South Burlington spent more per resident in 2022 than 72% of similar cities
South Burlington’s city government spent $28.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2023, about $1,392 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($7 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how South Burlington is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,528 per resident in 2022: more than 72% of them
South Burlington’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,528 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 18 Vermont cities that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,074, and the middle half spent $468–$1,559. South Burlington spent more than 72% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($5.2 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 →
Vermont cities that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; South Burlington itself left out).
About $1,392 per resident a year, or $3.81 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 37%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Revenue is well above spending. That usually means South Burlington collects property taxes for the school district and county and passes them on, so only its own spending is counted.
Day-to-day spending is down 6% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years South Burlington 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: $1,528 · 2023: $1,392.
full-time in March 2025, up from 142 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 $6,674 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.51% of the home’s value, vs 1.59% across Vermont.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at South Burlington’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 South Burlington’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in South Burlington →
Who’s in charge in South Burlington
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
South Burlington’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on southburlingtonvt.gov ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 124 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (20,282).
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.
South Burlington School District
South Burlington’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $25,531 per pupil, $15,562 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.
Vermont districts overall: 5% local, 89% state, 6% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How South Burlington voted in 2024
Official results for South Burlington’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat79.2%9,974 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican17.5%2,207 votesOthers: 3.3% (419 votes).
Most votes in South Burlington: Kamala D Harris
Chittenden County: Harris 74.6%, Trump 21.5% · Vermont: Harris 63.8%, Trump 32.3%
of South Burlington’s 15,861 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Vermont: 71%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in South Burlington: Bernie Sanders
Chittenden County: Sanders 73.3%, Malloy 23.0% · Vermont: Sanders 63.2%, Malloy 32.1%
Most votes in South Burlington: Phil Scott
Chittenden County: Scott 69.2%, Charlestin 27.6% · Vermont: Scott 73.4%, Charlestin 21.8%
Most votes in the district: Becca Balint
Whole-district result
President, 2024: South Burlington, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Burlington | 79.2% | 17.5% | 3.3% | 12,600 |
| Chittenden County | 74.6% | 21.5% | 3.8% | 97,329 |
| Vermont | 63.8% | 32.3% | 3.9% | 369,422 |
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
South Burlington sends 5 representatives to the Vermont House alone.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: southburlingtonvt.gov ↗
- 2Vermont HouseSouth Burlington is split between 5 districts
- 3Vermont SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Vermont
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How South Burlington compares with the towns next door
South Burlington spent $1,528 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.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | $732 | $6,602 |
| Colchester | $1,092 | $5,471 |
| Shelburne | $1,119 | $8,173 |
| Williston | $1,171 | $5,592 |
| Essex Junction | $1,260 | $6,797 |
| Winooski | $1,599 | $6,802 |
| Burlington | $1,976 | $7,335 |
| South Burlington | $1,528 | $6,674 |
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 South Burlington’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about South Burlington’s government
How much does South Burlington spend per resident?
About $1,392 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,528 was more than 72% of 18 Vermont cities that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in South Burlington?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,674 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.51% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.59% across Vermont. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see southburlingtonvt.gov.
Who runs South Burlington’s government?
See southburlingtonvt.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for South Burlington yet.
How did South Burlington vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 79.2%, Donald J Trump 17.5% (12,600 votes, official results). Chittenden County: Harris 74.6%, Trump 21.5%. Vermont: Harris 63.8%, Trump 32.3%.
How many people work for South Burlington?
163 full-time and 23 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.2M (about $14.3M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents South Burlington in the state legislature?
South Burlington is split among 5 State House districts, so your address decides. The Vermont Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District Chittenden South East (Ginny Lyons, Kesha Ram Hinsdale and Thomas Chittenden). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about South Burlington’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 →