Business & Finance Office

Overview

The Goshen Central School District Business Office is responsible for managing the money needed to support the district’s educational mission. One of the office’s most important functions is developing the proposed school budget for the consideration of the district’s Board of Education and voters.

The Business Office, under the supervision of the Assistant Superintendent for Business, is responsible for accounting, auditing, benefits coordination, capital projects coordination, contract negotiations, facility use coordination, the district census, payroll, purchasing, records management and safety planning.

Accessing your School Tax Bill

School tax bills are mailed to taxpayers at the end of August every year. School tax bills are also available on the district’s online tax payment and search website.

Checks can be mailed to:

Goshen CSD Tax Collector
P.O. Box 66
Goshen, NY 10924

There are no in-person payments for school taxes. A drop box is available.

To view and/or print your current and past years’ School Tax Receipts please visit the following website: BASgov Tax Portal

Tax rates for each municipality within the district are set each August. They are based on the tax levy for the year and final municipal assessments for each of the towns. Tax rates vary between towns because property in each is assessed at different levels in relation to full market value. The state assigns each town an equalization rate to fairly divide the tax levy between the towns. The district does not control any part of the assessment or equalization process.

Visit Taxes & STAR for more information.

• September – November
  • Meet with Administrators & discuss budget guidelines
  • Meet with Asst. Supt for Curriculum to discuss professional development
  • Administrators analyze staffing needs & school programs for ensuing school year – ongoing
  • Preliminary staffing requests to Asst. Supt for Business & Supt
  • Budget materials distributed to instructional, custodial, cafeteria & transportation staff.
  • Staff gathers information & formulates requests for teaching materials, supplies, equipment, contractual work & staffing.
  • November 22nd – Staff/teacher requests due to Principals/Administrators
• Tuesday, October 14, 2025
  • Board of Education Meeting – 6:30 pm Board Room
  • Rollover Budget Presentation
• Monday, November 10, 2025
  • Board of Education Meeting – 6:30 pm Board Room
  • Discuss rollover budget & revenue required to balance budget
  • Discuss Board’s goals for 2026-27 budget
• Monday, December 1, 2025
  • Board of Education Meeting – 6:30 pm Board Room
  • Budget discussion/update
• Monday, January 5, 2026
  • Budgets & Instructional staff requests due to Asst. Supt for Business.
  • Custodial, cafeteria & transportation requests due to the Asst. Supt for Business
• Monday, January 12, 2026
  • Board of Education Meeting – 6:30 pm Board Room
  • Budget discussion/update
• Monday, February 9, 2026
  • Board of Education Meeting – 6:30 pm Board Room
  • Budget Presentation #1 – Non-Instructional Budget
• Monday, March 2, 2026
  • Tax Levy Cap due to NYS Comptroller
• Monday, March 16, 2026
  • Board of Education Meeting – 6:30 pm Board Room
  • Budget Presentation #2 – Instructional Budget
• Friday, March 20, 2026
  • Board of Education petitions will be made available
• Wednesday, April 1, 2026
  • Legal notices in the Goshen Independent (04/15/26, 04/29/26 & 05/13/26)
• Friday, April 3, 2026
  • Legal notices in the Times Herald Record and the Chronicle (04/17/26, 05/01/26 & 05/15/26)
• Tuesday, April 7, 2026
  • Board of Education Meeting – 6:30 pm Board Room
  • Budget Presentation #3 – Revenue
• Monday, April 20, 2026
  • Submission of petitions for propositions to be placed on ballot
  • Submission of petitions for Board of Education candidates by 5:00 pm
  • Campaign Expense filing to District Clerk 30 days prior to vote
• Tuesday, April 21, 2026
  • Board of Education Meeting – 6:30 pm Board Room
  • Adopt proposed budget
  • Approve Property Tax Report Card
• Friday, April 24, 2026
  • Submission of the Property Tax Report Card to SED (due 04/27/26) and local newspapers. Submission of Salary Disclosure to SED.
• Friday, April 24, 2026
  • Mail Absentee Ballots
  • Military ballots distributed
• Monday, April 27, 2026
  • Public Budget available (must be 14 days prior to public hearing)
• Monday, May 11, 2026
  • Board of Education Meeting – 6:30 pm Board Room
  • Public Budget Hearing
  • Last day of voter registration
• Tuesday, May 12, 2026
  • Last day for absentee ballots to be mailed
  • Mail Budget Notice/Newsletter to residents
• Thursday, May 14, 2026
  • Campaign Expense filing to District Clerk (5 days prior to vote)
• Tuesday, May 19, 2026
  • Budget Vote and Annual District Meeting (6 am to 9 pm Board Room)
• Wednesday, May 20, 2026
  • Board of Education Meeting – 6:30 pm Board Room
• Monday, June 15, 2026
  • Board of Education Meeting – 6:30 pm Board Room
• July 1, 2026
  • 2026-27 Budget implemented

