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Fire department's share of municipal budget
In this table The Boston Globe ranks communities in Massachusetts by the share of the municipal budget that went to the fire department in fiscal year 2003, as reported by communities to the state Department of Revenue.
The table also shows how that percentage changed from the 1987 budget. Towns that had not filed are marked "N/A." This table includes municipal spending only -- not spending by any separate entity, such as a volunteer fire protection district.
Please send any questions to Bill Dedman, at Dedman@Globe.com.
| Rank | Community | Fire spending as % of municipal budget, FY 2003 |
Fire spending as % of municipal budget, FY 1987 |
Fire spending, FY 2003 |
| 1 | Athol | 12.7% | 11.7% | $1,370,441 |
| 2 | Watertown | 9.7% | 8.7% | $7,061,264 |
| 3 | Whitman | 9.6% | 4.8% | $1,749,691 |
| 4 | Orleans | 9.4% | 6.9% | $1,638,458 |
| 5 | Waltham | 9.2% | 8.8% | $10,673,281 |
| 6 | Bridgewater | 9.2% | 7.0% | $2,926,277 |
| 7 | Hull | 8.8% | 6.9% | $2,339,930 |
| 8 | Scituate | 8.7% | 8.1% | $3,260,736 |
| 9 | Braintree | 8.7% | 7.2% | $6,325,783 |
| 10 | Dennis | 8.4% | 7.1% | $2,717,972 |
| 11 | Lynn | 8.2% | 9.8% | $18,162,134 |
| 12 | Medford | 8.0% | 8.3% | $8,375,289 |
| 13 | Yarmouth | 8.0% | 4.3% | $3,610,491 |
| 14 | Hanson | 7.9% | 5.5% | $1,174,563 |
| 15 | Eastham | 7.9% | 7.4% | $1,098,744 |
| 16 | Boston | 7.8% | 6.2% | $142,282,613 |
| 17 | Quincy | 7.7% | 9.0% | $15,344,609 |
| 18 | Worcester | 7.6% | 7.0% | $29,332,547 |
| 19 | Revere | 7.5% | 8.1% | $6,520,101 |
| 20 | Marlborough | 7.5% | 7.6% | $5,747,332 |
| 21 | Leominster | 7.5% | 7.7% | $5,379,936 |
| 22 | Raynham | 7.5% | 4.4% | $1,504,206 |
| 23 | Somerville | 7.4% | 7.2% | $10,646,105 |
| 24 | Woburn | 7.4% | 6.6% | $5,938,272 |
| 25 | Salem | 7.3% | 8.1% | $6,534,650 |
| 26 | Avon | 7.3% | 4.3% | $926,675 |
| 27 | Chicopee | 7.3% | 7.6% | $7,611,507 |
| 28 | Malden | 7.2% | 7.5% | $7,503,349 |
| 29 | Taunton | 7.1% | 8.0% | $7,869,443 |
| 30 | Fall River | 7.1% | 8.6% | $12,593,576 |
| 31 | Needham | 7.1% | 6.0% | $4,987,917 |
| 32 | Wellfleet | 7.0% | 3.5% | $756,860 |
| 33 | Rockland | 7.0% | 6.9% | $2,395,759 |
| 34 | Brookline | 6.9% | 9.5% | $10,762,265 |
| 35 | Haverhill | 6.9% | 6.3% | $8,092,950 |
| 36 | Canton | 6.9% | 6.1% | $3,356,915 |
| 37 | Burlington | 6.9% | 6.7% | $4,867,000 |
| 38 | Brockton | 6.9% | 8.4% | $16,831,495 |
| 39 | Weymouth | 6.8% | 7.0% | $6,714,542 |
