Photo: US Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified · Public domainChesapeake spent less per resident in 2022 than 76% of similar cities
Chesapeake’s city government spent $1.2 billion on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $4,815 per resident. Water and other utilities ($28.9 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Chesapeake is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$4,162 per resident in 2022: less than 76% of them
Chesapeake’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($4,162 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 34 Virginia cities that run their own schools: the median was $4,758, and the middle half spent $4,277–$5,540. Chesapeake spent less than 76% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($54.1 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 →
Virginia cities that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Chesapeake itself left out).
About $4,815 per resident a year, or $13.19 a day
Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 54% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Chesapeake runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Virginia cities that run their own schools.
Day-to-day spending is up 18% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Chesapeake reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $4,162 · 2023: $4,551 · 2024: $4,815.
full-time in March 2025, up from 9,014 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $3,108 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.82% of the home’s value, vs 0.73% across Virginia.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Chesapeake’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 Chesapeake’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Chesapeake →
Who’s in charge in Chesapeake
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Chesapeake’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofchesapeake.net ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 26 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (252,488).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Chesapeake City Public Schools
Chesapeake’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Chesapeake, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $16,117 per pupil, $9,884 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.
Virginia districts overall: 49% local, 41% state, 10% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Chesapeake voted in 2024
Official results for Chesapeake’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat51.1%65,399 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican47.3%60,550 votesOthers: 1.6% (2,052 votes).
Most votes in Chesapeake: Kamala D Harris
Chesapeake city: Harris 51.1%, Trump 47.3% · Virginia: Harris 51.8%, Trump 46.1%
of Chesapeake’s 186,989 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Virginia: 71%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Chesapeake: Timothy M Kaine
Chesapeake city: Kaine 52.9%, Cao 47.0% · Virginia: Kaine 54.4%, Cao 45.4%
U.S. House, 2024: 2 districts cover Chesapeake, so your street decides which race was yours. All 2 districts’ results →
President, 2024: Chesapeake, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake | 51.1% | 47.3% | 1.6% | 128,001 |
| Chesapeake city | 51.1% | 47.3% | 1.6% | 128,001 |
| Virginia | 51.8% | 46.1% | 2.1% | 4,503,288 |
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.
From town hall to Washington
Chesapeake sends 4 representatives to the Virginia House alone.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofchesapeake.net ↗
- 2Virginia House of DelegatesChesapeake is split between 4 districts
- 3Virginia SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseSplit between districts
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Virginia
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Chesapeake compares with the towns next door
Chesapeake spent $4,162 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $4,079 to $4,634. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $4,079 runs schools | $3,061 |
| Suffolk | $4,329 runs schools | $3,229 |
| Portsmouth | $4,570 runs schools | $2,557 |
| Norfolk | $4,634 runs schools | $2,890 |
| Chesapeake | $4,162 | $3,108 |
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 Chesapeake’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Chesapeake’s government
How much does Chesapeake spend per resident?
About $4,815 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $4,162 was less than 76% of 34 Virginia cities that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Chesapeake?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,108 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.82% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.73% across Virginia. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofchesapeake.net.
Who runs Chesapeake’s government?
See cityofchesapeake.net for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Chesapeake yet.
How did Chesapeake vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 51.1%, Donald J Trump 47.3% (128,001 votes, official results). Chesapeake city: Harris 51.1%, Trump 47.3%. Virginia: Harris 51.8%, Trump 46.1%.
How many people work for Chesapeake?
9,601 full-time and 1,228 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $45.7M (about $548.8M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Chesapeake in the state legislature?
Chesapeake is split among 4 House of Delegates districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Virginia Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Chesapeake’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 →