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Sand Lake, NY hamlet signPhoto: Nfgusedautoparts · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Sand Lake

In Sand Lake, 83% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across New York

Sand Lake’s town government spent $3.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $453 per resident.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$3.8M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$453
In 2022: $453, less than 51% of 321 similar towns
Long-term debt
$2.7M
end of 2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
21
full-time · 39 part-time · March payroll $118,838
Typical tax bill
$6,341
1.89% of home value · NY 1.55%

What stands out about how Sand Lake is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

The school district

Averill Park Central School District

Sand Lake’s K–12 school district, shared with Poestenkill, Nassau, North Greenbush, East Nassau. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Sand Lake →
$23,693
per pupil · NY $34,607
2,614
students
$8.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $23,693 per pupil, $15,025 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 51%State 44%Federal 5%

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

Also serving Sand Lake

East Greenbush Central School District · $23,791 per pupil

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $453 per resident a year, or $1.24 a day

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

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 40%From other local governments 25%From the state 12%Fees & charges 10%Other taxes & licenses 8%Interest, fines & other 3%Sales taxes 3%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $546,000; interest on debt $132,000. With these, the whole budget was $4.5 million.
Compared with similar places

$453 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar towns

Sand Lake’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($453 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. Sand Lake spent less than 51% of them.

Middle half of the group, $340–$617Median $458Sand Lake

Includes sewer and trash ($371,000), 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
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; Sand Lake itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $6,341 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.89% 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
East Greenbush$6,474
Sand Lake$6,341
Schodack$6,301
West Sand Lake$6,022
Poestenkill$5,998
North Greenbush$5,833
Nassau$5,518
Berlin$3,518
$6,341
typical bill a year
1.89%
effective rate
$336,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Sand Lake

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

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

One full-time town employee for every 401 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 (8,422).

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

Administration & buildings4 + 28 pt
Roads & transportation10
Parks & libraries1 + 6 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections1 + 4 pt
Sewer & trash3
Other2 + 1 pt
21
full-time
39
part-time
$118,838
payroll for March 2022
$1.4M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$45,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Sand Lake had 2.5 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: Sand Lake had more than 61% 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.

Elections · 2024 general election

How Sand Lake voted in 2024

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

President5,355 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican49.7%2,662 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat49.3%2,640 votes

Others: 1.0% (53 votes).

Most votes in Sand Lake: Donald J Trump

Rensselaer County: Harris 50.1%, Trump 48.8% · New York: Harris 55.9%, Trump 43.3%

Turnout
83%

of Sand Lake’s 6,458 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across New York: 59%.

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

U.S. Senate5,261 votes
Kirsten E GillibrandDemocrat52.0%
Michael D SapraiconeRepublican47.4%
Others0.5%

Most votes in Sand Lake: Kirsten E Gillibrand

Rensselaer County: Gillibrand 54.1%, Sapraicone 45.2% · New York: Gillibrand 58.8%, Sapraicone 40.5%

U.S. House · New York’s 19th District377,127 votes
Josh RileyDemocrat51.1%
Marcus MolinaroRepublican48.9%
Others0.1%

Most votes in the district: Josh Riley

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Sand Lake, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Sand Lake49.7%49.3%1.0%5,355
Rensselaer County48.8%50.1%1.1%79,154
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 Sand Lake

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Sand Lake.

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 Sand Lake compares with the towns next door

Sand Lake spent $453 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $449 to $1,047. 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
Nassau$449$5,518
Schodack$583$6,301
North Greenbush$596$5,833
Berlin$675$3,518
East Greenbush$1,047$6,474
Poestenkillestimate$5,998
Sand Lake$453$6,341

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 Sand Lake’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Sand Lake’s government

How much does Sand Lake spend per resident?

About $453 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 $453 was less than 51% 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 Sand Lake?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,341 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.89% 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 Sand Lake’s government?

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

How did Sand Lake vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 49.7%, Kamala D Harris 49.3% (5,355 votes, official results). Rensselaer County: Harris 50.1%, Trump 48.8%. New York: Harris 55.9%, Trump 43.3%.

How many people work for Sand Lake?

21 full-time and 39 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $118,838 (about $1.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Sand Lake in the state legislature?

State Senate District 43 (Jake Ashby) and Assembly District 107 (Scott Bendett). The Assembly district also covers 31 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Sand Lake’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 →