Tax Rates

Bills will be mailed the first week of September 2023. It is recommended that tax payments be paid by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please refer to the 2023-24 tax collection period below for each town for more details about payment procedures and finding tax bill information.

Residents of Bethlehem, Knox and New Scotland: you can mail your payment to the Guilderland Tax Processing Unit to the following address:

  • PO Box 219, Guilderland Center, NY, 12085

2023-24 School District Tax Rates by Town

  • Guilderland: $18.6185 per $1,000
  • Bethlehem: $21.1001 per $1,000
  • New Scotland: $21.3852 per $1,000
  • Knox: $40.5771 per $1,000

2022-23 School District Tax Rates by Town

  • Guilderland: $18.1991 per $1,000
  • Bethlehem: $19.2564 per $1,000
  • New Scotland: $20.4451 per $1,000
  • Knox: $39.4297 per $1,000

The STAR Program

STAR is the New York State School Tax Relief Program. It exempts a portion of a home’s full value from school property tax for eligible homeowners. New Yorkers who own and live in their homes and meet certain income requirements can participate in the STAR program for their primary residence.

The STAR Program has two kinds of exemptions:

Basic STAR: This exemption is available for owner-occupied, primary residences regardless of the owners’ ages for those with household incomes below $500,000. The program works by exempting a portion of the full value of a home from school taxes. Each city or town has a different exemption amount. Homeowners only need to apply for Basic STAR once and it remains in effect for that property each year. For many homeowners, STAR is applied directly to property tax bills. However, in 2016, the state began transitioning STAR to a credit that comes in the form of a check directly from the state. When people buy a new home (first-time or otherwise), they need to register for this credit program to receive STAR.

Enhanced STAR: This exemption is available for the primary residences of people age 65 and older with yearly household incomes that do not exceed a level set by the state. Like Basic STAR, this program exempts a portion of the owner’s residence from school taxes, but the Enhanced STAR exemption is larger. Again, each city or town has a different exemption amount. Homeowners must reapply for Enhanced STAR every year (to verify eligibility).

STAR is a state program, which school districts have no control over. Homeowners must go through their town assessor’s office to apply for the exemptions.

More information about the STAR program can be obtained from the New York State Department of Tax and Finance or from your town assessor’s office.

2023-24 School Tax Collection

The Guilderland Central School Tax Collection period for 2023-24 runs from September 1 to October 31, 2023.  Any payments postmarked between October 3 and October 31, 2023, will incur a 2% penalty.  No payments postmarked after October 31, 2023, will be accepted.

Click on your town below in order to obtain more information on paying your tax bill:

Town of Guilderland

Tax bills will be mailed the first week of September 2023. When made available, school tax bills will be posted on the following website: https://www.townofguilderland.org/home/pages/online-payments

By Mail

You can mail your payment in a self-addressed envelope that is included with the bill. Only a USPS Official Postmark determines timeliness. Please mail your payment to: Town of Guilderland, Attn. Tax Office, PO Box 339, Guilderland, NY 12084. Payments are processed daily and posted to TAXLOOKUP.NET

DropBox

You can place your payment in an envelope in the large mailbox outside to the left of the Town Hall’s front doors. The Dropbox is available 24/7. Payment receipts are mailed within 72 hours. Payments are processed daily and posted to TAXLOOKUP.NET.

In Person

Personal and Bank Checks, Cash, Discover cards, MasterCard, and Visa, are accepted at the Guilderland Tax Office counter.

Town Hall is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m; on Wednesdays in the month of September only, the Town Hall is open 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

*Cash will not be accepted after 4:30 pm.*

Guilderland Town Hall Tax Office:

5209 Western Turnpike, Guilderland, NY 12084
Phone: (518) 356-1980

Online

You can make your payment (MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and Electronic Checks) online: https://www.townofguilderland.org/home/pages/online-payments

  • E-Check Convenience Fee is * $2.00
  • Credit Card Convenience Fee is * 2.5% of the total tax due.

* Fees for using a credit/debit card are third-party payment-processing fees, not additional fees paid to your school district.

The Town of Guilderland is unable to take credit card payments over the phone.

Online Access to Tax Bills

Residents of the Town of Guilderland can look up their school tax bill online. Follow the link below:

GCSD Online Tax Bill Information


Town of Bethlehem

Mail-in Payments:

Mail your payment along with your tax bill stub to the following address:  Guilderland CSD, Tax Processing Unit, PO Box 219, Guilderland Center, NY 12085.

Credit Card payments:

Click on “Online Payments”.  Please note that the company administering credit card transactions charges a 2.35% ($2.00 minimum fee) handling fee and a $0.50 flat fee charge for an E-check.

In-Person Payments:

You must bring your entire tax bill and payment to the specifically designated locations depending on the town in which you reside. Please practice the necessary safety precautions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Capital Bank, Price Chopper Plaza
1365 New Scotland Avenue, Slingerlands, NY  12159

Branch Hours:
Monday – Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Online Access to Tax Bills

Residents of the Town of Bethlehem can look up their school tax bill online. Follow the link below:

GCSD Online Tax Bill Information


Town of Knox

Mail-in Payments:

Mail your payment along with your tax bill stub to the following address:  Guilderland CSD, Tax Processing Unit, PO Box 219, Guilderland Center, NY 12085.

Credit Card payments:

Credit Card payments:

Click on “Online Payments”.  Please note that the company administering credit card transactions charges a 2.35% ($2.00 minimum fee) handling fee and a $0.50 flat fee charge for an E-check.

