Town of Schaghticoke
Property Taxes & Exemptions
Due dates, penalties, the exemptions you may qualify for, and how to challenge your assessment.
Speigletown property owners get two property-tax bills a year: a combined Town & County bill in the winter and a school bill in the fall. For an official answer on any amount or date, check the bill itself or contact the office listed below.
Town & County bill: dates & penalties
The Town & County bill is mailed around January 1 and collected by the Town Tax Collector from January through March. Pay by the due date printed on the bill (in early February) to avoid any penalty. After that:
- 1% penalty if paid during the rest of February;
- 2% penalty if paid in March, plus a $2 late-notice fee after March 10;
- after collection closes, unpaid taxes are returned to the county. Pay those to the Rensselaer County Chief Fiscal Officer, 99 Troy Road, East Greenbush, 518-270-2773.
The school bill (Lansingburgh CSD, or Brunswick/Brittonkill on that side) comes separately in the fall with its own due date.
How to pay the Town & County bill
Terry S. Jones, Tax Collector. Pay by mail to 1 Harvard Street, Mechanicville, NY 12118, or in person at Schaghticoke Town Hall, 290 Northline Drive, Melrose. Cash, personal check, bank check, or money order only, no credit cards. In-person hours: January Monday/Wednesday/Friday 9am–1pm; February and March Monday & Friday 9am–1pm.
School tax bill: dates & how to pay
School taxes are a separate bill from the Town & County bill, mailed in late August/September. Which district you're in depends on your address — most of Speigletown is Lansingburgh CSD, and the rest is Brunswick (Brittonkill) CSD.
Lansingburgh Central School District
- Bills mailed September 1.
- Sept 1–30: no penalty · Oct 1–31: 2% penalty.
- After October 31 the district can't accept payment — unpaid bills are re-levied on your County bill with an added 7% penalty.
- Pay online via Info-Tax Online, or by check to "Lansingburgh CSD," School Tax Collector, 55 New Turnpike Rd, Troy, NY 12182.
- Collector: Jane Luskin · 518-233-6850 x33408 · jluskin@lansingburgh.org.
Brunswick (Brittonkill) Central School District
- Bills mailed late August (viewable online after Sept 1).
- Sept 1–30: no penalty · after Sept 30: 2% penalty, due by October 31.
- Pay online via Info-Tax Online (MuniciPay; card 3% / e-check $2 fee applies), or by mail to Brunswick CSD, PO Box 69, Buffalo, NY 14240.
- Receiver of School Taxes: for Town of Schaghticoke parcels, Catrina Schumaker · 518-279-4600 x2604 · cschumaker@brunswickcsd.org; for Town of Brunswick parcels, Jayne Tarbox · 518-279-3461 x110.
Sources: Lansingburgh CSD and Brunswick CSD. Not sure which district you're in? Ask the Assessor at Town Hall, 518-753-6915 ext. 103.
STAR (School Tax Relief)
Basic STAR is for owner-occupied primary residences under the state income limit; Enhanced STAR is for eligible homeowners age 65+ with a lower income limit. New applicants register with NYS Taxation & Finance, not the town, and receive it as a credit.
- Register: tax.ny.gov/star, or by phone weekdays 8:30am–4:30pm at 518-457-2036.
Senior, disability & veteran exemptions
You may qualify for a partial exemption from property taxes. Eligible homeowners must apply by March 1 (the taxable-status date) through the Assessor's office. The senior-citizen exemption and the exemption for persons with limited income and disabilities are sliding-scale: the percentage depends on your income. The Town Board raised the income limits for both in December 2025, so check with the Assessor for the current brackets even if you didn't qualify before. Veterans' and agricultural exemptions may also apply.
Below is the Town of Schaghticoke senior-citizen sliding scale — the exemption that applies to your Town & County bill for parcels in the Town of Schaghticoke (owners age 65+; combined income; up to 50% off assessed value), most recently amended by Local Law No. 2 of 2025 (effective December 10, 2025).
Note: the senior exemption is adopted separately by each taxing body, so the limits for your school-tax bill (Lansingburgh or Brunswick/Brittonkill CSD) — and for parcels in the Town of Brunswick — may be different. Confirm with your assessor or school district. The exemption for persons with limited income and disabilities follows a comparable sliding scale.
| Annual income | Exemption |
|---|---|
| $0 – $40,000.00 | 50% |
| $40,000.01 – $40,999.99 | 45% |
| $41,000.00 – $41,999.99 | 40% |
| $42,000.00 – $42,999.99 | 35% |
| $43,000.00 – $43,899.99 | 30% |
| $43,900.00 – $44,799.99 | 25% |
| $44,800.00 – $45,699.99 | 20% |
| $45,700.00 – $46,599.99 | 15% |
| $46,600.00 – $47,499.99 | 10% |
| $47,500.00 – $48,399.99 | 5% |
| $48,400.00 and up | None |
Source: Town Code § 112-1, Senior Citizens Tax Exemption (eCode360); eligibility follows NYS Real Property Tax Law § 467. Countable income includes Social Security, retirement, interest, dividends, rental, and earnings, less unreimbursed medical and prescription costs — the Assessor makes the final determination.
Grieve your assessment
If you believe your assessment is too high, you can file a grievance with the Board of Assessment Review on Grievance Day, typically the fourth Tuesday in May, using form RP-524. The guide "What to Do if You Disagree with Your Assessment" is at tax.ny.gov and the Assessor's office. Confirm the exact date and hours with the Assessor.
Good to know
- The town assesses property at about 14.24% of full market value (the 2026 uniform percentage).
- Homeowners who are 65+ or disabled can designate a third party to receive duplicate copies of tax bills; ask the Tax Collector.
- If the name or address on your bill is wrong, or you've sold the property, notify the Assessor and Tax Collector.
Who to contact
Assessor — Megan Weir, Town Assessor, for assessments and exemptions. Reach the Assessor through Town Hall at 518-753-6915. See also Town Government.