School Tax Information

School property tax rates are set in August for the upcoming school year. Tax rates are based on the total tax levy in the voter-approved school budget, the state-determined equalization rates and assessment rolls for each town.

Please note, Arrow Bank is no longer accepting school tax payments.

STAR Program

Homeowners who meet certain eligibility requirements through the New York State School Tax Relief Program (STAR) can have a portion of their home’s assessed value exempt from school property taxes.

Payments

Tax payments can be accepted online, by mail or by drop off in the drop box near the entrance of the Business Office at 58 South Park Street.

In-person payments can be made by appointment only. Please contact the tax collector to schedule an appointment.

Online Payments

If you wish to pay school taxes with a credit card or electronic check, you may do so by clicking the Pay Online button below. We can only accept payments during our designated collection periods. There is a convenience fee of 2.85% +$.40 on all online payments using a credit card, and a $2.50 convenience fee for an electronic check. Please print your receipt for your records.

Cambridge Central School does not have the ability to accept debit card or credit card payments in person.

The link to pay online will open at 12 a.m. on Sept. 1, 2026.
The link to pay online will close at 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 2, 2026.

Receipts will be issued when your payment is processed. The receipt will be mailed within two weeks.

Mail-in Payments

Payments can be mailed. Please include your tax bill for accurate processing. The payment must be mailed to the following address:

Cambridge Central School
58 South Park Street
Cambridge, NY 12816

Make checks payable to: Cambridge Central School

If you require a receipt, please send in the entire bill.

Important Notification to Taxpayers

• The US Postal Service is modifying how mail is now being processed, including the postmark process. As of December 24, 2025, postmarks will reflect the date an envelope is first processed by an automated USPS sorting machine, potentially days after it was dropped off and not the actual drop-off date. This could lead to late fees and penalties for anyone mailing time-sensitive documents such as utility and tax payments. Real Property Tax Law requires that we use the U.S. postmark date to determine if a payment was mailed timely. Be advised, time-sensitive mail should be mailed at least several days before the deadline. For those who wait to mail payments close to or on the due date, we strongly urge you to go inside your local post office and ask for a hand-stamped “manual postmark” on the date. If you have any questions, please call (518) 677-2653, ext. 1017.
• If you use bill-pay through your financial institution, a third-party processes your transaction. Such transactions are often mailed in bulk without U.S. Postage and therefore may not arrive at Cambridge Central School timely and as scheduled. If these transactions/payments arrive at the school after the due date, the school must adhere to New York State Real Property Tax Law Section 925 and penalties will be added. Furthermore, no school employee can waive the penalty.
• All checks must be written in blue or blank ink only

Postmarks

New York State Real Property Tax Laws govern tax collection. The United States Post Office Postmark date determines whether a payment is on time. Any payment postmarked on or before the due date will be considered timely. It is strongly suggested, if payment is mailed on the due date, to walk into the Post Office and have the date hand stamped by a Postal Employee.

Metered Mail

Tax payments delivered by the U.S. Postal Service after the due date that do not contain an official U.S. Post Office Postmark but rather a “postage meter” mark are not considered timely; the received date will be used at the date of the payment.

Bills and Receipts

Taxpayers can view their tax bills and receipts online by visiting the link below.

Please note the username and password before you click on the link.

Username: cambridge-public
Password: public

Due Dates

• September 1, 2026 – October 1, 2026 with no penalty
• October 2, 2026 – November 2, 2026 requires a 2% penalty

A valid, clear postmark is accepted. However, if using a payment processing company (online banking), the check must arrive by October 1, 2026 (or November 2, 2026 with the 2% penalty).

Taxes not paid by November 2, 2026 are turned over to the appropriate county for collection with additional penalties.

School Tax Notice

Owners of real property located in that portion of the Cambridge Central School District lying in the above towns take notice that I have received the tax warrants for the collection of school taxes for Cambridge Central School District.

The collection of taxes begins on September 1, 2026. A two percent (2%) penalty will be added from October 2, 2026 through November 2, 2026.

November 2, 2026 will be the last day for payment of taxes. Unpaid taxes will be returned to the county tax rolls with additional penalties.