In-Person Payments:

No payments will be accepted at the GCSD District Office.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, in-person payments can only be made at:

Capital Bank
1365 New Scotland Avenue
Slingerlands, NY 12159

Office hours are Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Online Access to Tax Bills

Residents of the Town of Knox can look up their school tax bill online. Follow the link below:

GCSD Online Tax Bill Information


Town of New Scotland

Mail-in Payments:

Mail your payment along with your tax bill stub to the following address:  Guilderland CSD, Tax Processing Unit, PO Box 219, Guilderland Center, NY 12085.

Credit Card payments:

Click on “Online Payments”.  Please note that the company administering credit card transactions charges a 2.35% ($2.00 minimum fee) handling fee and a $0.50 flat fee charge for an E-check.

In-Person Payments:

No payments will be accepted at the GCSD District Office.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, in-person payments can only be made at:

Capital Bank
1365 New Scotland Avenue
Slingerlands, NY 12159

Office hours are Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Online Access to Tax Bills

Residents of the Town of New Scotland can look up their school tax bill online. Follow the link below:

GCSD Online Tax Bill Information

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Tax Levy Numbers

With all the talk of New York’s “2 percent tax cap,” it may come as a surprise to learn that each school district presents three separate tax levy numbers every year in order to comply with the law. Chances are good that none of those numbers will be exactly 2 percent, too. Learn about the three tax levy numbers.

Understanding the property tax levy cap and why the tax levy can increase by more than two percent.

New York’s property tax levy “cap” has often been referred to as a “2 percent cap” on taxes by some politicians and the media. However, this is incorrect. The law does not restrict any proposed tax levy increase to 2 percent—or any other amount. Instead, the law requires each school district in the state to calculate its own “tax levy limit” to determine what level of voter support is necessary for budget approval. The figure “2 percent” (or the rate of inflation, if less) is just one of eight variables that factor into each district’s calculation of its individual tax levy limit as prescribed by law. If the tax levy increase is above the tax levy limit—after accounting for exemptions—the support of a supermajority (60 percent) of voters would be required for budget passage. If the levy is within the limit, a simple majority (50 percent + 1) is needed for budget approval.

DEFINITION: The tax levy is the total dollars that a school district raises from property owners within the district in order to balance its budget. The levy is determined after accounting for all other sources of income, including state aid.

DEFINITION: The tax rate is used to calculate what each property owner will pay in school taxes based on assessed value.

Essentially, the “tax levy limit” sets a threshold that, if exceeded, requires districts to obtain a higher level of community support to pass a proposed budget. However, the law does not place a limit on the taxes a school district could levy to pay for expenses related to specific “excluded” items, including some court orders, some pension costs and local capital expenditures. The costs of these excluded items are added to the “tax levy limit” to come up with the “allowable tax levy” limit. The calculation recognizes that due to their nature, certain expenses should not be subject to a capped CPI-based growth index as our other expenses are capped.

It is important to note that:
• Tax levy limits vary by school district;
• The law does not limit an individual’s tax bill.

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Property Tax Exemptions

Property tax exemption rates for the 2023-24 school year

Exemption for residents older than age 65 as well as for property owners with disabilities and limited income

Guilderland Central School District offers a property tax exemption for residents older than age 65 as well as for property owners with disabilities and limited income (continuation of existing policy).

Annual Income Percentage of assessed valuation exempt from taxation
$29,000 or less 50%
More than $29,000 but less than $30,000 45%
$30,000 or more but less than $31,000 40%
$31,000 or more but less than $32,000 35%
$32,000 or more but less than $32,900 30%
$32,900 or more but less than $33,800 25%
$33,800 or more but less than $34,700 20%
$34,700 or more but less than $35,600 15%
$35,600 or more but less than $36,500 10%
$36,500 or more but less than $37,400 5%

Senior citizens’ exemption from taxation for school tax purposes shall be granted in the case of real property where a child resides if such child attends a public school of elementary or secondary education. The exemption follows the same sliding income scale as the regular senior citizens’ exemption along with age requirements.

New York State “enhanced” STAR (School Tax Relief Program) exemption for homeowners 65 years or older with combined gross spousal incomes of no more than $86,300 (based on 2017 income tax return). New York State “basic” STAR program for all homeowners of all ages and income levels. For more information on the STAR program, please visit the district website.

To apply for any of the school tax relief programs, residents should contact their town assessor’s office for more information. New applications are due by March 1, 2022 and will be effective with the next school tax bill.

Alternative Veterans Exemption

In 2014-15, Guilderland Central School District began offering the Alternative Veterans Exemption for eligible military veterans. School districts are allowed to offer up to a 15 percent reduction in assessed value for veterans who served during a time of war (up to a maximum of $12,000), plus 10 percent for those who served in combat zones (up to a maximum of $8,000). Veterans could also receive a reduction based on their service-connected disabilities (up to a maximum of $40,000). The town equalization rate will be applied to the exemption amount when computing tax bills.

Equalization rates by town

  • Guilderland –  85% in 2023-24; 91% in 2022-23
  • Bethlehem –  75% in 2023-24; 86% in 2022-23
  • New Scotland –  74% in 2023-24; 81% in 2022-23
  • Knox –  39% in 2023-24; 42% in 2022-23

Wartime maximum: $12,000

  • Guilderland: $12,000
  • Bethlehem: $11,400
  • New Scotland: $11,040
  • Knox: $6,720

Combat maximum: $20,000

  • Guilderland: $20,000
  • Bethlehem: $19,000
  • New Scotland: $18,400
  • Knox: $11,200

Disabled maximum: $40,000

  • Guilderland: $40,000
  • Bethlehem: $38,000
  • New Scotland: $36,800
  • Knox: $22,400

Veterans with already approved exemptions on file with their local municipality do not need to reapply for a school tax exemption. However, new exemption applications must be filed with the town assessor by March 1, 2022.

 

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