Department of Finance
Office of the City Chamberlain
| City Financial Reports | Office Information | Budgets | Property Taxes Parking Tickets | Commercial Sanitation | Tax Clearance Tax Satisfaction | Doing Business with the City |
 David Vandermark City Chamberlain |
Office Information
City Hall First Floor
317 E. Church Street
Elmira, New York 14901
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»Show map of First Floor
Tel: (607)737-5661
Fax: (607)737-5783
Regular Office Hours
M-F:9:00am to 4:00pm
Except Holidays
»Email the City Chamberlain
»2009 Proposed Budget
»2009 Budget Presentation
»more budgets and financial reports...
The Finance Department is headed by the City Chamberlain, David Vandermark. The Chamberlain oversees all financial aspects of the city. The Chamberlain's Office collects all City revenues, including payments for parking tickets, city property taxes, the commercial sanitation program, abatements, city retiree insurance, leases, contracts, tax clearance requests, and tax satisfaction certificates.
Acceptable forms of payments are cash, check, or money order made payable to the City of Elmira.
City Financial Reports
The City of Elmira makes public record city financial reports available on this website. These reports include: Official Statements for bonds issued, auditors' reports to the City Council, and the Annual Financial Report that is filed with the State each year.
»View City Financial Reports and Records
Property Tax Rates for City of Elmira Residents
The following are the tax rates for city residents for the City of Elmira, the County of Chemung, and the Elmira City School District. Tax bills may include special district and special user charges including the sewer district, solid waste district and Corning Community College chargebacks. For more information on County tax rates, contact the Chemung County Treasurer's Office at (607) 737-2927. For more information on School District tax rates, contact the school tax collector at (607) 735-3017.
»Look up Chemung County Taxes for your property
»Look up School District Taxes for your property
|
Year |
City Base Tax Rate |
County Base Tax Rate |
Sewer District |
Solid Waste District |
CCC Chargebacks |
Library District |
School Tax Rate |
Total Tax Rate |
| 1996 | $13.36 | $7.77 | $0.67 | $0.38 | $1.59 | - | $17.53 | $41.30 |
| 1997 | $13.22 | $7.64 | $0.65 | $0.40 | $1.42 | - | $17.84 | $41.17 |
| 1998 | $13.22 | $7.72 | $0.66 | $0.42 | $1.58 | - | $17.98 | $41.58 |
| 1999 | $13.22 | $8.11 | $0.67 | $0.44 | $1.75 | - | $18.98 | $43.17 |
| 2000 | $13.22 | $8.11 | $0.70 | $0.46 | $1.47 | - | $18.80 | $42.76 |
| 2001 | $13.22 | $8.06 | $0.70 | $0.43 | $1.49 | - | $18.18 | $42.08 |
| 2002 | $13.62 | $7.66 | $0.70 | $0.41 | $1.50 | - | $18.21 | $42.10 |
| 2003 | $13.88 | $7.26 | $0.71 | $0.40 | $1.83 | - | $18.85 | $42.93 |
| 2004 | $14.64 | $7.12 | $0.76 | $0.39 | $2.02 | - | $19.30 | $44.23 |
| 2005 | $15.15 | $8.33 | $0.80 | $0.39 | $1.77 | - | $20.91 | $47.35 |
| 2006 | $15.74 | $7.53 | $0.67 | $0.33 | $1.93 | $0.65 | $22.20 | $49.05 |
| 2007 | $16.92 | $7.13 | $0.67 | $0.29 | $2.01 | $0.67 | $21.77 | $49.46 |
| 2008 | $17.52 | $7.40 | $0.69 | $0.27 | $1.86 | $0.71 | $21.86 | $50.31 |
| 2009 | $18.02* | ** | ** | ** | ** | ** | ** | ** |
per $1,000 of assessed property
*as proposed in the 2009 Proposed Budget
** information not available at this time
Disclaimer:
Tax rates do not take into account interest and penalties owed on late taxes, exemptions applied to assessed values, or other fees.
In no way is it possible to calculate your exact tax bill using base tax rates. You should NEVER make a tax payment without a tax bill. If you do not have a tax bill, contact the City, County, or School District to request one.
Fiscal Years vary for the City, County, and the School District.
City Property Tax Information
- When:
First Installment Due: May 15th
Second Installment Due: September 15th - Where:
Any Chemung Canal Trust Company Branch
Locations of Chemung Canal Branches - Late Payments:
First Installment: After September 15th, pay at Chamberlain's Office, City Hall
Second Installment: After December 15th, pay at County Treasurer's Office
City tax bills are sent out 30 days before the first installment is due on May 15th. You may pay the full bill all at once or in two installments with the first installment due on May 15th and the second installment due on September 15th.
On-time payments are accepted at any Chemung Canal Trust Company Branch or by mail.
Pay Taxes by Mail
Make all checks payable to the City of Elmira. If you pay by mail, you can request a receipt. Receipts will be issued 10-30 days after payment has been received in Syracuse.
Send payment by mail to:
City of Elmira
C/O Chemung Canal Trust Company
317 E. Church Street
Elmira, NY 14901
First Installments that are made after September 15th must be made at the City Chamberlain's Office on the first floor of City Hall at 317 E. Church Street. Second Installments that are made after December 15th, must be made at the Chemung County Treasurer's Office at 320 E. Market Street. Monthly interest will be calculated and added to all late payments.
Additional fees that may be added to the City tax bill include the Sanitation Fee, Downtown Development assessment for properties in the Downtown Development District, unpaid abatements on the property, and other charges as provided by the City Charter. If you have questions, you can call the City Chamberlain's Office at (607) 737-5661.
