This comes from today’s Albany Time Union. The Town of Bethlehem – which encompasses Delmar, Elsmere, Glenmont, Selkirk, Slingerlands, and South and North Bethlehem – is planning to increase property taxes by 8% in 2013.

Interestingly enough, the 8% Bethlehem property tax increase in 2013, would amount to an overall lower tax levy than 2012. In 2012 the Town of Bethlehem collected $13.2 million compared to a projected $12.8 million despite the projected 8% tax increase. The reduction in the tax levy is directly related to the loss of prearranged tax payments made by Selkirk Cogen natural gas plant.

So what does this mean to Bethlehem home owners, it would me a modest annual increase in your town property tax bill. According to the Time Union: “taxes would increase from $3.28 for every $1,000 of assessed value in 2012 to $3.54 for every $1,000. For a home assessed at $250,000, taxes will go up by about $65.” For example for a Bethlehem or Delmar home every $100,000 in assessed value, would mean a property tax bill increase of $26 annually.

Despite the tax increase, Bethlehem would still have to cut services due to the lower tax levy. Although there would be no layoffs, the town is projecting to eliminate 16 positions due to attrition. The biggest cut in services would be the elimination of funding for Colonial Acres Golf Course.

Any proposed tax plan would first have to be reviewed by the Town of Bethlehem board members and submitted to a public hearing before it can be adopted.

All things consider Bethlehem’s tax increase is in line with much of what we’ve been hearing in surrounding towns in Albany County, and lower than the increase projected in the City of Albany.

For more market data on Bethlehem homes for sale including Delmar homes for sale,  you can check out the other pages on our website. For a listing of active Bethlehem and Delmar houses for sale, you can search here.