Photo: Eric Fischer · CC BY 2.0Salisbury spent more per resident in 2022 than 90% of similar cities
Salisbury’s city government spent $66.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $2,002 per resident. Water and other utilities ($6.4 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Salisbury is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,632 per resident in 2022: more than 90% of them
Salisbury’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,632 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–$1,484. Salisbury spent more than 90% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($13.6 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 →
Maryland cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Salisbury itself left out).
About $2,002 per resident a year, or $5.48 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 24%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 23% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Salisbury 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: $1,632 · 2023: $1,861 · 2024: $2,002.
full-time in March 2025, up from 434 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $2,683 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.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Salisbury’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 Salisbury’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Salisbury →
Who’s in charge in Salisbury
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Salisbury’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.salisbury.md.us ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 76 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (33,209).
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.
Wicomico County Public Schools
Salisbury’s K–12 school district, shared with Delmar, Fruitland, Hebron, Mardela Springs, Pittsville and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $19,183 per pupil, $11,613 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.
Salisbury’s votes are counted by county
Maryland reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Salisbury alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Wicomico County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican51.3%24,065 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat45.9%21,513 votesOthers: 2.8% (1,334 votes).
Most votes in Wicomico County: Donald J Trump
Maryland: Harris 62.6%, Trump 34.1%
100% of Salisbury lies in Wicomico County. Every 2024 race in Wicomico County is on the county’s page.
Wicomico County’s 2024 results →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
Every level of government that speaks for Salisbury.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: ci.salisbury.md.us ↗
- 2Maryland House of DelegatesSalisbury is split between 3 districts
- 3Maryland SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Maryland
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Salisbury compares with the towns next door
Salisbury spent $1,632 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $1,299. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Fruitland | $1,299 | $2,716 |
| Salisbury | $1,632 | $2,683 |
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 Salisbury’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Salisbury’s government
How much does Salisbury spend per resident?
About $2,002 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 $1,632 was more than 90% of 19 Maryland cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Salisbury?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,683 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 ci.salisbury.md.us.
Who runs Salisbury’s government?
See ci.salisbury.md.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Salisbury yet.
How did Salisbury vote in 2024?
Maryland counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Salisbury alone. Wicomico County, where 100% of Salisbury lies, voted Trump 51.3%, Harris 45.9% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Salisbury?
439 full-time and 35 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $2.6M (about $31.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Salisbury in the state legislature?
Salisbury is split among 3 House of Delegates districts and 2 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 Salisbury’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 →