»click here to send email to the City Chamberlain's Office
County Property Tax Information
- When:
Due: January 31st
- Where:
Any Chemung Canal Trust Company Branch
Locations of Chemung Canal Branches - Late Payments:
Pay after March 31st at County Treasurer's Office
County Taxes are due on January 31st of each year. Payments are accepted at any Chemung Canal Trust Company branch until March 31st. After that date, payments must be made at the Chemung County Treasurer's office.
Additional taxes that are added to the Chemung County tax bills are the Sewer tax, the County Solid Waste tax, and the Community College tax. If you have questions, you can contact the Chemung County Treasurer's office at (607) 737-2927.
School Property Tax Information
- When:
First Payment Due: October 31st
Second Payment Due: March 31st
- Where:
Any Chemung Canal Trust Company Branch office
Locations of Chemung Canal Branches - Late Payments:
First Installment: Elmira City School District tax office at the Westside branch of Chemung Canal Trust Company at 628 W. Church Street
Second Installment: Pay at Chemung County Treasurer's Office
School Taxes are due in two separate payments on October 31st and March 31st. Payments are accepted at any Chemung Canal Trust Company branch office until the payment due date. Late payments on the first installment (due October 31st) will be assessed monthly interest and must be paid at the Elmira City School District tax office at the Westside branch of the Chemung Canal Trust Company at 628 W. Church Street. Late payments on the second installment (due March 31st) must be paid at the Chemung County Treasurer's Office. If you have questions, call the Elmira City School District Tax Office at (607) 735-3017.
Parking Tickets
Parking on streets and in lots in the City of Elmira is governed by City Ordinances.
»Click here to read the Parking Regulations for the City of Elmira
Parking Violations will result in a ticket being issued by the Elmira Police Department or the City Parking Enforcement Officers.
Pay Tickets Online
Click the button above to pay your parking ticket online with a credit or debit card. You must have the Ticket Number to pay your parking ticket online.
Pay Tickets by Mail
Send check or money order payable to the City of Elmira to:
Parking Violations Bureau
317 E. Church St. First Floor
Elmira, NY 14901
Pay Tickets at City Hall
You can also pay tickets in person in the City Chamberlain's Office on the first floor of City Hall during regular office hours from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Cash or check only.
Mistakes are made in tracking down parking ticket offenders. If you have received a parking notice from the City of Elmira and you feel it is in error please either:- Fax the letter to (607) 737-5783 ATTN: Ben Smith
- Mail to 317 E. Church St., Elmira, NY 14901 ATTN: Ben Smith
- Click here to send email (include the information from the letter)
Give us your vehicle information (such as make and model) and license plate number at the time the ticket was issued and we will research the matter. If you require us to contact you, please provide us with contact information and you will be notified.
How to Contest a Parking Ticket:
Contesting a parking ticket, in other words pleading "not guilty", requires appearance in Elmira City Court. Details as to the date and time of the scheduled appearance can be found on the bottom portion of the Parking Violation Information. You must personally appear in court on this date in order to contest a ticket.
How to find out if you have parking tickets:
»Click here to send an email to the Parking Division
Include your license plate number and your vehicle make and model in the email and we will research your request and inform you of any parking tickets that are on file.
If you have received an unpaid parking ticket notice in error:
»Click here to email the City Chamberlain's Office
Include important information such as the time and date of the infraction, your license plate number, and vehicle make and model. The Chamberlain's Office will research the circumstances surrounding the ticket in question and will follow up with you regarding the ticket.
Commercial Sanitation
By the rules and regulations of the Local Law Number 1 of 2003, the City of Elmira offers weekly solid waste collection and disposal services to commercial businesses that apply for the service and pay the sanitation fees prior to the service start. Commercial Sanitation fees are $180 per year for one to six bags per week and 1 recyclable bin, $360 per year for seven to twelve bags per week and 2 recyclable bins, or $1,200 for a 6 cubic yard dumpster.
»Click here to read Local Law Number 1 of 2003
To opt in to the Commercial Sanitation Program:
»Click here to open the Commercial Sanitation Opt-In Application
Follow the directions on the form and bring all copies of the completed form to the City Chamberlain's Office. The application will be forwarded to the Department of Public Services for approval. The Chamberlain's Office will bill you a pro-rated amount based on the calendar year rates specified on the application. You must pay the full amount due prior to the service date and service will begin the first day of the second month following the date of the application.
Tax Clearance Requests
Tax Clearance Request is a request to research outstanding city taxes on a specified property. This search will also reveal if there are any outstanding abatements on the property. A Tax Clearance Certificate will not be issued if the property has delinquent city taxes or abatements. Tax Clearance Requests are available in the City Chamberlain's Office and the cost is $20.00.
Tax Satisfaction
In order to request a tax satisfaction on a property, please provide a copy of the certificate of tax sale to the City Chamberlain's Office. The Chamberlain's Office will verify that all payments have been made on the property and issue a Tax Satisfaction Certificate. A Tax Satisfaction Certificate costs $20.00.
Doing Business with the City
The Chamberlain's Office is responsible for the accounts receivable and accounts payable of all City transactions. Vendors should contact the Chamberlain's Office regarding all matters of payment of invoices. Original invoices should be submitted to the originating department for approval of payment. Once the originating department approves payment, the Chamberlain's Office is responsible for payment. Internal process control will delay payment of invoices sent directly to the Chamberlain's Office.
»Click here for the City Purchasing Policy and instructions to vendors
