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Bedford pitt streetPhoto: Photo by User:AudeVivere. · CC BY-SA 2.5
Town Hall · Bedford

Bedford spent more per resident in 2022 than 90% of similar cities

Bedford’s borough government spent $3.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,372 per resident.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$3.7M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,372
In 2022: $1,372, more than 90% of 290 similar cities
Long-term debt
$3.3M
end of 2022, reported
Borough staff, 2022
17
full-time · 5 part-time · March payroll $82,680
Typical tax bill
$1,426
0.78% of home value · PA 1.30%

What stands out about how Bedford is run

Read from the borough’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,372 per resident, more than 90% of 290 similar cities.A shared school districtShares Bedford Area School District with 6+ other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,426 a year: 0.78% of the home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania.
Compared with similar places

$1,372 per resident in 2022: more than 90% of them

Bedford’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,372 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 290 Pennsylvania cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $856, and the middle half spent $655–$1,093. Bedford spent more than 90% of them.

Middle half of the group, $655–$1,093Median $856Bedford

Includes sewer and trash ($45,000), 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
290

Pennsylvania cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Bedford itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,372 per resident a year, or $3.76 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 64%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 38%Income taxes 15%From the state 11%Other taxes & licenses 11%Fees & charges 9%From the federal government 7%Interest, fines & other 7%From other local governments 3%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.9 million; interest on debt $88,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $5.8 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,426 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.78% of the home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Pennsylvania$3,311
Bedford$1,426
$1,426
typical bill a year
0.78%
effective rate
$182,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Bedford

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

See bedboro.com for Bedford’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Bedford yet.bedboro.com ↗
Agendas

Bedford’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The borough posts agendas and minutes on bedboro.com ↗.

Who works for Bedford

One full-time borough employee for every 157 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 (2,667).

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

Police5 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings3 + 3 pt
Roads & transportation3
Sewer & trash3
Water & other utilities3
17
full-time
5
part-time
$82,680
payroll for March 2022
$992,160
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$56,100
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
5
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Bedford had 6.4 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 175 of the 290 Pennsylvania cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 3.5: Bedford had more than 87% 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

Bedford Area School District

Bedford’s K–12 school district, shared with Bedford Township, Colerain Township, Cumberland Valley Township, Harrison Township, Hyndman and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Bedford →
$16,698
per pupil · PA $21,758
1,681
students
$11 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,698 per pupil, $9,732 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 49%State 43%Federal 8%

Pennsylvania districts overall: 55% local, 37% state, 8% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Bedford’s votes are counted by county

Pennsylvania reports official results by county and precinct, not by borough, so there are no official results for Bedford alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Bedford County’s results.

President · Bedford County’s results28,160 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican84.0%23,658 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat15.4%4,336 votes

Others: 0.6% (166 votes).

Most votes in Bedford County: Donald J Trump

Pennsylvania: Trump 50.4%, Harris 48.7%

The county’s page

100% of Bedford lies in Bedford County. Every 2024 race in Bedford County is on the county’s page.

Bedford County’s 2024 results →
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 Bedford

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Bedford.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: bedboro.com ↗
  2. 2
    Pennsylvania HouseState representatives
    Jesse Topper
  3. 3
    Pennsylvania SenateState senator
    Pat Stefano
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Josh Shapiro
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    John Joyce
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Pennsylvania
    John FettermanDavid McCormick

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

Reach Bedford’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitebedboro.com ↗

Questions about Bedford’s government

How much does Bedford spend per resident?

About $1,372 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 $1,372 was more than 90% of 290 Pennsylvania cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Bedford?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,426 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.78% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see bedboro.com.

Who runs Bedford’s government?

See bedboro.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Bedford yet.

How did Bedford vote in 2024?

Pennsylvania counts votes by county and precinct, not by borough, so there are no official results for Bedford alone. Bedford County, where 100% of Bedford lies, voted Trump 84.0%, Harris 15.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Bedford?

17 full-time and 5 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $82,680 (about $992,160 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Bedford in the state legislature?

State Senate District 32 (Pat Stefano) and State House District 78 (Jesse Topper). The House district also covers 50 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Bedford’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 →