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Bank of Gowanda Aug 10Photo: Pubdog · Public domain
Town Hall · Persia

Persia spent less per resident in 2022 than 100% of similar towns

Persia’s town government spent $439,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $197 per resident.

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General election in New York.

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Day-to-day spending, 2022
$439,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$197
In 2022: $197, less than 100% of 368 similar towns
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of 2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
12
full-time · 4 part-time · March payroll $29,926
Typical tax bill
$2,655
2.66% of home value · NY 1.55%

What stands out about how Persia is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$197 per resident in 2022: less than 100% of them

Persia’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($197 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 $664, and the middle half spent $491–$966. Persia spent less than 100% of them.

Middle half of the group, $491–$966Median $664Persia

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; Persia itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $197 per resident a year, or $0.54 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 42%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 59%From other local governments 16%From the state 15%Interest, fines & other 7%Other taxes & licenses 3%Fees & charges 1%Sales taxes <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $88,000. With these, the whole budget was $527,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,655 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 2.66% 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
Perrysburg$3,380
Dayton$3,161
Otto$2,926
New Albion$2,794
Gowanda$2,663
Persia$2,655
Collins$2,501
$2,655
typical bill a year
2.66%
effective rate
$100,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Persia

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

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

One full-time town employee for every 186 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 (2,228).

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

Administration & buildings8
Courts, inspections & corrections1 + 4 pt
Roads & transportation3
12
full-time
4
part-time
$29,926
payroll for March 2022
$359,112
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$29,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Persia had 5.4 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: Persia had more than 74% 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

Gowanda Central School District

Persia’s K–12 school district, shared with Gowanda, Perrysburg, Collins, Dayton. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Persia →
$30,368
per pupil · NY $34,607
1,093
students
$17.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $30,368 per pupil, $18,594 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 70%Federal 15%

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

Also serving Persia

Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School District · $30,254 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Persia voted in 2024

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

President967 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican65.9%637 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat33.5%324 votes

Others: 0.6% (6 votes).

Most votes in Persia: Donald J Trump

Cattaraugus County: Trump 66.0%, Harris 33.4% · New York: Harris 55.9%, Trump 43.3%

Turnout
60%

of Persia’s 1,606 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across New York: 59%.

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

U.S. Senate939 votes
Michael D SapraiconeRepublican63.7%
Kirsten E GillibrandDemocrat35.4%
Others1.0%

Most votes in Persia: Michael D Sapraicone

Cattaraugus County: Sapraicone 62.8%, Gillibrand 36.8% · 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: Persia, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Persia65.9%33.5%0.6%967
Cattaraugus County66.0%33.4%0.6%34,204
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 Persia

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Persia.

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 Persia compares with the towns next door

Persia spent $197 per resident in 2022; the 6 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $261 to $968. 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
Collins$261$2,501
New Albion$371$2,794
Dayton$378$3,161
Perrysburg$664$3,380
Otto$965$2,926
Gowanda$968$2,663
Persia$197$2,655

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 Persia’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Persia’s government

How much does Persia spend per resident?

About $197 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 $197 was less than 100% 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 Persia?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,655 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 2.66% 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 Persia’s government?

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

How did Persia vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 65.9%, Kamala D Harris 33.5% (967 votes, official results). Cattaraugus County: Trump 66.0%, Harris 33.4%. New York: Harris 55.9%, Trump 43.3%.

How many people work for Persia?

12 full-time and 4 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $29,926 (about $359,112 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Persia 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 Persia’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 →