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1. Where do sales tax receipts go?

Sales tax receipts pay for a portion of general town services, police, parks, and seniors, as well as capital projects. Sales taxes in Albany County are charged at a rate of 8%, which is remitted by vendors to New York State for various types of purchases. The state maintains 4% of the collection and remits the other 4% to Albany County. The county keeps 2.4% and allocates the remaining 1.6% to the municipalities within the county, based on census.

As of the 2010 census, the Town of Bethlehem receives 0.17696 of the municipal share, or approximately one-sixth of one cent for every dollar spent in Albany County.

2. How are property taxes different from school taxes?

Property taxes cover the billing period January 1 to December 31 and are billed and collected by the Town from parcel owners on behalf of several taxing districts including Albany County, one of five local fire districts, and the town’s own funds, including general, highway, water, sewer and ambulance funds. All taxes collected for these districts/funds are distributed subsequent to the collection period which runs January 1 to January 31. Payments made after this date are subject to late fees.

School taxes cover the billing period July 31 to June 1, and are a specific property tax billed and collected by one of three local school districts: Bethlehem Central (BCSD), Guilderland Central (GCSD), and Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk (RCS) to residents of the Town of Bethlehem. They are used exclusively for the benefit of the school district and the local library. This collection runs from September 1 to September 30. Payments made after this date are subject to late fees.

Visit our Tax Rates page for current rates.

3. What does the town do with my property tax?

Property taxes must be paid annually by anyone who owns a property within the borders of the Town of Bethlehem. These property taxes are compiled and billed on one invoice and paid to one location, but are redistributed to several different taxing districts as money is received. These external taxing districts include Albany County and one of five local fire districts. The funds that remain at the town, including ambulance, general, highway, water, and sewer fund collections, are used for a number of things, most of which remains local.

Property tax collections go to a number of important programs. Among them are water and sewer collection and distribution, road construction and maintenance, policing, and local government staff salaries.

Property taxes also help to pay for much of the organized recreation within town, including parkland and other recreation areas that are constructed and maintained within the town. Traffic and street lights, sidewalks, and recreational trails are all paid for through local property tax collections.

4. How will I hear about upcoming bid opportunities?

To reach as many interested vendors as possible, the town uses several ways of announcing bid opportunities. You may be notified if you have registered with our online bidding system. Advertisements announcing public works improvement and/or general construction projects will appear in the Spotlight or Times Union newspapers.

5. How often does Procurement disperse accounts payable checks?

Normally we disperse checks every other Friday for all approved invoices.

6. How much lead time should I routinely provide Procurement to process a vendor invoice, check requisition, or expense report?

As much time as possible, but please provide three to four business days at a minimum.

7. Who should I contact if I have a question related to the processing of a vendor invoice, check request, expense report, etc.?

Please contact Richard Webster at 518-439-4955, ext. 1124.