| 40 | Newburyport | 6.8% | 6.5% | $2,576,558 |
| 41 | Cohasset | 6.7% | 9.1% | $1,732,481 |
| 42 | Holbrook | 6.7% | 7.4% | $1,570,978 |
| 43 | Gloucester | 6.7% | 8.7% | $4,407,108 |
| 44 | Nahant | 6.6% | 7.0% | $545,371 |
| 45 | Fitchburg | 6.6% | 7.0% | $6,104,641 |
| 46 | New Bedford | 6.6% | 7.6% | $14,136,388 |
| 47 | Swampscott | 6.6% | 8.0% | $2,302,802 |
| 48 | Salisbury | 6.6% | 4.1% | $756,709 |
| 49 | Marshfield | 6.5% | 6.1% | $3,648,126 |
| 50 | Amherst | 6.5% | 4.1% | $2,920,593 |
| 51 | Natick | 6.4% | 6.3% | $5,202,677 |
| 52 | Methuen | 6.4% | 7.8% | $5,875,914 |
| 53 | Chelsea | 6.4% | 11.0% | $6,103,047 |
| 54 | Everett | 6.4% | 7.8% | $6,336,647 |
| 55 | Cambridge | 6.3% | 6.4% | $19,665,110 |
| 56 | Attleboro | 6.3% | 6.4% | $5,131,270 |
| 57 | Framingham | 6.3% | 8.5% | $9,771,397 |
| 58 | West Bridgewater | 6.3% | 5.9% | $1,042,262 |
| 59 | Pittsfield | 6.3% | 7.0% | $5,893,832 |
| 60 | Mashpee | 6.3% | 8.2% | $2,288,856 |
| 61 | Plymouth | 6.3% | 9.0% | $7,559,333 |
| 62 | Holyoke | 6.3% | 10.2% | $7,355,924 |
| 63 | Gardner | 6.3% | 9.4% | $2,252,132 |
| 64 | Chatham | 6.3% | 5.8% | $1,527,154 |
| 65 | Milton | 6.3% | 7.0% | $3,463,801 |
| 66 | Stoughton | 6.2% | 6.0% | $3,332,264 |
| 67 | Easthampton | 6.1% | 5.0% | $1,698,435 |
| 68 | Dedham | 6.1% | 7.0% | $3,637,751 |
| 69 | Harwich | 6.1% | 6.8% | $2,368,743 |
| 70 | Wakefield | 6.0% | 3.9% | $3,016,028 |
| 71 | Stoneham | 6.0% | 7.2% | $2,762,514 |
| 72 | Hingham | 6.0% | 9.2% | $3,172,786 |
| 73 | Winthrop | 6.0% | 6.4% | $1,925,551 |
| 74 | Melrose | 6.0% | 7.5% | $3,149,040 |
| 75 | Beverly | 5.9% | 8.8% | $4,731,610 |
| 76 | Kingston | 5.9% | 6.3% | $1,404,150 |
| 77 | Amesbury | 5.9% | 5.8% | $2,340,710 |
| 78 | North Andover | 5.9% | 7.5% | $3,493,292 |
| 79 | Norton | 5.9% | 6.1% | $2,073,622 |
| 80 | Middleton | 5.9% | 3.0% | $971,972 |
| 81 | Danvers | 5.9% | 3.1% | $3,423,471 |
| 82 | Billerica | 5.8% | 6.9% | $5,653,319 |
| 83 | Falmouth | 5.8% | 5.7% | $4,504,924 |
| 84 | Charlton | 5.8% | 1.4% | $844,798 |
| 85 | Arlington | 5.8% | 7.1% | $4,667,968 |
| 86 | Newton | 5.7% | 7.6% | $12,367,337 |
| 87 | Abington | 5.7% | 4.7% | $1,650,319 |
| 88 | Andover | 5.7% | 5.3% | $5,721,790 |
| 89 | Tewksbury | 5.7% | 6.5% | $3,876,979 |
| 90 | Sandwich | 5.7% | 4.9% | $2,834,195 |
| 91 | Belmont | 5.6% | 7.8% | $3,536,452 |
| 92 | Wilbraham | 5.6% | 6.3% | $1,293,456 |
| 93 | Wrentham | 5.6% | 6.9% | $1,292,423 |
| 94 | Westport | 5.6% | 5.1% | $1,285,292 |
| 95 | Lawrence | 5.5% | 8.9% | $9,987,400 |
