Photo: Joegrimes at English Wikipedia · Public domainClay spent less per resident in 2022 than 85% of similar towns
Clay’s town government spent $28.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $480 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.5 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Clay is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$460 per resident in 2022: less than 85% of them
Clay’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($460 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 54 New York towns and townships of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $796, and the middle half spent $571–$1,037. Clay spent less than 85% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($4.6 million), 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 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Clay itself left out).
About $480 per resident a year, or $1.32 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 25%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 6% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Clay reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $460 · 2024: $480.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $5,087 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 2.47% 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 Clay’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 Clay’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Clay →
Who’s in charge in Clay
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Clay’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on townofclay.org ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 832 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (59,877).
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.
North Syracuse Central School District
Clay’s K–12 school district, shared with North Syracuse, Cicero, Salina. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $25,364 per pupil, $17,086 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.
Liverpool Central School District · $25,197 per pupil
Central Square Central School District · $25,432 per pupil
Phoenix Central School District · $26,640 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Clay voted in 2024
Official results for Clay’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat53.7%17,310 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican45.8%14,783 votesOthers: 0.5% (162 votes).
Most votes in Clay: Kamala D Harris
Onondaga County: Harris 58.3%, Trump 41.1% · New York: Harris 55.9%, Trump 43.3%
of Clay’s 46,642 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across New York: 59%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Clay: Kirsten E Gillibrand
Onondaga County: Gillibrand 60.0%, Sapraicone 39.4% · New York: Gillibrand 58.8%, Sapraicone 40.5%
Most votes in the district: John W Mannion
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Clay, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay | 53.7% | 45.8% | 0.5% | 32,255 |
| Onondaga County | 58.3% | 41.1% | 0.6% | 228,381 |
| New York | 55.9% | 43.3% | 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 Clay.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: townofclay.org ↗
- 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 Clay compares with the towns next door
Clay spent $460 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $239 to $576. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Lysander | $239 | $6,748 |
| Schroeppel | $375 | $4,546 |
| Salina | $403 | $4,397 |
| Hastings | $411 | $4,565 |
| Cicero | $576 | $5,634 |
| Clay | $460 | $5,087 |
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 Clay’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Clay’s government
How much does Clay spend per resident?
About $480 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $460 was less than 85% of 54 New York towns and townships of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Clay?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $5,087 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 2.47% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.55% across New York. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see townofclay.org.
Who runs Clay’s government?
See townofclay.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Clay yet.
How did Clay vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 53.7%, Donald J Trump 45.8% (32,255 votes, official results). Onondaga County: Harris 58.3%, Trump 41.1%. New York: Harris 55.9%, Trump 43.3%.
How many people work for Clay?
72 full-time and 31 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $439,561 (about $5.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Clay in the state legislature?
State Senate District 50 (Chris Ryan) and Assembly District 127 (Al Stirpe). The Assembly district also covers eight other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Clay’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 →