Where Chelmsford's money goes

A plain-English look at what your town spends, what you pay, and how it's changing.

$184.1 million a year
That's what Chelmsford spent across all town services.
47¢ of every dollar goes to schools.
Schools $87.1 million
47%
public schools — teachers, buildings, buses
Employee pensions & benefits $41.1 million
22%
retirement and health insurance for town & school staff
Public safety $17.8 million
10%
police, fire, and ambulance
General government $14.0 million
8%
town hall, clerk, finance, elections
Public works $13.5 million
7%
roads, snow plowing, trash, parks
Health & human services $3.9 million
2%
public health, senior & veterans services
Culture & recreation $2.6 million
1%
library, parks, recreation programs
State & county assessments $2.3 million
1%
required payments to the state and county
Debt interest $1.9 million
1%
interest on money borrowed for buildings & projects
Source: Chelmsford FY2024 audited financial statements (audited actuals, FY2024). Figures are rounded for readability.
These figures come from official town and state documents, summarized for clarity. Always check the source for exact numbers. ← Back to Chelmsford Town Watch