| 96 | Ashland | 5.5% | 4.9% | $1,755,254 |
| 97 | Brewster | 5.4% | 3.0% | $1,390,730 |
| 98 | North Reading | 5.4% | 5.9% | $1,760,153 |
| 99 | West Springfield | 5.4% | 7.8% | $3,431,259 |
| 100 | Saugus | 5.4% | 5.2% | $2,826,437 |
| 101 | Dracut | 5.4% | 4.8% | $2,430,120 |
| 102 | Peabody | 5.3% | 5.7% | $6,009,242 |
| 103 | Marblehead | 5.3% | 6.7% | $2,336,355 |
| 104 | Millville | 5.3% | 3.7% | $189,618 |
| 105 | Lowell | 5.3% | 9.5% | $13,324,397 |
| 106 | Hubbardston | 5.3% | 5.6% | $244,239 |
| 107 | Maynard | 5.3% | 6.4% | $1,337,180 |
| 108 | North Attleborough | 5.3% | 5.8% | $3,064,214 |
| 109 | Pembroke | 5.2% | 6.3% | $1,957,297 |
| 110 | Norwell | 5.2% | 3.0% | $1,442,906 |
| 111 | Randolph | 5.2% | 5.7% | $3,311,231 |
| 112 | Northampton | 5.2% | 5.0% | $3,051,183 |
| 112 | Southborough | 5.2% | 3.9% | $1,389,528 |
| 114 | Wellesley | 5.2% | 6.4% | $3,720,322 |
| 115 | Westminster | 5.2% | 1.0% | $585,894 |
| 116 | Agawam | 5.2% | 6.3% | $2,939,808 |
| 117 | Chelmsford | 5.1% | 7.7% | $3,895,841 |
| 118 | Mendon | 5.1% | 0.7% | $422,636 |
| 119 | Reading | 5.1% | 6.9% | $2,634,620 |
| 120 | Acton | 5.1% | 6.8% | $2,557,431 |
| 121 | Franklin | 5.1% | 3.6% | $3,354,611 |
| 122 | Hudson | 5.1% | 2.5% | $2,067,652 |
| 123 | Bourne | 5.0% | 7.4% | $1,938,771 |
| 124 | Winchester | 5.0% | 5.5% | $2,766,372 |
| 125 | Foxborough | 5.0% | 4.5% | $1,857,907 |
| 126 | East Bridgewater | 5.0% | 3.8% | $1,422,252 |
| 127 | Springfield | 5.0% | 6.7% | $19,800,339 |
| 128 | Easton | 4.9% | 5.5% | $2,067,622 |
| 129 | Dighton | 4.8% | 3.5% | $448,042 |
| 130 | Concord | 4.7% | 5.3% | $2,436,731 |
| 131 | Fairhaven | 4.7% | 3.4% | $1,300,952 |
| 132 | Hanover | 4.7% | 2.0% | $1,600,201 |
| 133 | Westwood | 4.7% | 7.0% | $2,096,187 |
| 134 | Westfield | 4.6% | 6.2% | $4,142,743 |
| 135 | Duxbury | 4.6% | 4.6% | $1,740,029 |
| 136 | Lynnfield | 4.6% | 3.5% | $1,172,658 |
| 137 | Norwood | 4.6% | 4.3% | $3,967,105 |
| 138 | Warren | 4.5% | 2.1% | $212,262 |
| 139 | Somerset | 4.5% | 3.7% | $1,507,735 |
| 140 | Milford | 4.5% | 4.6% | $2,504,860 |
| 141 | Clinton | 4.5% | 5.8% | $1,259,098 |
| 142 | Manchester-by-the-Sea | 4.4% | 4.1% | $671,488 |
| 143 | Freetown | 4.4% | 3.8% | $632,812 |
| 144 | Southbridge | 4.4% | 5.2% | $1,518,583 |
| 145 | Walpole | 4.4% | 3.2% | $2,087,716 |
| 146 | Royalston | 4.3% | 4.7% | $57,632 |
| 147 | Wilmington | 4.2% | 4.7% | $2,455,714 |
| 148 | Weston | 4.2% | 6.9% | $2,052,507 |
| 149 | Seekonk | 4.2% | 3.5% | $1,213,524 |
| 150 | Greenfield | 4.2% | 4.6% | $1,546,834 |
