Photo: Marc Holstein · CC BY-SA 4.0Bethel spent more per resident in 2022 than 99% of similar towns
Bethel’s town government spent $5.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,244 per resident.
What stands out about how Bethel is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$1,244 per resident in 2022: more than 99% of them
Bethel’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,244 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 321 New York towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $458, and the middle half spent $340–$617. Bethel spent more than 99% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($548,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
New York towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Bethel itself left out).
About $1,244 per resident a year, or $3.41 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 33%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Bethel reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $4,442 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.79% of the home’s value, vs 1.55% across New York.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Bethel’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.
Tax bills are one input to Bethel’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Bethel →
Who’s in charge in Bethel
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Bethel’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on town.bethel.ny.us ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 143 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (4,159).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Monticello Central School District
Bethel’s K–12 school district, shared with Monticello, Wurtsboro, Thompson, Forestburgh, Mamakating. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $35,243 per pupil, $23,209 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.
New York districts overall: 51% local, 41% state, 8% federal.
Sullivan West Central School District · $32,808 per pupil
Liberty Central School District · $31,178 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Bethel voted in 2024
Official results for Bethel’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Donald J TrumpRepublican56.8%1,301 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat43.0%985 votesOthers: 0.2% (4 votes).
Most votes in Bethel: Donald J Trump
Sullivan County: Trump 58.1%, Harris 41.5% · New York: Harris 55.9%, Trump 43.3%
of Bethel’s 2,965 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across New York: 59%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Bethel: Michael D Sapraicone
Sullivan County: Sapraicone 51.8%, Gillibrand 47.7% · New York: Gillibrand 58.8%, Sapraicone 40.5%
Most votes in the district: Josh Riley
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Bethel, its county and the state
| Trump | Harris | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel | 56.8% | 43.0% | 0.2% | 2,290 |
| Sullivan County | 58.1% | 41.5% | 0.4% | 35,062 |
| New York | 43.3% | 55.9% | 0.8% | 8,262,600 |
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.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Bethel.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: town.bethel.ny.us ↗
- 2New York AssemblyState representatives
- 3New York SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of New York
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Bethel compares with the towns next door
Bethel spent $1,244 per resident in 2022; the 6 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $636 to $1,165. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
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 Bethel’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Bethel’s government
How much does Bethel spend per resident?
About $1,244 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 $1,244 was more than 99% of 321 New York towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Bethel?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,442 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.79% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.55% across New York. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see town.bethel.ny.us.
Who runs Bethel’s government?
See town.bethel.ny.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Bethel yet.
How did Bethel vote in 2024?
For president, Donald J Trump 56.8%, Kamala D Harris 43.0% (2,290 votes, official results). Sullivan County: Trump 58.1%, Harris 41.5%. New York: Harris 55.9%, Trump 43.3%.
How many people work for Bethel?
29 full-time and 19 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $149,260 (about $1.8M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Bethel in the state legislature?
State Senate District 51 (Peter Oberacker) and Assembly District 100 (Paula Kay). The Assembly district also covers 19 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Bethel’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
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 →