Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Sidney

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Powers HousePowers House · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Sidney

Sidney spent less per resident in 2022 than 100% of similar towns

Sidney’s town government spent $1.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to January 31, 2022, about $343 per resident.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Maine.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.6M
year to January 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$343
In 2022: $343, less than 100% of 67 similar towns
Long-term debt
$995,000
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
9
full-time · 6 part-time · March payroll $36,329
Typical tax bill
$2,474
0.74% of home value · ME 1.02%

What stands out about how Sidney is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$343 per resident in 2022: less than 100% of them

Sidney’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($343 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 $620–$1,102. Sidney spent less than 100% of them.

Middle half of the group, $620–$1,102Median $834Sidney

Includes sewer and trash ($51,000), 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; Sidney itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $343 per resident a year, or $0.94 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 46%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 83%From the state 10%Interest, fines & other 6%Fees & charges 1%From the federal government <1%

Revenue is well above spending. That usually means Sidney collects property taxes for the school district and county and passes them on, so only its own spending is counted.

Not in the receipt.Building projects $194,000; interest on debt $23,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $1.8 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,474 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.74% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Maine.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Maine$3,036
Belgrade$2,859
Sidney$2,474
Augusta$2,465
Oakland$2,439
Vassalboro$2,117
$2,474
typical bill a year
0.74%
effective rate
$336,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Sidney

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

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

Sidney’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on sidneymaine.org ↗.

Who works for Sidney

One full-time town employee for every 505 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 (4,543).

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

Administration & buildings5 + 1 pt
Roads & transportation4 + 2 pt
Sewer & trash0 + 3 pt
9
full-time
6
part-time
$36,329
payroll for March 2022
$435,948
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$41,100
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Sidney had 2.0 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: Sidney had fewer than 82% 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

Regional School Unit 18

Sidney’s K–12 school district, shared with Belgrade, China, Oakland, Rome. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Sidney →
$14,886
per pupil · ME $20,630
2,756
students
$9.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,886 per pupil, $7,831 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 53%State 40%Federal 8%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Sidney voted in 2024

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

President3,153 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican59.8%1,887 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat38.5%1,215 votes

Others: 1.6% (51 votes).

Most votes in Sidney: Donald J Trump

Maine: Harris 52.4%, Trump 45.5%

Turnout
86%

of Sidney’s 3,648 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Maine: 75%.

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

U.S. Senate3,106 votes
Angus S King Jr45.9%
Demi KouzounasRepublican45.2%
Others8.9%

Most votes in Sidney: Angus S King Jr

Maine: Jr 52.1%, Kouzounas 34.6%

President, 2024: Sidney, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Sidney59.8%38.5%1.6%3,153
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 Sidney

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Sidney.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
  2. 2
    Maine HouseSidney is split between 2 districts
  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 Sidney compares with the towns next door

Sidney spent $343 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $2,116 to $3,663. 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
Oakland$2,116$2,439
Augusta$3,663 runs schools$2,465
Vassalboroestimate$2,117
Belgradeestimate$2,859
Sidney$343$2,474

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 Sidney’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Sidney’s government

How much does Sidney spend per resident?

About $343 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to January 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $343 was less than 100% 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 Sidney?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,474 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.74% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Maine. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see sidneymaine.org.

Who runs Sidney’s government?

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

How did Sidney vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 59.8%, Kamala D Harris 38.5% (3,153 votes, official results). . Maine: Harris 52.4%, Trump 45.5%.

How many people work for Sidney?

9 full-time and 6 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $36,329 (about $435,948 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Sidney in the state legislature?

Sidney is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Maine Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 15 (Dick Bradstreet). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Sidney’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 →