Town Hall · Bethlehem

Bethlehem, NY town hall & government

Bethlehem spent $60.1 million in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,719 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Bethlehem's government.

Local leadership

Who runs Bethlehem

John ClarksonHead of government Wikidata ↗ Out of date? Sign in to tell us

From public records (Open States and Wikidata), which can lag behind an election. If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.

Town budget

Where Bethlehem's money goes

Spent
$60.1 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2024
Per resident
$1,719
typical New York towns: $1,196
Long-term debt
$35 million
$1,002 per resident
Water & other utilities
$11 million18%
Police
$10.7 million18%
Roads & transportation
$10.5 million17%
Sewer & trash
$8.7 million14%
Administration & buildings
$4 million7%
Parks & libraries
$2.5 million4%
Health & welfare
$2.1 million3%
Interest on debt
$2.1 million3%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$1.3 million2%
Housing & development
$68,000<1%
Fire
$30,000<1%
Paid to other governments
$9,000<1%
Other
$7.2 million12%

Where the money comes from

  • From other local governments 32%
  • Property taxes 29%
  • Utility sales 15%
  • Fees & charges 9%
  • Interest, fines & other 5%
  • From the federal government 5%
  • Other taxes & licenses 3%
  • From the state 2%
  • Sales taxes 1%
Town workforce

Who works for Bethlehem

Full-time staff
208
50 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$77,600
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
39
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
54 full-time9 part
Roads & transportation
45 full-time1 part
Administration & buildings
29 full-time22 part
Water & other utilities
25 full-time3 part
Sewer & trash
16 full-time
Parks & libraries
8 full-time8 part
Courts, inspections & corrections
4 full-time6 part
Health & welfare
6 full-time
Other
21 full-time1 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Bethlehem Central School District

Bethlehem's K–12 school district, shared with New Scotland. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$23,378
New York: $34,607
Students
4,130
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$31.5 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from New York districts overall: 51% local, 41% state, 8% federal

  • Local 67%
  • State 30%
  • Federal 3%

Of the $23,378 per pupil, $14,600 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Also serving Bethlehem: Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District ($27,048 per pupil) · Guilderland Central School District ($23,059 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Bethlehem pay

Typical tax bill
$7,842
a year · New York typical $6,582
Effective rate
2.12%
of home value · New York 1.55%
Typical home value
$370,400
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Bethlehem's government

🏛️ Official websitetownofbethlehem.org ↗

Town hall & decisions in Bethlehem →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Bethlehem

Bethlehem is represented in Congress by Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand and Representative Paul Tonko. Kathy Hochul is governor.

All of Bethlehem's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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Bethlehem

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