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A Straight Shot Down Route 14A, Town of Seneca, New York - 20220311Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Seneca

Seneca spent more per resident in 2022 than 89% of similar towns

Seneca’s town government spent $2.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $780 per resident. Water and other utilities ($598,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in New York.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$2.1M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$780
In 2022: $780, more than 89% of 321 similar towns
Long-term debt
$165,000
end of 2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
11
full-time · 11 part-time · March payroll $85,018
Typical tax bill
$2,810
1.46% of home value · NY 1.55%

What stands out about how Seneca is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$780 per resident in 2022: more than 89% of them

Seneca’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($780 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. Seneca spent more than 89% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($8,000), 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; Seneca itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $780 per resident a year, or $2.14 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 28%.

Where the money comes from
Interest, fines & other 32%From other local governments 27%Fees & charges 18%Utility sales 13%From the state 8%Other taxes & licenses 1%Property taxes <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $646,000; interest on debt $18,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $3.3 million.
About “Other”.50% of Seneca’s day-to-day spending ($1 million) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,810 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.46% 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
Hopewell$4,094
Phelps$3,932
Gorham$3,497
Geneva$3,419
Benton$3,391
Seneca$2,810
$2,810
typical bill a year
1.46%
effective rate
$192,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Seneca

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

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

One full-time town employee for every 243 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 (2,668).

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

Roads & transportation7
Administration & buildings1 + 8 pt
Water & other utilities3
Courts, inspections & corrections0 + 3 pt
11
full-time
11
part-time
$85,018
payroll for March 2022
$1.0M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$72,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Seneca had 4.1 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: Seneca had more than 89% 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

Gorham-Middlesex Central School District (Marcus Whitman)

Seneca’s K–12 school district, shared with Rushville, Gorham, Middlesex, Potter. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Seneca →
$33,045
per pupil · NY $34,607
1,112
students
$25.9 million
long-term debt

Of the $33,045 per pupil, $19,671 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 42%State 48%Federal 10%

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

Also serving Seneca

Geneva City School District · $28,287 per pupil

Phelps-Clifton Springs Central School District · $27,060 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Seneca voted in 2024

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

President1,409 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican61.2%863 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat37.9%534 votes

Others: 0.9% (12 votes).

Most votes in Seneca: Donald J Trump

Ontario County: Trump 50.1%, Harris 48.9% · New York: Harris 55.9%, Trump 43.3%

Turnout
67%

of Seneca’s 2,091 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across New York: 59%.

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

U.S. Senate1,373 votes
Michael D SapraiconeRepublican58.4%
Kirsten E GillibrandDemocrat41.3%
Others0.3%

Most votes in Seneca: Michael D Sapraicone

Ontario County: Gillibrand 50.6%, Sapraicone 48.9% · New York: Gillibrand 58.8%, Sapraicone 40.5%

U.S. House · New York’s 24th District359,373 votes
Claudia TenneyRepublican65.6%
David WagenhauserDemocrat34.3%
Others0.1%

Most votes in the district: Claudia Tenney

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Seneca, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Seneca61.2%37.9%0.9%1,409
Ontario County50.1%48.9%1.0%60,352
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 Seneca

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Seneca.

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 Seneca compares with the towns next door

Seneca spent $780 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $458 to $969. 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
Benton$458$3,391
Phelps$461$3,932
Hopewell$572$4,094
Gorham$774$3,497
Geneva$969$3,419
Seneca$780$2,810

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 Seneca’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Seneca’s government

How much does Seneca spend per resident?

About $780 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 $780 was more than 89% 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 Seneca?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,810 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.46% 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 Seneca’s government?

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

How did Seneca vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 61.2%, Kamala D Harris 37.9% (1,409 votes, official results). Ontario County: Trump 50.1%, Harris 48.9%. New York: Harris 55.9%, Trump 43.3%.

How many people work for Seneca?

11 full-time and 11 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $85,018 (about $1.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Seneca in the state legislature?

State Senate District 54 (Pam Helming) 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 Seneca’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 →