Town Hall · Rochester

Rochester, NY town hall & government

Rochester spent $1.8 billion in the year to June 30, 2024, about $8,720 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Rochester's money goes

Spent
$1.8 billion
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$8,720
typical New York cities: $2,553
Long-term debt
$398.3 million
$1,902 per resident
Schools
$970.1 million53%
Police
$106.8 million6%
Fire
$63.9 million4%
Roads & transportation
$58.5 million3%
Sewer & trash
$54.4 million3%
Parks & libraries
$45.8 million3%
Water & other utilities
$44.1 million2%
Paid to other governments
$41.9 million2%
Administration & buildings
$36.7 million2%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$22 million1%
Interest on debt
$18.1 million1%
Housing & development
$16.7 million1%
Health & welfare
$1.1 million<1%
Other
$345.5 million19%

Rochester runs its own schools, so school spending is part of its budget. Comparisons are with other New York cities.

Where the money comes from

  • From the state 59%
  • From other local governments 14%
  • Interest, fines & other 9%
  • Property taxes 7%
  • From the federal government 5%
  • Fees & charges 3%
  • Utility sales 2%
  • Sales taxes 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Rochester

Full-time staff
8,576
1,871 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$81,300
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
625
and 528 full-time firefighters
Schools
5,490 full-time1,337 part
Police
780 full-time117 part
Fire
559 full-time
Parks & libraries
317 full-time334 part
Administration & buildings
303 full-time32 part
Sewer & trash
241 full-time2 part
Housing & development
205 full-time7 part
Water & other utilities
123 full-time3 part
Roads & transportation
81 full-time1 part
Courts, inspections & corrections
23 full-time
Other
454 full-time38 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2024. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Rochester City School District

Rochester's K–12 school district. The schools are run by Rochester, so this money is part of the budget above.

Spending per pupil
$35,718
New York: $34,607
Students
22,164
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$494.7 million
at year end

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

  • Local 14%
  • State 66%
  • Federal 20%

Of the $35,718 per pupil, $19,912 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 Rochester pay

Typical tax bill
$3,152
a year · New York typical $6,582
Effective rate
2.26%
of home value · New York 1.55%
Typical home value
$139,600
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 Rochester's government

🏛️ Official websitecityofrochester.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Rochester →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Rochester

Rochester is represented in Congress by Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand and Representative Joseph D. Morelle. Kathy Hochul is governor.

All of Rochester'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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Rochester

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