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Biddeford, Maine 2026Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Town Hall · Biddeford

Biddeford spent less per resident in 2022 than 70% of similar cities

Biddeford’s city government spent $82.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $3,675 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. The airport ($863,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Maine.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2023
$82.9M
year to June 30, 2023
Per resident, 2023
$3,675
In 2022: $3,481, less than 70% of 30 similar cities
Long-term debt
$62.4M
end of FY2023, reported
City staff, 2025
746
full-time · 143 part-time · March payroll $4.6M · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$4,401
1.11% of home value · ME 1.02%

What stands out about how Biddeford is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $3,481 per resident, less than 70% of 30 similar cities.Runs its own schoolsThe schools are part of the city budget, not a separate district.Split between districts3 State House districts cover Biddeford; your street decides yours.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Nov2
    Sustainability CommissionMonday · 5:30 pm · City Hall Second Floor Conference Room, 205 Main StreetSustainability Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Nov2
    Cable TV CommitteeMonday · 3:30 pm · City Hall Second Floor Conference Room, 205 Main StreetCable Television Committee MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Nov2
    Institutional Zone Review CommitteeMonday · 2:00 pm · City Hall Council Chambers, 205 Main StInstitutional Zone Review Committee Meeting (Live)Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct29
    Charter Revision CommissionThursday · 6:00 pm · City Hall Council Chambers, 205 Main StreetCharter Revision Commission Meeting (Live)Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct28
    Conservation CommissionWednesday · 6:00 pm · City Hall Council Chambers, 205 Main StreetConservation Commission Meeting (Live)Agenda ↗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 $3,675 per resident a year, or $10.07 a day

Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 55% of day-to-day spending.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 48%From the state 36%Fees & charges 9%From the federal government 2%Other taxes & licenses 2%Interest, fines & other 1%From other local governments 1%Sales taxes <1%
Schools included

Biddeford runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with U.S. cities of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools.

Not in the receipt.Building projects $3.6 million; interest on debt $1.9 million; payments to other governments $5,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $89.6 million.
Compared with similar places

$3,481 per resident in 2022: less than 70% of them

Biddeford’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,481 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 30 U.S. cities of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,014, and the middle half spent $3,450–$4,785. Biddeford spent less than 70% of them.

Middle half of the group, $3,450–$4,785Median $4,014Biddeford

Includes sewer and trash ($4.1 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
30

U.S. cities of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Biddeford itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 11% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$74.8 million
2023$82.9 million

Per resident: 2022: $3,481 · 2023: $3,675. Per resident it went from $3,481 to $3,675 (up 6%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 21,500 to 22,569.

City staff
746

full-time in March 2025, up from 742 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.

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 $4,401 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.11% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Maine.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Saco$4,807
Biddeford$4,401
Kennebunkport$3,914
Dayton$3,872
Maine$3,036
$4,401
typical bill a year
1.11%
effective rate
$396,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Biddeford

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 30 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (22,569).

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

Schools480 + 97 pt
Police91 + 3 pt
Roads & transportation60 + 2 pt
Fire53
Administration & buildings36 + 2 pt
Parks & libraries9 + 39 pt
Sewer & trash9
Housing & development6
Health & welfare2
746
full-time
143
part-time
$4.6M
payroll for March 2025
$54.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$70,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
65
sworn police officers
52
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Biddeford had 34.5 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 20 of the 30 U.S. cities of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 33.3: Biddeford 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

Biddeford

Biddeford’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Biddeford, so this money is part of the budget above.

Schools in Biddeford →
$22,226
per pupil · ME $20,630
2,398
students
$14.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $22,226 per pupil, $11,717 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 45%State 36%Federal 19%

Maine districts overall: 52% local, 40% state, 8% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Biddeford voted in 2024

Official results for Biddeford’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President11,406 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat62.4%7,118 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican35.3%4,031 votes

Others: 2.3% (257 votes).

Most votes in Biddeford: Kamala D Harris

Maine: Harris 52.4%, Trump 45.5%

Turnout
61%

of Biddeford’s 18,684 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Maine: 75%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate11,291 votes
Angus S King Jr53.4%
Demi KouzounasRepublican28.4%
Others18.2%

Most votes in Biddeford: Angus S King Jr

Maine: Jr 52.1%, Kouzounas 34.6%

President, 2024: Biddeford, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Biddeford62.4%35.3%2.3%11,406
Maine52.4%45.5%2.1%831,375
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 Biddeford

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Biddeford.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: biddefordmaine.org ↗
  2. 2
    Maine HouseBiddeford is split between 3 districts
    Marc MalonTraci GereRyan Fecteau
  3. 3
    Maine SenateState senator
    Henry Ingwersen
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Janet Mills
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Chellie Pingree
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Maine
    Susan M. CollinsAngus S. King, Jr.
Find your state legislators by address ↗

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

Next door

How Biddeford compares with the towns next door

Biddeford spent $3,481 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $2,396. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Saco: no reported 2022 figuresKennebunkport: $2,396 per resident (2022)Dayton: no reported 2022 figuresSacoKennebunkportDaytonBiddeford
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Kennebunkport$2,396$3,914
Sacoestimate$4,807
Daytonestimate$3,872
Biddeford$3,481$4,401

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 Biddeford’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitebiddefordmaine.org ↗

Questions about Biddeford’s government

How much does Biddeford spend per resident?

About $3,675 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 $3,481 was less than 70% of 30 U.S. cities of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Biddeford?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,401 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.11% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Maine. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see biddefordmaine.org.

Who runs Biddeford’s government?

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

How did Biddeford vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 62.4%, Donald J Trump 35.3% (11,406 votes, official results). . Maine: Harris 52.4%, Trump 45.5%.

How many people work for Biddeford?

746 full-time and 143 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $4.6M (about $54.6M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Biddeford in the state legislature?

Biddeford is split among 3 State House districts, so your address decides. The Maine Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 32 (Henry Ingwersen). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Biddeford?

The next posted meeting is Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday, November 4, at 4:00 pm in City Hall Council Chambers, 205 Main Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Biddeford’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 →