| 151 | Ayer | 4.1% | 1.8% | $705,828 |
| 152 | Middleborough | 4.1% | 5.1% | $1,867,797 |
| 153 | Wenham | 4.0% | 2.8% | $375,790 |
| 154 | Wayland | 4.0% | 4.7% | $1,743,968 |
| 155 | Ludlow | 3.9% | 4.7% | $1,560,361 |
| 156 | Lakeville | 3.9% | 5.3% | $627,066 |
| 157 | Blackstone | 3.9% | 2.7% | $435,877 |
| 158 | Ipswich | 3.9% | 4.2% | $1,133,314 |
| 159 | Lincoln | 3.9% | 4.1% | $774,639 |
| 160 | Plainville | 3.8% | 6.1% | $590,058 |
| 161 | Bedford | 3.8% | 4.4% | $1,876,207 |
| 162 | Nantucket | 3.8% | 5.7% | $1,682,928 |
| 163 | Westford | 3.8% | 1.6% | $2,324,758 |
| 164 | Mansfield | 3.8% | 5.5% | $2,102,240 |
| 165 | Newbury | 3.8% | 1.9% | $463,094 |
| 166 | Sudbury | 3.7% | 5.4% | $2,268,042 |
| 167 | North Adams | 3.7% | 6.0% | $1,237,914 |
| 168 | Bellingham | 3.7% | 2.7% | $1,237,257 |
| 169 | Rowley | 3.7% | 2.4% | $370,832 |
| 170 | Upton | 3.7% | 0.9% | $399,637 |
| 171 | Boxborough | 3.5% | 2.9% | $513,643 |
| 172 | Hopkinton | 3.5% | 3.0% | $1,527,260 |
| 173 | Sturbridge | 3.4% | 2.6% | $581,660 |
| 174 | Lexington | 3.4% | 4.6% | $3,354,541 |
| 175 | Shrewsbury | 3.4% | 4.7% | $2,110,921 |
| 176 | Alford | 3.4% | 1.6% | $30,953 |
| 177 | Sandisfield | 3.3% | 1.5% | $48,634 |
| 178 | Ware | 3.3% | 3.7% | $658,090 |
| 179 | Halifax | 3.3% | 4.1% | $435,384 |
| 180 | Dudley | 3.2% | 1.7% | $328,327 |
| 181 | Phillipston | 3.2% | 2.9% | $65,605 |
| 182 | Ashburnham | 3.2% | 4.1% | $290,860 |
| 183 | East Brookfield | 3.1% | 4.7% | $79,145 |
| 184 | Norfolk | 3.0% | 1.4% | $657,697 |
| 185 | Longmeadow | 2.9% | 2.8% | $1,082,417 |
| 186 | Westborough | 2.8% | 3.4% | $1,523,265 |
| 187 | Littleton | 2.8% | 2.6% | $600,929 |
| 188 | Barre | 2.8% | 1.9% | $171,726 |
| 189 | Topsfield | 2.8% | 1.8% | $443,868 |
| 190 | Northborough | 2.7% | 3.1% | $893,043 |
| 191 | Holden | 2.7% | 1.9% | $750,850 |
| 192 | Shirley | 2.7% | 2.4% | $359,926 |
| 193 | Northbridge | 2.6% | 2.9% | $775,625 |
| 194 | Sharon | 2.6% | 3.8% | $1,262,279 |
| 195 | Russell | 2.5% | 1.1% | $44,622 |
| 196 | Stow | 2.5% | 0.8% | $369,565 |
| 197 | Auburn | 2.4% | 1.5% | $747,274 |
| 198 | Orange | 2.4% | 3.3% | $389,411 |
| 199 | Townsend | 2.4% | 3.0% | $300,497 |
| 200 | Charlemont | 2.4% | 2.1% | $46,141 |
| 201 | Hopedale | 2.4% | 4.1% | $357,478 |
| 202 | West Newbury | 2.4% | 1.9% | $170,910 |
| 203 | Oakham | 2.4% | 2.5% | $43,055 |
| 204 | Gill | 2.4% | 3.8% | $46,408 |
| 205 | Hamilton | 2.3% | 0.8% | $392,555 |
| 206 | Acushnet | 2.3% | 2.4% | $391,288 |
