Town Hall · Saranac Lake

Saranac Lake, NY town hall & government

Saranac Lake spent $15.1 million in the year to May 31, 2022, about $2,910 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Saranac Lake's money goes

Spent
$15.1 million
fiscal year to May 31, 2022
Per resident
$2,910
typical New York cities: $1,580
Long-term debt
$13 million
$2,503 per resident
Water & other utilities
$5.8 million38%
Sewer & trash
$3.2 million21%
Police
$1.4 million10%
Roads & transportation
$1.3 million8%
Fire
$612,0004%
Interest on debt
$552,0004%
Administration & buildings
$390,0003%
Parks & libraries
$386,0003%
Housing & development
$380,0003%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$166,0001%
Health & welfare
$60,000<1%
Paid to other governments
$19,000<1%
Other
$864,0006%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 34%
  • Fees & charges 16%
  • Utility sales 16%
  • From the state 14%
  • From other local governments 12%
  • From the federal government 4%
  • Interest, fines & other 3%
  • Sales taxes 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
Town workforce

Who works for Saranac Lake

Full-time staff
48
17 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$66,100
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
10
and 5 full-time firefighters
Roads & transportation
19 full-time
Police
10 full-time
Parks & libraries
3 full-time12 part
Administration & buildings
4 full-time5 part
Fire
5 full-time
Sewer & trash
5 full-time
Housing & development
2 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

Saranac Lake Central School District

Saranac Lake's K–12 school district, shared with Harrietstown, St. Armand, Brighton, Franklin and Santa Clara. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$32,834
New York: $34,607
Students
1,064
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$5.7 million
at year end

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

  • Local 62%
  • State 27%
  • Federal 11%

Of the $32,834 per pupil, $20,995 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 Saranac Lake pay

Typical tax bill
$4,285
a year · New York typical $6,582
Effective rate
2.14%
of home value · New York 1.55%
Typical home value
$199,900
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 Saranac Lake's government

Town hall & decisions in Saranac Lake →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Saranac Lake

Saranac Lake is represented in Congress by Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand and Representative Elise M. Stefanik. Kathy Hochul is governor.

All of Saranac Lake'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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