Failure to receive a tax bill does not relieve you of your responsibility for payment. It also will not constitute cause for cancellation of any penalty if the bill becomes delinquent (New York State Real Property Tax Law 922). If you do not receive a tax bill, contact the tax collector to obtain a copy of your tax bill.

If you believe that your bank or mortgage company escrows for your taxes (your monthly mortgage amount includes a tax escrow payment) and you receive a tax bill, please forward your bill to the bank or company holding your mortgage.

New York state homeowners can reduce their school taxes through the statewide school tax relief program, STAR. 

The School Tax Relief (STAR) program offers property tax relief to eligible New York State homeowners. Qualified homeowners, who must apply to participate in STAR through their local assessor, receive a partial property tax exemption or credit under the program. The Basic STAR and Enhanced STAR exemptions reduce what homeowners would otherwise owe on their property tax bills. STAR exemption amounts are calculated by the Office of Real Property Tax Services, a division of the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance. Most STAR recipients save several hundred dollars on their property taxes each year.

If eligible and enrolled in the STAR program, a taxpayer will receive the benefit each year in one of two ways:

STAR credit: If registered for the STAR credit, the Tax Department will issue a STAR benefit via check or direct deposit that the homeowner can use to pay school taxes. Homeowners with an income of $500,000 or less can receive the STAR credit for their primary residence only.

STAR exemption. If registered for the STAR exemption, homeowners will receive a reduction on their school tax bill for as long as they remain eligible. Note: The STAR exemption is no longer available to new homeowners, and homeowners who are already receiving the STAR exemption may see a larger benefit by switching to a STAR credit.

Homeowners can view and update their property tax benefit registrations and enroll in direct deposit for STAR credit by creating a Tax Department Individual Online Services account and visiting the Homeowner Benefit Portal.

Local school districts are reimbursed by the state for property tax revenues that go uncollected as a result of STAR exemptions. Although STAR exemptions apply to school property taxes, school districts have no influence over the exemptions or tax savings. Because assessment data and equalization rates are not usually available during the spring school budget season, school districts frequently resist quoting future tax rates related to their proposed spending plans. Accurate tax information becomes available later in the summer before tax bills are sent to residents.

Whether you receive the STAR exemption or the credit, there is a Basic STAR benefit and an Enhanced STAR benefit.

• available for owner-occupied, primary residences
• the income limit for the Basic STAR credit is $500,000 (the income limit for the Basic STAR exemption is $250,000)
• based on the first $30,000 of the full value of a home

• provides an increased benefit for the primary residences of senior citizens (age 65 and older) with qualifying incomes:
  • $110,750 or less for the 2026-2027 school year

All Enhanced STAR recipients are required to participate in the Enhanced STAR

Income Verification Program (IVP). In the first year that you apply for the Enhanced STAR exemption, your assessor will verify your eligibility based on the income information you provide. In the following years, we will verify your income eligibility. You will not need to reapply for the exemption or provide copies of your tax returns to your local assessor.

The STAR benefit applies only to school district taxes.

In the February 10 Assessment Community Weekly, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance announced a new letter-Form RP-425-BR-for Basic STAR exemption recipients who have not yet registered with the department.

Only 2% of the total STAR exemption recipients will receive this letter. In general, these are homeowners who:

• have been receiving the Basic STAR exemption since 2015 or earlier, and
• have not yet registered with the Tax Department for the Basic STAR exemption as required by Real Property Tax Law § 425.

Please follow the instructions in the letter, to register for the STAR exemption.

If you don’t have access to the Internet or have questions, contact the New York State STAR Call Center at (518) 457-2036.

School Budget Vote: June 16, 2026
Location: GCSD Main Street Building, 227 Main Street, Goshen
Time: 6 a.m.-9 p.m.

• Learn more about the 2026-27 Budget and Board Election