024?

Maryland counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Laurel alone. Prince George's County, where 100% of Laurel lies, voted Harris 85.9%, Trump 11.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Laurel?

174 full-time and 0 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.3M (about $15.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Laurel in the state legislature?

State Senate District 21 (Jim Rosapepe) and House of Delegates District 21 (Ben Barnes, Joseline Peña-Melnyk and Mary Lehman). The House of Delegates district also covers 1 neighboring town. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Laurel?

The next posted meeting is Redistricting Advisory Committee on Tuesday, November 3, at 6:00 pm in Council Chambers, Laurel Municipal Center, 8103 Sandy Spring Rd, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Laurel’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 →