Town Hall · Watertown

Watertown, NY town hall & government

Watertown spent $96.1 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $3,930 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Watertown's money goes

Spent
$96.1 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$3,930
typical New York cities: $2,553
Long-term debt
$54.4 million
$2,227 per resident
Roads & transportation
$15 million16%
Fire
$13.2 million14%
Sewer & trash
$11.8 million12%
Police
$11.1 million12%
Parks & libraries
$9.7 million10%
Water & other utilities
$6 million6%
Administration & buildings
$3.4 million4%
Interest on debt
$1.7 million2%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$1.3 million1%
Housing & development
$1.3 million1%
Health & welfare
$390,000<1%
Paid to other governments
$304,000<1%
Other
$20.9 million22%

Where the money comes from

  • From other local governments 32%
  • From the federal government 17%
  • Utility sales 14%
  • Property taxes 11%
  • From the state 10%
  • Fees & charges 9%
  • Interest, fines & other 6%
  • Sales taxes 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
Town workforce

Who works for Watertown

Full-time staff
357
61 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$74,600
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
70
and 72 full-time firefighters
Police
73 full-time14 part
Fire
72 full-time1 part
Roads & transportation
45 full-time5 part
Parks & libraries
25 full-time34 part
Sewer & trash
36 full-time
Administration & buildings
29 full-time6 part
Water & other utilities
31 full-time1 part
Housing & development
28 full-time
Other
18 full-time

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

Property tax

What homeowners in Watertown pay

Typical tax bill
$2,710
a year · New York typical $6,582
Effective rate
1.71%
of home value · New York 1.55%
Typical home value
$158,600
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 Watertown's government

🏛️ Official websitecitywatertown.org ↗

Town hall & decisions in Watertown →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Watertown

Watertown is represented in Congress by Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand and Representative Claudia Tenney. Kathy Hochul is governor.

All of Watertown'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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Watertown

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