Photo: Bcody80 · Public domainOrono spent more per resident in 2022 than 71% of similar towns
Orono’s town government spent $11 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $981 per resident. Water and other utilities ($134,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Orono is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$1,053 per resident in 2022: more than 71% of them
Orono’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,053 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 72 Maine towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $840, and the middle half spent $624–$1,112. Orono spent more than 71% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($357,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Maine towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Orono itself left out).
About $981 per resident a year, or $2.69 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: fire, at 29%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Revenue is well above spending. That usually means Orono collects property taxes for the school district and county and passes them on, so only its own spending is counted.
Day-to-day spending is down 1% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Orono 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: $1,053 · 2024: $981. Per resident it went from $1,053 to $981 (down 7%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 10,636 to 11,251.
full-time in March 2025, the same as 80 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 $4,830 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.77% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Maine.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Orono’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 Orono’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Orono →
Who’s in charge in Orono
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Orono’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on orono.org ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 141 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 (11,251).
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.
Regional School Unit 26
Orono’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $20,526 per pupil, $12,078 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.
Maine districts overall: 52% local, 40% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Orono voted in 2024
Official results for Orono’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat68.1%3,676 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican28.2%1,523 votesOthers: 3.7% (199 votes).
Most votes in Orono: Kamala D Harris
Maine: Harris 52.4%, Trump 45.5%
of Orono’s 10,643 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Maine: 75%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Orono: Angus S King Jr
Maine: Jr 52.1%, Kouzounas 34.6%
President, 2024: Orono, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orono | 68.1% | 28.2% | 3.7% | 5,398 |
| Maine | 52.4% | 45.5% | 2.1% | 831,375 |
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 Orono.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: orono.org ↗
- 2Maine HouseOrono is split between 2 districts
- 3Maine SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Maine
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Orono compares with the towns next door
Orono spent $1,053 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $683 to $4,134. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
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 Orono’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Orono’s government
How much does Orono spend per resident?
About $981 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 $1,053 was more than 71% of 72 Maine towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Orono?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,830 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.77% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Maine. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see orono.org.
Who runs Orono’s government?
See orono.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Orono yet.
How did Orono vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 68.1%, Donald J Trump 28.2% (5,398 votes, official results). . Maine: Harris 52.4%, Trump 45.5%.
How many people work for Orono?
80 full-time and 5 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $534,667 (about $6.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Orono in the state legislature?
Orono is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Maine Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 8 (Mike Tipping). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Orono’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 →