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Friendship Free LibraryFriendship Free Library · Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0
Town Hall · Friendship

In Friendship, 64% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across New York

Friendship’s town government spent $1.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $756 per resident. Water and other utilities ($142,000) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.4M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$756
In 2022: $756, more than 60% of 368 similar towns
Long-term debt
$859,000
end of 2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
14
full-time · 21 part-time · March payroll $83,407
Typical tax bill
$2,708
3.45% of home value · NY 1.55%

What stands out about how Friendship is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $756 per resident a year, or $2.07 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 29%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 47%Utility sales 17%Fees & charges 15%From the state 9%From other local governments 8%Interest, fines & other 3%Sales taxes 1%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $318,000; interest on debt $40,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $1.9 million.
Compared with similar places

$756 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar towns

Friendship’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($756 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. Friendship spent more than 60% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($341,000), 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; Friendship itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,708 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 3.45% 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
Cuba$3,606
Belfast$2,839
Friendship$2,708
Wirt$2,617
Amity$2,541
$2,708
typical bill a year
3.45%
effective rate
$78,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Friendship’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 Friendship’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Friendship →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Friendship

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

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

One full-time town employee for every 132 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 (1,850).

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

Sewer & trash3 + 6 pt
Administration & buildings1 + 6 pt
Roads & transportation4
Parks & libraries3
Police0 + 6 pt
Water & other utilities3
Courts, inspections & corrections0 + 3 pt
14
full-time
21
part-time
$83,407
payroll for March 2022
$1.0M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$51,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Friendship had 7.6 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 295 of the 368 New York towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 3.4: Friendship had more than 84% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

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

The school district

Friendship Central School District

Friendship’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Friendship →
$35,604
per pupil · NY $34,607
288
students
$3.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $35,604 per pupil, $22,674 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 16%State 71%Federal 12%

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

Also serving Friendship

Genesee Valley Central School District · $31,784 per pupil

Bolivar-Richburg Central School District · $32,114 per pupil

Cuba-Rushford Central School District · $31,764 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Friendship voted in 2024

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

President821 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican78.8%647 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat20.6%169 votes

Others: 0.6% (5 votes).

Most votes in Friendship: Donald J Trump

Allegany County: Trump 70.5%, Harris 28.4% · New York: Harris 55.9%, Trump 43.3%

Turnout
64%

of Friendship’s 1,288 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across New York: 59%.

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

U.S. Senate796 votes
Michael D SapraiconeRepublican76.4%
Kirsten E GillibrandDemocrat23.4%
Others0.3%

Most votes in Friendship: Michael D Sapraicone

Allegany County: Sapraicone 68.4%, Gillibrand 31.1% · New York: Gillibrand 58.8%, Sapraicone 40.5%

U.S. House · New York’s 23rd District376,503 votes
Nicholas A LangworthyRepublican65.8%
Thomas A CarleDemocrat34.2%
Others0.1%

Most votes in the district: Nicholas A Langworthy

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Friendship, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Friendship78.8%20.6%0.6%821
Allegany County70.5%28.4%1.1%20,450
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 Friendship

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Friendship.

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 Friendship compares with the towns next door

Friendship spent $756 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $298 to $547. 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
Amity$298$2,541
Belfast$485$2,839
Cuba$535$3,606
Wirt$547$2,617
Friendship$756$2,708

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 Friendship’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Friendship’s government

How much does Friendship spend per resident?

About $756 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 $756 was more than 60% 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 Friendship?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,708 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 3.45% 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 Friendship’s government?

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

How did Friendship vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 78.8%, Kamala D Harris 20.6% (821 votes, official results). Allegany County: Trump 70.5%, Harris 28.4%. New York: Harris 55.9%, Trump 43.3%.

How many people work for Friendship?

14 full-time and 21 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $83,407 (about $1.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Friendship in the state legislature?

State Senate District 57 (George Borrello) and Assembly District 148 (Joe Sempolinski). The Assembly district also covers 88 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Friendship’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 →