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Homer, NY, Town Hall IMG 1500Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Homer

Homer spent less per resident in 2022 than 94% of similar towns

Homer’s town government spent $1.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $231 per resident.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.4M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$231
In 2022: $231, less than 94% of 321 similar towns
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of 2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
7
full-time · 8 part-time · March payroll $36,455
Typical tax bill
$4,523
2.62% of home value · NY 1.55%

What stands out about how Homer is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$231 per resident in 2022: less than 94% of them

Homer’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($231 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 $342–$617. Homer spent less than 94% of them.

Middle half of the group, $342–$617Median $458Homer

Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
321

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; Homer itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $231 per resident a year, or $0.63 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 49%.

Where the money comes from
From other local governments 46%Property taxes 20%From the state 17%From the federal government 7%Fees & charges 6%Interest, fines & other 2%Sales taxes 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $383,000. With these, the whole budget was $1.8 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $4,523 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 2.62% 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
Truxton$4,566
Homer$4,523
Cortlandville$4,501
Preble$4,323
Scott$3,981
Summerhill$3,781
$4,523
typical bill a year
2.62%
effective rate
$172,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Homer

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

See townofhomer.org for Homer’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Homer yet.townofhomer.org ↗
Agendas

Homer’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on townofhomer.org ↗.

Who works for Homer

One full-time town employee for every 876 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 (6,133).

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

Administration & buildings4 + 4 pt
Roads & transportation3
Courts, inspections & corrections0 + 2 pt
Other0 + 2 pt
7
full-time
8
part-time
$36,455
payroll for March 2022
$437,460
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$45,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Homer had 1.1 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 250 of the 321 New York towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 2.2: Homer had fewer than 94% 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

Homer Central School District

Homer’s K–12 school district, shared with Homer, Scott, Truxton, Preble, Summerhill and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Homer →
$25,166
per pupil · NY $34,607
1,864
students
$14 million
long-term debt

Of the $25,166 per pupil, $15,372 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 32%State 58%Federal 9%

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

Also serving Homer

McGraw Central School District · $28,648 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Homer’s votes are counted by county

New York reports official results by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Homer alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Cortland County’s results.

President · Cortland County’s results22,063 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican53.1%11,706 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat46.6%10,290 votes

Others: 0.3% (67 votes).

Most votes in Cortland County: Donald J Trump

New York: Harris 55.9%, Trump 43.3%

The county’s page

100% of Homer lies in Cortland County. Every 2024 race in Cortland County is on the county’s page.

Cortland County’s 2024 results →
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 Homer

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Homer.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
  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 Homer compares with the towns next door

Homer spent $231 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $445 to $755. 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
Scott$445$3,981
Preble$550$4,323
Truxton$554$4,566
Summerhill$692$3,781
Cortlandville$755$4,501
Homer$231$4,523

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 Homer’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Homer’s government

How much does Homer spend per resident?

About $231 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 $231 was less than 94% 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 Homer?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,523 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 2.62% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.55% across New York. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see townofhomer.org.

Who runs Homer’s government?

See townofhomer.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Homer yet.

How did Homer vote in 2024?

New York counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Homer alone. Cortland County, where 100% of Homer lies, voted Trump 53.1%, Harris 46.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Homer?

7 full-time and 8 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $36,455 (about $437,460 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Homer in the state legislature?

State Senate District 52 (Lea Webb) and Assembly District 131 (Jeff Gallahan). The Assembly district also covers 62 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Homer’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 →