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Town Hall · Berlin

Berlin spent more per resident in 2022 than 77% of similar cities

Berlin’s borough government spent $1.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $750 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.4 million) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Pennsylvania.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.4M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$750
In 2022: $750, more than 77% of 574 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of 2022, reported
Borough staff, 2022
8
full-time · 10 part-time · March payroll $41,664
Typical tax bill
$1,242
1.05% of home value · PA 1.30%

What stands out about how Berlin is run

Read from the borough’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $750 per resident, more than 77% of 574 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer64% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Berlin Brothersvalley School District with 5 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,242 a year: 1.05% of the home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania.
Compared with similar places

$750 per resident in 2022: more than 77% of them

Berlin’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($750 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 574 Pennsylvania cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $483, and the middle half spent $300–$724. Berlin spent more than 77% of them.

Middle half of the group, $300–$724Median $483Berlin

Includes sewer and trash ($429,000), 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
574

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $750 per resident a year, or $2.05 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 30%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 63%Fees & charges 12%Interest, fines & other 11%Income taxes 6%From the state 4%From the federal government 3%Other taxes & licenses 1%From other local governments <1%Property taxes <1%
Not in the receipt.With the enterprises, the whole budget was $2.8 million.
About “Other”.25% of Berlin’s day-to-day spending ($364,000) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,242 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.05% of the home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Pennsylvania$3,311
Berlin$1,242
$1,242
typical bill a year
1.05%
effective rate
$117,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Berlin’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. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

Tax bills are one input to Berlin’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Berlin →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Berlin

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

Check Berlin’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Berlin yet.
Who works for Berlin

One full-time borough employee for every 241 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 (1,931).

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

Roads & transportation3 + 1 pt
Police1 + 5 pt
Sewer & trash2 + 1 pt
Administration & buildings2
Schools0 + 1 pt
Other0 + 2 pt
8
full-time
10
part-time
$41,664
payroll for March 2022
$499,968
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$48,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
1
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Berlin had 4.1 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 379 of the 574 Pennsylvania cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 1.0: Berlin had more than 83% 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

Berlin Brothersvalley School District

Berlin’s K–12 school district, shared with Allegheny Township, Brothersvalley Township, Fairhope Township, New Baltimore, Northampton Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Berlin →
$15,962
per pupil · PA $21,758
773
students
$1.2 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,962 per pupil, $9,865 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 31%State 61%Federal 7%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Berlin’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Somerset County’s results40,881 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican78.3%31,993 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat21.0%8,596 votes

Others: 0.7% (292 votes).

Most votes in Somerset County: Donald J Trump

Pennsylvania: Trump 50.4%, Harris 48.7%

The county’s page

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

Somerset 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 Berlin

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Berlin.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Pennsylvania HouseState representatives
    Carl Metzgar
  3. 3
    Pennsylvania SenateState senator
    Pat Stefano
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Josh Shapiro
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Guy Reschenthaler
  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 Berlin’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Berlin’s government

How much does Berlin spend per resident?

About $750 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 $750 was more than 77% of 574 Pennsylvania cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Berlin?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,242 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.05% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the borough’s assessor.

Who runs Berlin’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Berlin yet.

How did Berlin vote in 2024?

Pennsylvania counts votes by county and precinct, not by borough, so there are no official results for Berlin alone. Somerset County, where 100% of Berlin lies, voted Trump 78.3%, Harris 21.0% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Berlin?

8 full-time and 10 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $41,664 (about $499,968 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Berlin in the state legislature?

State Senate District 32 (Pat Stefano) and State House District 69 (Carl Metzgar). The House district also covers 45 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Berlin’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 →