A New York State Designated "Quality Community"

ASSESSOR

Personnel
Peter Goold, Acting Assessor
Karen Justus, Assistant
Roland Ferris, Data Collector

The State Tax Department has posted videos (on youtube) about your taxes, assessments and the like. You may find them helpful:

• Is your assessment fair?
• Contesting your assessment
• About property taxes and assessments

Don't forget to file for Exemption renewals. The "Enhanced" Star Exemption renewal application was mailed October 28th. Those who use this form must also submit a 2010 state or federal tax return with an income not to exceed $79,050.

The renewal forms for "Senior" Star Exemption were mailed out at the end of 2011. To file that, you'll need a 2011 state or federal tax return or acceptable documentation of all income if you don't need to file a tax return. (There's more information farther down this page.)
The renewals for "Agriculture" Exemption will be mailed out at the end of the year.
The renewals for "Disability" Exemption will be mailed out at the end of the year.

The NYS Office of Real Property Services has changed its web site address to "http://www.tax.ny.gov." We've attempted to provide links to relevant information found there, but you may find additional forms or documents.

NYS offers this summary (updated for the 2011-2012 school year) of the STAR program which provides homeowners with partial exemptions from school property taxes. If you earn less than $500,000 and own and live in your home, you may be eligible for the STAR exemption which "exempts the first $30,000 of the full value of a home from school taxes."

The State Tax Department provides this explanation of how Basic and Enhanced STAR exemptions are calculated.

How do I apply for Basic STAR?

State-mandated forms (and instructions) are available for download from this page on the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance website or, in person, from the Town Hall. File an application with this office by March 1, 2012.

How about "Enhanced STAR?"

Enhanced STAR exempts the first $60,100 of the full value of the qualifying senior's home from school taxes. For the 2011-2012 school year, senior citizens applying for the Enhanced STAR exemption must demonstrate that the combined income of all of the owners of the property - and of any owner's spouse who resides on the premises - was no greater than $79,050 in 2010.

Please read NYS's explanation (printable pdf version) for details and definitions, especially including those sections defining "age," "income," and the two methods by which you must report your income to qualify. The state has provided this information as if it were a folder. Begin reading at the third column of the first page (above the State seal); continue to the second page and after the fourth column of the second page, return to the first page, where the explanation continues in the first column.

People ask "What does the new NYS "tax levy increase cap" mean for my tax bill? How does it relate to my 'tax rate' and my actual tax bill?" The State Association of Government Finance Officers prepared an explanation.

General Assessor Info

Assessor's Responsibilities

Determine and maintain assessments, property inventory records, ownership and exemptions on approximately 5,800 parcels.

Locate all taxable Real Property in our town and identify the ownership of each. Establish a taxable value for all Real Property subject to taxation. List the values of all property on the Assessment Roll.

Assist taxpayers with completing their exemption applications and determine their eligibility. Examples: Senior Citizen, Alternative Veteran, Basic STAR, Enhanced STAR, Disability, Business, Clergy, Agricultural, Non-Profit, etc. The last day for filing all exemption applications for any given year is March 1st.

Tax Bills

Town and County tax bills should be paid to the Receiver of Taxes

Town and County tax bills since September 2005 can be reviewed at this part of the egov site.

You can also review your School Tax payments on line: For Schodack Central or East Greenbush Central School District residents, see another part of the egov site. For residents of the Averill Park and Ichabod Crane School Districts see infotaxonline. (you'll find both AP and IC in the list of districts).

You can find tax map information about your property at Rensselaer County's map site. Take note that these .pdf files are very large. Use the Town map on the "Index" page to find the map (numbered -- for example, 177.04 or 227.00) for your neighborhood .

Important Dates to Remember Affecting the Assessment Process:

• Exemption filing deadline - March 1st. The last day for filing all exemption applications for the current year. Applications may be filed subsequent to March 1st, effective for the following year. (For STAR info, please see above.)
   
• Taxable Status Date - March 1st, each year. The date property is valued according to ownership and condition each year. Our Tax Rolls are always available for review by the public.
   
• Grievance Day
    Grievance Day is the fourth Tuesday in May every year. This year (2012) the date is May 22nd.

  You can download (from the New York State Office of Real Property Services website) a booklet on contesting your assessment, the instructions for filing a grievance , instructions for completing the Grievance Form and the required form, itself, (Acrobat format) or as an MS Word document.

  Grievance paperwork can be filed at the Assessor's office after May 1st. Upon filing the paperwork, an appointment will be given for grievance night beginning at 4pm. After hearing all of the grievances, the Board of Assessment Review will mail determination notices prior to the 30th of June.

NOTICE OF COMPLETION OF FINAL ASSESSMENT ROLL
In accordance with section 516 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law, notice is hereby given that the 2011 Final Assessment Roll for the Town of Schodack has been completed and a certified copy thereof has been filed in the office of the Schodack Town Clerk for public inspection.

The Assessment Information System.

The Assessment Information System provides a single, easy to use, way to access almost all information maintained by your Assessor including assessment roll data, tax maps, property photographs, tax rates, exemption amounts, comparable sales and comparable assessments. (Note that at the AIS opening page, you'll have to agree to certain terms of use before proceeding.)

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