Town Hall · Rensselaer

Rensselaer, NY town hall & government

Rensselaer spent $35.7 million in the year to July 31, 2024, about $3,865 per resident.

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

Town budget · Census estimate

Where Rensselaer's money goes

Spent
$35.7 million
fiscal year to July 31, 2024
Per resident
$3,865
typical New York cities: $2,553
Long-term debt
$1.8 million
$193 per resident
Sewer & trash
$9.8 million27%
Water & other utilities
$6.5 million18%
Police
$3.3 million9%
Roads & transportation
$3.2 million9%
Administration & buildings
$1.7 million5%
Fire
$1.5 million4%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$478,0001%
Housing & development
$387,0001%
Parks & libraries
$330,0001%
Interest on debt
$312,0001%
Health & welfare
$3,000<1%
Other
$8.3 million23%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 28%
  • From the state 19%
  • Interest, fines & other 15%
  • From other local governments 14%
  • Utility sales 10%
  • Fees & charges 8%
  • Other taxes & licenses 5%
  • Sales taxes 1%

Rensselaer didn't report all of its 2024 figures to the Census Bureau, so most of these numbers are the Bureau's estimates.

Town workforce · Census estimate

Who works for Rensselaer

Full-time staff
118
9 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$50,400
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
25
and 13 full-time firefighters
Administration & buildings
34 full-time
Roads & transportation
27 full-time
Police
25 full-time
Fire
13 full-time3 part
Sewer & trash
10 full-time
Water & other utilities
5 full-time1 part
Parks & libraries
1 full-time4 part
Courts, inspections & corrections
1 full-time1 part
Other
2 full-time

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate. Rensselaer didn't report its staffing to the Census Bureau, so these are the Bureau's estimates.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Rensselaer City School District

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

Spending per pupil
$25,191
New York: $34,607
Students
1,005
in the whole district
Long-term debt
None
at year end

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

  • Local 34%
  • State 53%
  • Federal 13%

Of the $25,191 per pupil, $17,512 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 Rensselaer pay

Typical tax bill
$4,328
a year · New York typical $6,582
Effective rate
2.07%
of home value · New York 1.55%
Typical home value
$208,900
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 Rensselaer's government

🏛️ Official websiterensselaerny.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Rensselaer →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Rensselaer

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

All of Rensselaer'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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