| 207 | West Boylston | 2.2% | 1.2% | $337,688 |
| 208 | Tolland | 2.2% | 0.0% | $15,913 |
| 209 | Bernardston | 2.2% | 1.4% | $74,474 |
| 210 | Worthington | 2.2% | 1.4% | $42,023 |
| 211 | Egremont | 2.2% | 1.3% | $57,226 |
| 212 | Great Barrington | 2.2% | 1.3% | $295,243 |
| 213 | New Ashford | 2.2% | 2.9% | $7,301 |
| 214 | Lunenburg | 2.1% | 1.8% | $401,209 |
| 215 | Marion | 2.1% | 1.7% | $299,349 |
| 216 | Otis | 2.1% | 0.9% | $53,990 |
| 217 | Sterling | 2.1% | 1.8% | $289,643 |
| 218 | Millbury | 2.0% | 1.1% | $472,713 |
| 219 | New Salem | 2.0% | 1.7% | $31,684 |
| 220 | Sherborn | 2.0% | 0.6% | $326,169 |
| 221 | Chester | 2.0% | 1.7% | $43,262 |
| 222 | Chilmark | 1.9% | 0.8% | $91,063 |
| 223 | Hinsdale | 1.9% | 0.2% | $49,725 |
| 224 | Savoy | 1.9% | 1.0% | $24,859 |
| 225 | Rehoboth | 1.9% | 1.2% | $258,938 |
| 226 | Leyden | 1.9% | 0.6% | $25,888 |
| 227 | East Longmeadow | 1.8% | 1.7% | $566,906 |
| 228 | Groton | 1.8% | 2.1% | $387,199 |
| 229 | Uxbridge | 1.8% | 2.2% | $441,093 |
| 230 | Merrimac | 1.8% | 1.3% | $183,274 |
| 231 | Ashby | 1.8% | 1.8% | $67,555 |
| 232 | New Marlborough | 1.8% | 1.0% | $43,269 |
| 233 | Rutland | 1.8% | 1.6% | $160,410 |
| 234 | Provincetown | 1.8% | 1.3% | $342,013 |
| 235 | Rowe | 1.8% | 3.2% | $39,624 |
| 236 | Plympton | 1.8% | 2.6% | $91,449 |
| 237 | Groveland | 1.8% | 1.1% | $152,024 |
| 238 | Millis | 1.8% | 0.9% | $301,249 |
| 239 | Tyringham | 1.7% | 1.4% | $15,567 |
| 240 | Truro | 1.7% | 3.7% | $150,169 |
| 241 | Webster | 1.7% | 1.2% | $402,356 |
| 242 | New Braintree | 1.7% | 2.1% | $22,871 |
| 243 | Spencer | 1.7% | 3.9% | $193,494 |
| 244 | Templeton | 1.6% | 1.9% | $121,367 |
| 245 | Essex | 1.6% | 2.2% | $111,730 |
| 246 | Hardwick | 1.6% | 1.7% | $51,774 |
| 247 | Sutton | 1.6% | 0.7% | $288,259 |
| 248 | Berkley | 1.6% | 2.9% | $199,281 |
| 249 | West Brookfield | 1.6% | 1.4% | $62,689 |
| 250 | Peru | 1.6% | 1.0% | $17,457 |
| 251 | Hawley | 1.6% | 2.5% | $9,457 |
| 252 | Boxford | 1.5% | 1.3% | $322,303 |
| 253 | Monterey | 1.5% | 3.1% | $29,514 |
| 254 | Erving | 1.5% | 0.7% | $76,711 |
| 255 | Aquinnah | 1.5% | 0.7% | $31,342 |
| 256 | Paxton | 1.5% | 1.0% | $146,022 |
| 257 | West Tisbury | 1.5% | 1.7% | $138,355 |
| 258 | Pelham | 1.5% | 1.1% | $41,294 |
| 259 | Tyngsborough | 1.5% | 2.1% | $393,561 |
| 260 | Ashfield | 1.5% | 1.2% | $37,784 |
| 261 | Florida | 1.4% | 0.8% | $30,092 |
| 262 | Princeton | 1.4% | 4.1% | $96,775 |
| 263 | Heath | 1.4% | 1.4% | $20,966 |
| 264 | Southampton | 1.4% | 2.2% |