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Town Hall · Paris

Paris spent more per resident in 2022 than 76% of similar towns

Paris’ town government spent $5.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,112 per resident.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Maine.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$5.7M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,112
In 2022: $1,112, more than 76% of 67 similar towns
Long-term debt
$866,000
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
22
full-time · 20 part-time · March payroll $125,235
Typical tax bill
$2,649
1.10% of home value · ME 1.02%

What stands out about how Paris is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$1,112 per resident in 2022: more than 76% of them

Paris’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,112 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 67 Maine towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $834, and the middle half spent $606–$1,073. Paris spent more than 76% of them.

Middle half of the group, $606–$1,073Median $834Paris

Includes sewer and trash ($289,000), 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
67

Maine towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Paris itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,112 per resident a year, or $3.05 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 13%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 80%From the state 18%Fees & charges 1%From the federal government <1%Interest, fines & other <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.3 million; interest on debt $43,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $7.1 million.
About “Other”.58% of Paris’ day-to-day spending ($3.3 million) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,649 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.10% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Maine.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Maine$3,036
Buckfield$2,860
Paris$2,649
Hebron$2,323
West Paris$2,083
Norway$2,057
South Paris$1,836
Oxford$1,610
$2,649
typical bill a year
1.10%
effective rate
$240,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Paris

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

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

Paris’ meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on parismaine.org ↗.

Who works for Paris

One full-time town employee for every 235 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (5,162).

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

Fire1 + 20 pt
Police9
Roads & transportation7
Administration & buildings5
22
full-time
20
part-time
$125,235
payroll for March 2022
$1.5M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$59,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
8
sworn police officers
1
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Paris had 4.3 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 57 of the 67 Maine towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 3.9: Paris had more than 56% 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

School Administrative District 17

Paris’ K–12 school district, shared with Harrison, Hebron, Norway, Otisfield, Oxford and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Paris →
$18,271
per pupil · ME $20,630
3,172
students
$1.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $18,271 per pupil, $9,161 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 46%State 50%Federal 4%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Paris voted in 2024

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

President2,938 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican57.3%1,683 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat41.0%1,206 votes

Others: 1.7% (49 votes).

Most votes in Paris: Donald J Trump

Maine: Harris 52.4%, Trump 45.5%

Turnout
66%

of Paris’ 4,475 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Maine: 75%.

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

U.S. Senate2,902 votes
Angus S King Jr51.0%
Demi KouzounasRepublican39.3%
Others9.8%

Most votes in Paris: Angus S King Jr

Maine: Jr 52.1%, Kouzounas 34.6%

President, 2024: Paris, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Paris57.3%41.0%1.7%2,938
Maine45.5%52.4%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 Paris

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Paris.

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

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

Next door

How Paris compares with the towns next door

Paris spent $1,112 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $608 to $1,310. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Hebron$608$2,323
Oxford$1,310$1,610
Norwayestimate$2,057
West Parisestimate$2,083
Buckfieldestimate$2,860
Paris$1,112$2,649

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 Paris’ government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Paris’ government

How much does Paris spend per resident?

About $1,112 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 $1,112 was more than 76% of 67 Maine towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Paris?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,649 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.10% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Maine. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see parismaine.org.

Who runs Paris’ government?

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

How did Paris vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 57.3%, Kamala D Harris 41.0% (2,938 votes, official results). . Maine: Harris 52.4%, Trump 45.5%.

How many people work for Paris?

22 full-time and 20 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $125,235 (about $1.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Paris in the state legislature?

State Senate District 18 (Rick Bennett) and State House District 79 (Mike Lance). The House district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Paris’ 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 →