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Wye HouseWye House · Photo: Historic American Buildings Survey · Public domain
Town Hall · St. Michaels

St. Michaels spent more per resident in 2022 than 98% of similar cities

St. Michaels’ town government spent $3.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $3,001 per resident. Water and other utilities ($568,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$3.1M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$3,001
In 2022: $3,001, more than 98% of 79 similar cities
Long-term debt
$715,000
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
19
full-time · 9 part-time · March payroll $131,195 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$3,750
0.66% of home value · MD 0.97%

What stands out about how St. Michaels is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$3,001 per resident in 2022: more than 98% of them

St. Michaels’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,001 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. St. Michaels spent more than 98% of them.

Middle half of the group, $441–$1,257Median $808St. Michaels

Includes sewer and trash ($180,000), 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; St. Michaels itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $3,001 per resident a year, or $8.22 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 42%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 36%Sales taxes 18%Utility sales 15%Interest, fines & other 12%From the federal government 8%Income taxes 5%From the state 3%Other taxes & licenses 2%Fees & charges 1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $385,000; interest on debt $34,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $4.1 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $3,750 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.66% of the home’s value, vs 0.97% across Maryland.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Maryland$4,093
St. Michaels$3,750
$3,750
typical bill a year
0.66%
effective rate
$565,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in St. Michaels

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

See stmichaelsmd.org for St. Michaels’ current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for St. Michaels yet.stmichaelsmd.org ↗
Agendas

St. Michaels’ meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on stmichaelsmd.org ↗.

Who works for St. Michaels

One full-time town employee for every 54 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (1,029).

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

Police8 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings5 + 7 pt
Water & other utilities2
Roads & transportation1
Parks & libraries1
Sewer & trash1
Other1
19
full-time
9
part-time
$131,195
payroll for March 2022
$1.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$77,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
7
sworn police officers
Estimates.St. Michaels didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

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

Talbot County Public Schools

St. Michaels’ K–12 school district, shared with Easton, Oxford, Trappe, Queen Anne. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in St. Michaels →
$17,384
per pupil · MD $20,258
4,502
students
$26.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $17,384 per pupil, $11,268 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 61%State 27%Federal 12%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

St. Michaels’ votes are counted by county

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

President · Talbot County’s results22,830 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican48.7%11,125 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat48.7%11,119 votes

Others: 2.6% (586 votes).

Most votes in Talbot County: Donald J Trump

Maryland: Harris 62.6%, Trump 34.1%

The county’s page

100% of St. Michaels lies in Talbot County. Every 2024 race in Talbot County is on the county’s page.

Talbot 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 St. Michaels

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for St. Michaels.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
  2. 2
    Maryland House of DelegatesState representatives
  3. 3
    Maryland SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Maryland

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

Reach St. Michaels’ government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about St. Michaels’ government

How much does St. Michaels spend per resident?

About $3,001 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 $3,001 was more than 98% of 79 Maryland cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in St. Michaels?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,750 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.66% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.97% across Maryland. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see stmichaelsmd.org.

Who runs St. Michaels’ government?

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

How did St. Michaels vote in 2024?

Maryland counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for St. Michaels alone. Talbot County, where 100% of St. Michaels lies, voted Trump 48.7%, Harris 48.7% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for St. Michaels?

19 full-time and 9 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $131,195 (about $1.6M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents St. Michaels in the state legislature?

State Senate District 37 (Johnny Mautz) and House of Delegates District 37B (Chris Adams and Tom Hutchinson). The House of Delegates district also covers 18 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about St. Michaels’ 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 →