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WestchesterPhoto: Zoewscott · Public domain
Town Hall · West Chester

West Chester spent more per resident in 2022 than 79% of similar cities

West Chester’s borough government spent $28.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,456 per resident.

Town website
Next public meeting

Planning Commission- Voting

6:30 pm · Borough of West Chester, Municipal Building, 401 East Gay Street

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$28.4M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,456
In 2022: $1,269, more than 79% of 43 similar cities
Long-term debt
$20.9M
end of 2024, reported
Borough staff, 2022
126
full-time · 12 part-time · March payroll $1.0M · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$4,890
1.00% of home value · PA 1.30%

What stands out about how West Chester is run

Read from the borough’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Mayor Lillian DeBaptisteAs listed by Open States, October 9, 2026.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,269 per resident, more than 79% of 43 similar cities.A shared school districtShares West Chester Area School District with 6+ other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From West Chester’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Nov4
    Tree CommissionWednesday · 6:00 pm · Borough of West Chester, Municipal Building, 401 East Gay StreetAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Nov2
    Planning Commission- Work SessionMonday · 6:30 pm · Borough of West Chester, Municipal Building, 401 East Gay StreetAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct29
    Historical & Architectural Review BoardThursday · 7:00 pm · Borough of West Chester, Municipal Building, 401 East Gay StreetAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct29
    Sustainability Advisory CommitteeThursday · 6:30 pm · Borough of West Chester, Municipal Building, 401 East Gay StreetAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct27
    WCCCCTuesday · 6:00 pm · Borough of West Chester, Municipal Building, 401 East Gay StreetAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,456 per resident a year, or $3.99 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 23%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 43%Income taxes 17%Property taxes 16%From the state 10%Other taxes & licenses 6%Interest, fines & other 5%From other local governments 2%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $2.4 million; interest on debt $715,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $33.6 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,269 per resident in 2022: more than 79% of them

West Chester’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,269 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 43 Pennsylvania cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $986, and the middle half spent $812–$1,263. West Chester spent more than 79% of them.

Middle half of the group, $812–$1,263Median $986West Chester

Includes sewer and trash ($3.8 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 →

The group
43

Pennsylvania cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; West Chester itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 12% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years West Chester reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$25.4 million
2024$28.4 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,269 · 2024: $1,456.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in West Chester

From public records with a current term; a name is hidden the day its term ends.

Lillian DeBaptisteMayor · as listed by Open States, October 9, 2026Office of the Mayor ↗

Council members and agencies: west-chester.com ↗

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $4,890 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.00% of the home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

East Bradford Township$5,638
West Goshen Township$5,464
West Chester$4,890
Pennsylvania$3,311
$4,890
typical bill a year
1.00%
effective rate
$490,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who works for West Chester

One full-time borough employee for every 155 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 2024 finance file (19,531).

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

Police51
Sewer & trash46
Administration & buildings9 + 10 pt
Roads & transportation3
Parks & libraries2 + 1 pt
Other15 + 1 pt
126
full-time
12
part-time
$1.0M
payroll for March 2022
$12.1M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$95,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
40
sworn police officers
Estimates.West Chester didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

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

West Chester Area School District

West Chester’s K–12 school district, shared with East Bradford Township, East Goshen Township, Thornbury Township, Thornbury Township, West Goshen Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in West Chester →
$19,021
per pupil · PA $21,758
12,109
students
$223.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $19,021 per pupil, $12,603 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 81%State 17%Federal 1%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

West Chester’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Chester County’s results324,964 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat56.7%184,281 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican42.3%137,299 votes

Others: 1.0% (3,384 votes).

Most votes in Chester County: Kamala D Harris

Pennsylvania: Trump 50.4%, Harris 48.7%

The county’s page

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

Chester 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 West Chester

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for West Chester.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor
    Lillian DeBaptisteas listed by Open States, October 9, 2026
  2. 2
    Pennsylvania HouseState representatives
    Chris Pielli
  3. 3
    Pennsylvania SenateState senator
    Carolyn Comitta
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Josh Shapiro
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Chrissy Houlahan
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Pennsylvania
    John FettermanDavid McCormick

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

Next door

How West Chester compares with the towns next door

West Chester spent $1,269 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are townships, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar cities, above. Tap a town to see its page.

West Goshen Township: $1,199 per resident (2022)East Bradford Township: $675 per resident (2022)West Goshen TownshipEast Bradford TownshipWest Chester
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
East Bradford Township$675$5,638
West Goshen Township$1,199$5,464
West Chester$1,269$4,890

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 West Chester’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitewest-chester.com ↗

Questions about West Chester’s government

How much does West Chester spend per resident?

About $1,456 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,269 was more than 79% of 43 Pennsylvania cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in West Chester?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,890 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.00% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see west-chester.com.

Who is the mayor of West Chester?

Lillian DeBaptiste, as listed by Open States (checked October 9, 2026). The council and agencies are listed on west-chester.com.

How did West Chester vote in 2024?

Pennsylvania counts votes by county and precinct, not by borough, so there are no official results for West Chester alone. Chester County, where 100% of West Chester lies, voted Harris 56.7%, Trump 42.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for West Chester?

126 full-time and 12 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.0M (about $12.1M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents West Chester in the state legislature?

State Senate District 19 (Carolyn Comitta) and State House District 156 (Chris Pielli). The House district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in West Chester?

The next posted meeting is Planning Commission- Voting on Monday, November 9, at 6:30 pm in Borough of West Chester, Municipal Building, 401 East Gay Street, from the borough’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about West Chester’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 →