Winslow Homer Studio · Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0Scarborough spent more per resident in 2022 than 82% of similar towns
Scarborough’s town government spent $112.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $4,861 per resident.
What stands out about how Scarborough is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$4,649 per resident in 2022: more than 82% of them
Scarborough’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($4,649 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 45 Maine towns and townships that run their own schools: the median was $3,230, and the middle half spent $2,479–$3,782. Scarborough spent more than 82% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.5 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 →
Maine towns and townships that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Scarborough itself left out).
About $4,861 per resident a year, or $13.32 a day
Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 56% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Scarborough runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Maine towns and townships that run their own schools.
Day-to-day spending is up 13% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Scarborough 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: $4,649 · 2023: $4,821 · 2024: $4,861. Per resident it went from $4,649 to $4,861 (up 5%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 21,527 to 23,218.
full-time in March 2025, up from 749 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 $5,978 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.08% 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 Scarborough’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 Scarborough’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Scarborough →
Who’s in charge in Scarborough
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Scarborough’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on scarboroughmaine.org ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 29 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 (23,218).
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.
Scarborough
Scarborough’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Scarborough, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $22,032 per pupil, $14,317 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 Scarborough voted in 2024
Official results for Scarborough’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat64.9%9,961 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican33.4%5,117 votesOthers: 1.7% (261 votes).
Most votes in Scarborough: Kamala D Harris
Maine: Harris 52.4%, Trump 45.5%
of Scarborough’s 18,949 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Maine: 75%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Scarborough: Angus S King Jr
Maine: Jr 52.1%, Kouzounas 34.6%
President, 2024: Scarborough, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarborough | 64.9% | 33.4% | 1.7% | 15,339 |
| 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 Scarborough.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: scarboroughmaine.org ↗
- 2Maine HouseScarborough is split between 3 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 Scarborough compares with the towns next door
Scarborough spent $4,649 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,535 to $5,021. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Old Orchard Beach | $1,535 | $3,426 |
| South Portland | $3,355 runs schools | $4,359 |
| Gorham | $3,493 runs schools | $4,825 |
| Westbrook | $3,925 runs schools | $4,005 |
| Cape Elizabeth | $5,021 runs schools | $7,637 |
| Saco | estimate | $4,807 |
| Scarborough | $4,649 | $5,978 |
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 Scarborough’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Scarborough’s government
How much does Scarborough spend per resident?
About $4,861 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 $4,649 was more than 82% of 45 Maine towns and townships that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Scarborough?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $5,978 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.08% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Maine. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see scarboroughmaine.org.
Who runs Scarborough’s government?
See scarboroughmaine.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Scarborough yet.
How did Scarborough vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 64.9%, Donald J Trump 33.4% (15,339 votes, official results). . Maine: Harris 52.4%, Trump 45.5%.
How many people work for Scarborough?
791 full-time and 295 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $5.5M (about $65.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Scarborough in the state legislature?
Scarborough is split among 3 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Maine Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Scarborough’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 →