Cavarly Cottage · Photo: James Welsh · CC BY-SA 3.0Stafford Township spent more per resident in 2022 than 79% of similar towns
Stafford Township’s town government spent $37.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,303 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.5 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Stafford Township is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
Who’s in charge in Stafford Township
From public records with a current term; a name is hidden the day its term ends.
Council members and agencies: twp.stafford.nj.us ↗
Stafford Township’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on twp.stafford.nj.us ↗.
About $1,303 per resident a year, or $3.57 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 27%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$1,303 per resident in 2022: more than 79% of them
Stafford Township’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,303 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 28 New Jersey towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,150, and the middle half spent $798–$1,285. Stafford Township spent more than 79% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($6.7 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 →
New Jersey towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Stafford Township itself left out).
No trend yet
Stafford Township reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $6,953 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.63% of the home’s value, vs 2.11% across New Jersey.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Stafford Township’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 Stafford Township’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Stafford Township →
One full-time town employee for every 131 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (28,532).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Southern Regional School District
Stafford Township’s middle and high school district, shared with Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Township, Ship Bottom and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $28,252 per pupil, $16,968 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.
New Jersey districts overall: 48% local, 46% state, 6% federal.
Stafford Township School District · $21,074 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Stafford Township.
- 1Your townMayorRobert Henkenas listed by Open States, October 9, 2026
- 2New Jersey General AssemblyState representatives
- 3New Jersey SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of New Jersey
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Stafford Township compares with the towns next door
Stafford Township spent $1,303 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $3,344 to $7,659. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Surf City | $3,344 | $7,818 |
| Long Beach Township | $7,659 | $9,925 |
| Barnegat Township | estimate | $7,862 |
| Ship Bottom | estimate | $8,336 |
| Eagleswood Township | estimate | $6,908 |
| Harvey Cedars | estimate | $9,389 |
| Stafford Township | $1,303 | $6,953 |
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 Stafford Township’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Stafford Township’s government
How much does Stafford Township spend per resident?
About $1,303 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,303 was more than 79% of 28 New Jersey towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Stafford Township?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,953 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.63% of the typical home’s value, vs 2.11% across New Jersey. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see twp.stafford.nj.us.
Who is the mayor of Stafford Township?
Robert Henken, as listed by Open States (checked October 9, 2026). The council and agencies are listed on twp.stafford.nj.us.
How many people work for Stafford Township?
218 full-time and 6 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.6M (about $19.4M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Stafford Township in the state legislature?
State Senate District 9 (Carmen Amato) and General Assembly District 09 (Brian Rumpf and Greg Myhre). The General Assembly district also covers 18 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Stafford Township’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 →