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2019-09-21 12 41 10 View east along Rensselaer County Route 40 (Plank Road) just west of Rensselaer County Route 36 (Main Street) in Berlin, Rensselaer County, New YorkPhoto: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Berlin

In Berlin, 60% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across New York

Berlin’s town government spent $1.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $675 per resident. Water and other utilities ($80,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in New York.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.2M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$675
In 2022: $675, more than 52% of 368 similar towns
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of 2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
6
full-time · 28 part-time · March payroll $92,360 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$3,518
1.64% of home value · NY 1.55%

What stands out about how Berlin is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

The school district

Berlin Central School District

Berlin’s K–12 school district, shared with Petersburgh, Grafton, Stephentown. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Berlin →
$38,379
per pupil · NY $34,607
639
students
$13.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $38,379 per pupil, $24,665 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 40%State 51%Federal 9%

New York districts overall: 51% local, 41% state, 8% federal.

Also serving Berlin

Averill Park Central School District · $23,693 per pupil

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $675 per resident a year, or $1.85 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 40%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 55%From the state 18%From other local governments 11%From the federal government 5%Fees & charges 5%Utility sales 3%Other taxes & licenses 2%Interest, fines & other 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $519,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $1.8 million.
Compared with similar places

$675 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar towns

Berlin’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($675 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 368 New York towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $662, and the middle half spent $490–$966. Berlin spent more than 52% of them.

Middle half of the group, $490–$966Median $662Berlin

Includes sewer and trash ($125,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
368

New York towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Berlin itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

Berlin reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $3,518 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.64% of the home’s value, vs 1.55% across New York.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

New York$6,582
Sand Lake$6,341
Poestenkill$5,998
Stephentown$3,615
Berlin$3,518
Grafton$3,452
Petersburgh$3,223
$3,518
typical bill a year
1.64%
effective rate
$214,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Berlin’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

Tax bills are one input to Berlin’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Berlin →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Berlin

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

Check Berlin’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Berlin yet.
Who works for Berlin

One full-time town employee for every 300 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (1,800).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Administration & buildings0 + 12 pt
Roads & transportation5
Courts, inspections & corrections0 + 4 pt
Sewer & trash0 + 3 pt
Water & other utilities1 + 1 pt
Other0 + 8 pt
6
full-time
28
part-time
$92,360
payroll for March 2022
$1.1M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$63,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Estimates.Berlin didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

Elections · 2024 general election

How Berlin voted in 2024

Official results for Berlin’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President921 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican63.6%586 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat34.4%317 votes

Others: 2.0% (18 votes).

Most votes in Berlin: Donald J Trump

Rensselaer County: Harris 50.1%, Trump 48.8% · New York: Harris 55.9%, Trump 43.3%

Turnout
60%

of Berlin’s 1,533 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across New York: 59%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate896 votes
Michael D SapraiconeRepublican59.8%
Kirsten E GillibrandDemocrat39.8%
Others0.3%

Most votes in Berlin: Michael D Sapraicone

Rensselaer County: Gillibrand 54.1%, Sapraicone 45.2% · New York: Gillibrand 58.8%, Sapraicone 40.5%

U.S. House · New York’s 19th District377,127 votes
Josh RileyDemocrat51.1%
Marcus MolinaroRepublican48.9%
Others0.1%

Most votes in the district: Josh Riley

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Berlin, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Berlin63.6%34.4%2.0%921
Rensselaer County48.8%50.1%1.1%79,154
New York43.3%55.9%0.8%8,262,600
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Berlin

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Berlin.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    New York AssemblyState representatives
  3. 3
    New York SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of New York

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Berlin compares with the towns next door

Berlin spent $675 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $453 to $646. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Sand Lake$453$6,341
Petersburgh$455$3,223
Stephentown$461$3,615
Grafton$646$3,452
Poestenkillestimate$5,998
Berlin$675$3,518

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Berlin’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Berlin’s government

How much does Berlin spend per resident?

About $675 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $675 was more than 52% of 368 New York towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Berlin?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,518 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.64% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.55% across New York. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the town’s assessor.

Who runs Berlin’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Berlin yet.

How did Berlin vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 63.6%, Kamala D Harris 34.4% (921 votes, official results). Rensselaer County: Harris 50.1%, Trump 48.8%. New York: Harris 55.9%, Trump 43.3%.

How many people work for Berlin?

6 full-time and 28 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $92,360 (about $1.1M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Berlin in the state legislature?

State Senate District 43 (Jake Ashby) and Assembly District 107 (Scott Bendett). The Assembly district also covers 31 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Berlin’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →