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 2009-2010 is $17.54 per thousand valuation at 78% valuation. Taxes are due twice yearly at the beginning of April and October. Sewer fees begin at $34.84 per month for homes with sewer service. (Base fee will increase to $36.25 beginning Jan. 1, 2010; and, $37.70 beginning Jan. 1, 2011.)

Quick References
Water and Sewage Service: Portland Water District - 207-774-5961
Electric Utility: Central Maine Power - 1-800-750-4000
Gas Utility: Northern Utilities - 207-797-8002
Cable Television: Time-Warner Cable - 207-253-2222; 1-800-833-2253
Cape Elizabeth Fire Department Business Line (Non-Emergency) 207-799-6409
Cape Elizabeth Police Department Business Line (Non-Emergency) 207-767-3323
Police-Fire-Rescue Emergency: 9-1-1
Library: Thomas Memorial Library - 207-799-1720

Cape Elizabeth Statistics

View statistics back to 2000 (PDF format. Adobe's Acrobat Reader is required. Download it for free here.)

2000 Population	9,068
1990 Population	8,854
	FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006	FY 2007	FY 2008
BIRTHS	67	60	62	63	61
DEATHS	76	76	83	44	63
MARRIAGES	82	86	53	65	43
TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS	20	21	16	13	18
TOTAL VALUATION (MILLIONS)	$1,266.3	$1,276.0	$1,291.1	$1,310.1	$1,324.1
TOTAL TAX RATE	$14.20	$15.34	$15.92	$16.16	$16.46
TOWN TAX RATE	$3.08	$3.31	$3.39	$  3.59	$3.67
SCHOOL TAX RATE	$10.39	$11.25	$11.53	$11.58	$11.79
SEWER MIN. MONTHLY CHARGE	$26.50	$31.50	$32.50	$34.50	$34.50
MUNICIPAL SPENDING	$8,673,436	$9,158,020	$8,625,505	$9,964,594	$ 10,863,215
SCHOOL SPENDING	$15,120,910	$16,262,424	$17,384,139	$18,035,452	$18,692,631
STATE REVENUE SHARING	$706,460	$714,064	$664,774	$702,395	$740,197
STATE EDUCATION FUNDING	$1,793,364	$1,831,434	$2,168,585	$2,655,082	$2,836,183
EXCISE TAX INCOME	$1,713,906	$1,736,255	$1,802,245	1,767,055	$1,745,840
UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE	$1,358,438	$1,844,642	$2,050,845	$2,093,201	$2,151,825
TOTAL DEBT OWED	$ 17,499,962	$ 21,370,531	$ 28,139,873	$ 25,939,635	$ 26,297,164
SCHOOL POPULATION	1,809	1,819	1,838	1,813	1,784
COMM SVCS PROGRAMS		632	668	674
LIGHTHOUSE VOLUNTEER HRS.	2,728	2,754	2,840	2,824	2,884
PTLD HEAD LIGHT GIFT SALES	$      501,905	$      460,110	$      460,558	$      479,987	$      508,334
NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOMES	30	25	27	10	14
NEW CONDOMINIUMS	-	-	-	-	-
POLICE ARRESTS	80	65	63	106	96
POLICE COMPLAINTS INVESTIG.	753	751	740	675	535
SUMMONSES	791	675	440	636	492
PARKING TAGS	323	256	125	206	111
RESCUE CALLS	551	572	499	485	477
FIRE CALLS	282	314	363	570	270
VEHICLE ACCIDENTS	131	120	126	106	118
WETEAM CALLS	19	15	16	27	20
PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING HOURS	4,925	4,650	4,311	4,304	3,120
PUB. SAFETY VOLUNTEER HRS.	12,083	14,573	10,485	11,835	10,501
FIRE/ POLICE UNIT CALLS	152	153	100	95	95
REGISTERED MOORINGS		92	90	95	103
TONS OF RECYCLING	2,708	3,560	3,773	4,435	4,840
TONS OF SOLID WASTE	3,652	3,687	3,724	3,978	3,275
MILES OF TOWN ROADS	59.62	59.62	62.09	62.36	62.36
INCHES OF SNOW PLOWED	44	102	47	55	103
MILES OF ROADS RESURFACED	1.95	1.23	0.82	2.09	2.25
FULL TIME EQUIV. TEACHERS	155	160	161	160	160
FULL TIME MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES	58	58	58	57	55
LIBRARY CIRCULATION	113,326	124,218	131,165	135,483	138,338
PLANNING BOARD AGENDA ITEMS	46	64	32	24	27
PB WORKSHOP AGENDA ITEMS	28	28	25	20	27
ZONING BOARD AGENDA ITEMS	8	11	12	6	3