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Tax Information
Tax Information
Tax Rates
Tax rates for district towns generally are released by the county in mid-to-late August. Information will be posted as soon as it is available. Here is an info graphic for assistance: Understanding Your Tax Bill. How do you know you are paying your "fair share” of the levy? Check out Understanding Equalization Rates.
Understanding STAR
The New York State School Tax Relief Program (STAR) provides qualifying New York homeowners with partial exemptions from school property taxes.
If you are eligible and enrolled in the STAR program, you’ll receive your benefit each year in one of two ways:
- STAR credit. If you are registered for the STAR credit, the Tax Department will issue your STAR benefit via check or direct deposit. You can use your STAR benefit to pay your school taxes. You can receive the STAR credit if you own your home and it's your primary residence and the combined income of the owners and the owners’ spouses is $500,000 or less.
- STAR exemption: a reduction on your school tax bill. If you’ve been receiving the STAR exemption since 2015, you can continue to receive it for the same primary residence. As long as you remain eligible, you’ll see a reduction on your school tax bill for the amount of your STAR exemption. Note: The STAR exemption is no longer available to new homeowners.
Visit The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for more information on the STAR program and Eligibility or download a copy of Understanding New York's STAR program. For an application, visit the New York State Office of Real Property or contact your local assessor.
Tax Levy Limit legislation information
At the end of June 2011, the New York State Legislature enacted a property tax "cap' that seeks to limit the annual increase in the tax levies of local governments and school districts. The legislation affected district planning starting with the 2012-13 school budget.
A summary of the property tax "cap' law:
- Although the law has been commonly referred to as a "2 percent tax cap,' it does not, in fact, restrict any proposed tax levy increase to 2 percent. What it does is establish a tax levy limit (which will be determined by each district according to an eight-step, complex formula dictated by the law, and will vary by district) that determines the number of votes needed to pass a school budget.
- While the law has been advertised as a "2 percent cap' on annual property tax levy increases, The actual tax levy increase limit may vary from that figure. This is in part due to a series of costs that are exempt from the limit.
- Each district will calculate its own "tax levy limit' based on a state formula, which will be the figure that determines what level of voter support is needed for a school budget to pass. If the tax levy increase is above that limit, the support of a supermajority (60 percent) of voters would be required for budget passage. If it is within the limit, a simple majority (more than 50 percent) is needed for budget approval.
- Voters will still decide on the district's spending plan on the third Tuesday of every May.
- School districts can hold up to two budget votes under current law. If both budget proposals are defeated, districts would be held to the same tax levy as the previous year, irrespective of increases in health care costs, contractual expenses or student enrollment.
- If a local district's budget is under the tax levy limit, the difference between the requested amount and the limit amount can be carried over to the next year without needing a 60 percent voter approval rate.
- For more information, check out Understanding New York State Tax Levy Limit Law.