Town Hall · Ithaca

Ithaca, NY town hall & government

Ithaca spent $28.8 million in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,336 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Ithaca's money goes

Spent
$28.8 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2024
Per resident
$1,336
typical New York towns: $1,196
Long-term debt
$11.4 million
$531 per resident
Water & other utilities
$8.4 million29%
Fire
$3.9 million13%
Sewer & trash
$3.9 million13%
Roads & transportation
$3.2 million11%
Administration & buildings
$2.2 million7%
Parks & libraries
$1.5 million5%
Interest on debt
$518,0002%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$462,0002%
Paid to other governments
$48,000<1%
Health & welfare
$45,000<1%
Police
$35,000<1%
Other
$4.6 million16%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 28%
  • Utility sales 26%
  • From other local governments 16%
  • Interest, fines & other 14%
  • Fees & charges 11%
  • From the federal government 3%
  • From the state 2%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
  • Sales taxes <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Ithaca

Full-time staff
86
25 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$72,100
a year, before benefits
Administration & buildings
18 full-time21 part
Water & other utilities
23 full-time
Roads & transportation
15 full-time
Parks & libraries
5 full-time
Courts, inspections & corrections
4 full-time
Sewer & trash
3 full-time
Police
0 full-time4 part
Other
18 full-time

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

Schools · school year 2023–24

Ithaca City School District

Ithaca's K–12 school district, shared with Cayuga Heights, Ithaca, Danby, Enfield, Caroline and Lansing. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$29,527
New York: $34,607
Students
5,103
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$37.3 million
at year end

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

  • Local 74%
  • State 23%
  • Federal 3%

Of the $29,527 per pupil, $18,078 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.

Property tax

What homeowners in Ithaca pay

Typical tax bill
$8,273
a year · New York typical $6,582
Effective rate
2.24%
of home value · New York 1.55%
Typical home value
$368,700
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 Ithaca's government

🏛️ Official websitecityofithaca.org ↗

Town hall & decisions in Ithaca →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Ithaca

Ithaca is represented in Congress by Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand and Representative Josh Riley. Kathy Hochul is governor.

All of Ithaca'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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Ithaca

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