Town Information
The Town of Dryden has a population of 13,532 according to the 2000 census. Within the Town there are two villages: the Village of Freeville, population 505, and the Village of Dryden, population 1,832. There are two hamlets within the Town: Varna and Etna. The town encompasses 94.1 square miles and is the largest in the county. The elected officials in the town are: the supervisor who serves a two year term, and the four council, two justices, town clerk, and highway superintendent who are elected to four year terms.
The following basic services are provided: fire protection, ambulance service, town road maintenance, snow removal from town roads, planning, zoning, code enforcement, recreation, youth services, five water districts, six sewer districts, three lighting districts and general administration. In a portion of the Town of Dryden and the Town of Groton a fire district was formed and is called the McLean Fire District.
The qualified voters elect a board of commissioners and this board calculates the budget and tax rate for the area in that district. The financial activities are separate from the Town of Dryden financial report. The children of the town are in one of several school districts: Dryden Central School, Ithaca City School, Groton Central School and Cortland City School district. School taxes are set and collected by the various school districts.
