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Main at Lacock, Sandy LakePhoto: Nyttend · Public domain
Town Hall · Sandy Lake

Sandy Lake spent more per resident in 2022 than 84% of similar cities

Sandy Lake’s borough government spent $545,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $878 per resident. Water and other utilities ($98,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$545,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$878
In 2022: $878, more than 84% of 574 similar cities
Long-term debt
$324,000
end of 2022, reported
Borough staff, 2022
6
full-time · 1 part-time · March payroll $25,412
Typical tax bill
$1,821
1.03% of home value · PA 1.30%

What stands out about how Sandy Lake is run

Read from the borough’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $878 per resident, more than 84% of 574 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer30% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Lakeview School District with 6+ other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,821 a year: 1.03% of the home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania.
Compared with similar places

$878 per resident in 2022: more than 84% of them

Sandy Lake’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($878 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 574 Pennsylvania cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $483, and the middle half spent $300–$724. Sandy Lake spent more than 84% of them.

Middle half of the group, $300–$724Median $483Sandy Lake

Includes sewer and trash ($95,000), 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
574

Pennsylvania cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Sandy Lake itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $878 per resident a year, or $2.41 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 32%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 30%Property taxes 24%Fees & charges 20%Income taxes 9%From the state 6%From the federal government 5%Other taxes & licenses 4%Interest, fines & other 1%From other local governments 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $13,000; interest on debt $14,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $670,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,821 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.03% of the home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Pennsylvania$3,311
Sandy Lake$1,821
$1,821
typical bill a year
1.03%
effective rate
$177,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Sandy 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. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

Tax bills are one input to Sandy Lake’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Sandy Lake →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Sandy Lake

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

See sandylakeborough.com for Sandy Lake’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Sandy Lake yet.sandylakeborough.com ↗
Agendas

Sandy Lake’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The borough posts agendas and minutes on sandylakeborough.com ↗.

Who works for Sandy Lake

One full-time borough employee for every 104 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 (621).

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

Administration & buildings4 + 1 pt
Police1
Sewer & trash1
6
full-time
1
part-time
$25,412
payroll for March 2022
$304,944
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$46,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
1
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Sandy Lake had 9.7 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 379 of the 574 Pennsylvania cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 1.0: Sandy Lake had more than 98% 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

Lakeview School District

Sandy Lake’s K–12 school district, shared with Fairview Township, Jackson Center, Jackson Township, Lake Township, Mill Creek Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Sandy Lake →
$21,692
per pupil · PA $21,758
843
students
$5.9 million
long-term debt

Of the $21,692 per pupil, $13,193 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 31%State 56%Federal 13%

Pennsylvania districts overall: 55% local, 37% state, 8% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Sandy Lake’s votes are counted by county

Pennsylvania reports official results by county and precinct, not by borough, so there are no official results for Sandy Lake alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Mercer County’s results.

President · Mercer County’s results58,410 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican64.6%37,761 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat34.5%20,145 votes

Others: 0.9% (504 votes).

Most votes in Mercer County: Donald J Trump

Pennsylvania: Trump 50.4%, Harris 48.7%

The county’s page

100% of Sandy Lake lies in Mercer County. Every 2024 race in Mercer County is on the county’s page.

Mercer 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 Sandy Lake

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Sandy Lake.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: sandylakeborough.com ↗
  2. 2
    Pennsylvania HouseState representatives
    Tim Bonner
  3. 3
    Pennsylvania SenateState senator
    Michele Brooks
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Josh Shapiro
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Mike Kelly
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Pennsylvania
    John FettermanDavid McCormick

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Reach Sandy Lake’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitesandylakeborough.com ↗

Questions about Sandy Lake’s government

How much does Sandy Lake spend per resident?

About $878 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 $878 was more than 84% of 574 Pennsylvania cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Sandy Lake?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,821 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.03% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see sandylakeborough.com.

Who runs Sandy Lake’s government?

See sandylakeborough.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Sandy Lake yet.

How did Sandy Lake vote in 2024?

Pennsylvania counts votes by county and precinct, not by borough, so there are no official results for Sandy Lake alone. Mercer County, where 100% of Sandy Lake lies, voted Trump 64.6%, Harris 34.5% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Sandy Lake?

6 full-time and 1 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $25,412 (about $304,944 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Sandy Lake in the state legislature?

State Senate District 50 (Michele Brooks) and State House District 17 (Tim Bonner). The House district also covers 49 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Sandy 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 →