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Town Hall · Derry

Derry spent less per resident in 2022 than 72% of similar cities

Derry’s borough government spent $800,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $321 per resident.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Pennsylvania.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$800,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$321
In 2022: $321, less than 72% of 574 similar cities
Long-term debt
$213,000
end of 2022, reported
Borough staff, 2022
6
full-time · 13 part-time · March payroll $23,428
Typical tax bill
$1,500
1.16% of home value · PA 1.30%

What stands out about how Derry is run

Read from the borough’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$321 per resident in 2022: less than 72% of them

Derry’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($321 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 $484, and the middle half spent $300–$726. Derry spent less than 72% of them.

Middle half of the group, $300–$726Median $484Derry

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; Derry itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $321 per resident a year, or $0.88 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 23%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 36%Income taxes 23%From the federal government 12%From the state 12%Other taxes & licenses 7%Fees & charges 7%Interest, fines & other 2%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $10,000; interest on debt $1,000. With these, the whole budget was $811,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,500 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.16% of the home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Pennsylvania$3,311
Derry$1,500
$1,500
typical bill a year
1.16%
effective rate
$129,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Derry

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

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

Derry’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The borough posts agendas and minutes on derryborough.org ↗.

Who works for Derry

One full-time borough employee for every 416 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 (2,495).

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

Administration & buildings2 + 8 pt
Police2 + 3 pt
Roads & transportation2 + 1 pt
Other0 + 1 pt
6
full-time
13
part-time
$23,428
payroll for March 2022
$281,136
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$39,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
2
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Derry had 2.4 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: Derry had more than 69% 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

Derry Area School District

Derry’s K–12 school district, shared with Derry Township, New Alexandria. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Derry →
$17,278
per pupil · PA $21,758
1,784
students
$10.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $17,278 per pupil, $9,943 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 38%State 52%Federal 10%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Derry’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Westmoreland County’s results211,450 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican63.8%135,008 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat35.4%74,904 votes

Others: 0.7% (1,538 votes).

Most votes in Westmoreland County: Donald J Trump

Pennsylvania: Trump 50.4%, Harris 48.7%

The county’s page

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

Westmoreland 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 Derry

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Derry.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Pennsylvania HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Pennsylvania SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Pennsylvania

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

Reach Derry’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Derry’s government

How much does Derry spend per resident?

About $321 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 $321 was less than 72% of 574 Pennsylvania cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Derry?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,500 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.16% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see derryborough.org.

Who runs Derry’s government?

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

How did Derry vote in 2024?

Pennsylvania counts votes by county and precinct, not by borough, so there are no official results for Derry alone. Westmoreland County, where 100% of Derry lies, voted Trump 63.8%, Harris 35.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Derry?

6 full-time and 13 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $23,428 (about $281,136 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Derry in the state legislature?

State Senate District 41 (Joe Pittman) and State House District 59 (Leslie Rossi). The House district also covers 16 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Derry’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 →