Form of Government

Except for the schools, town governance is vested in a seven member Town Council, elected at large for staggered three-year terms. Municipal elections are held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. Candidates for Town Council and the seven member School Board run on a non-partisan basis.

The Town Council appoints the Town Manager, Town Assessor, Town Attorney and members of numerous boards, committees and commissions. The Council enacts ordinances after public hearings and determines overall policy. The Council also adopts an annual budget each May.

The Town Manager administers day to day operations and appoints department heads subject to the approval of the Town Council. The Manager prepares the budget and is responsible for its implementation.

The Town has a full time police department, full time dispatching, volunteer fire and rescue companies, a public works department, assessing, codes and planning offices, a public library, a lighthouse museum, an emergency preparedness department, a local general assistance office and a full service Town Hall. Water and sewer services are provided by the Portland Water District. Electric service is from Central Maine Power Company.

Tax Information

The property tax rate for 2008-2009 is $17.44 per thousand valuation at 74% valuation. Taxes are due twice yearly at the beginning of April and October. Sewer fees begin at $32.50 per month for homes with sewer service.

Quick References
Sewage Service: Portland Water District - 207-774-5961
Electric Utility: Central Maine Power - 1-800-750-4000
Gas Utility: Northern Utilities - 207-797-8002
Fire Department: Cape Elizabeth Fire Department - 207-799-8581
Police Department: Cape Elizabeth Police Department - 207-799-8581
Library: Thomas Memorial Library - 207-799-1720

Cape Elizabeth Statistics

View statistics back to 1998 (PDF format. Adobe's Acrobat Reader is required. Download it for free here.)

2000 Population	9,068
1990 Population	8,854
	FY 2003	FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006	FY 2007
BIRTHS	88	67	60	62	63
DEATHS	101	76	76	83	44
MARRIAGES	136	82	86	53	65
TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS	33	20	21	16	13
TOTAL VALUATION (MILLIONS)	$ 733.0	$ 1,266.3	$1,276.0	$1,291.1	$1,310.1
TOTAL TAX RATE	$22.64	$14.20	$15.34	$15.92	$16.16
TOWN TAX RATE	$ 4.86	$  3.08	$3.31	$3.39	$3.59
SCHOOL TAX RATE	$ 16.65	$10.39	$11.25	$11.53	$11.58
SEWER MIN. MONTHLY CHARGE	$ 26.50	$26.50	$31.50	$32.50	$34.50
MUNICIPAL SPENDING	$ 8,399,890	$8,673,436	$9,158,020	$8,625,505	$9,964,594
SCHOOL SPENDING	$14,568,738	$15,120,910	$16,262,424	$17,384,139	$18,035,452
STATE REVENUE SHARING	$ 689,258	$706,460	$714,064	$664,774	$702,395
STATE EDUCATION FUNDING	$ 2,018,626	$1,793,364	$1,831,434	$2,168,585	$2,655,082
EXCISE TAX INCOME	$ 1,655,739	$1,713,906	$1,736,255	$1,802,245	$1,767,055
UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE	$ 1,140,263	$1,358,438	$1,844,642	$2,050,845	$2,093,201
TOTAL DEBT OWED	$19,128,328	$17,499,962	$21,370,531	$28,139,873	$25,939,635
SCHOOL POPULATION	1,775	1,809	1,819	1,838	1,813
COMM SVCS PROGRAMS	489	489	632	668	674
LIGHTHOUSE VOLUNTEER HRS.	2,812	2,728	2,754	2,840	2,824
PTLD HEAD LIGHT GIFT SALES	$ 501,238	$501,905	$460,110	$460,558	$479,987
NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOMES	27	30	25	27	10
NEW CONDOMINIUMS	-	-	-	-	-
POLICE ARRESTS	66	80	65	63	106
POLICE COMPLAINTS INVESTIG.	863	753	751	740	675
SUMMONSES	861	791	675	440	636
PARKING TAGS	257	323	256	125	206
RESCUE CALLS	541	551	572	499	485
FIRE CALLS	262	282	314	363	570
VEHICLE ACCIDENTS	123	131	120	126	106
WETEAM CALLS	22	19	15	16	27
PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING HOURS	4,603	4,925	4,650	4,311	4,304
PUB. SAFETY VOLUNTEER HRS.	13,233	12,083	14,573	10,485	11,835
FIRE/ POLICE UNIT CALLS	91	152	153	100	95
REGISTERED MOORINGS	90	90	92	90	95
TONS OF RECYCLING	1,997	2,708	3,560	3,773	4,435
TONS OF SOLID WASTE	2,483	3,652	3,687	3,724	3,978
MILES OF TOWN ROADS	59.43	59.62	59.62	62.09	62.36
INCHES OF SNOW PLOWED	69	44	102	47	55
MILES OF ROADS RESURFACED	3.02	1.95	1.23	0.82	2.09
FULL TIME EQUIV. TEACHERS	151	155	160	161	160
FULL TIME MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES	56	58	58	58	57
LIBRARY CIRCULATION	112,269	113,326	124,218	131,165	135,483
PLANNING BOARD AGENDA ITEMS	39	46	64	32	24
PB WORKSHOP AGENDA ITEMS	29	28	28	25	20
ZONING BOARD AGENDA ITEMS	15	8	11	12	6