TOWN CLERK & TAX COLLECTOR

We issue marriage licenses, death certificates, hunting and dog licenses, and trash tickets. The office also handles water and sewer bills, accepts payments, and manages the collection of property taxes.

As the Receiver of Taxes and Records Access Officer, the Clerk’s Office takes care of tax billing and FOIL requests, making sure records are accessible and up to date.

We also keep official records of Town Board meetings, including minutes, resolutions, and local laws.

DOG LICENSING INFORMATION

New York State requires that all dogs over the age of 4 months be licensed. The Town Clerk's Office issues dog licenses under the authority of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

To obtain a license, the owner must provide to the Town Clerk's Office the following veterinary documentation:

Proof of Current Rabies Vaccination that includes the serial number and manufacturer of that vaccine.
Proof of the dog having been spayed or neutered (only if the dog has been spayed or neutered).

The dog license must be renewed on a yearly basis. Renewal notices will be sent out; however, if you move out of the Town, please contact the Town Clerk's Office to have the dog's information updated to reflect it.

Licensing Fee

Schedule:

Spayed/Neutered:

$12.00

Not Spayed/Neutered:

$22.00

Lindsay Hess

Dog Control Officer

(315) 816-6000

Fees may be paid by cash, check, or credit card at the Town Office Building.

Dog License Form

HUNTING & FISHING LICENSING

The Town Clerk's Office issues hunting, fishing and trapping licenses under the authority of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC).

Hunting licenses are valid from October 1st to September 30th, with new licenses for the following year typically become available for purchase in mid-August.

Fishing licenses are valid for 1 year from the date of purchase.

Fees vary and are payable by cash or check. Proof of New York State residency must be presented to receive licenses at state resident prices.

For additional information, please visit New York State DEC.

MARRIAGE LICENSING

A New York State marriage license can be obtained from the Town Clerk's Office. Marriage licenses are not valid during the 24-hour waiting period after issuance, but they are good for 60 days after that.

Both parties must apply in person and provide the following:

Proof of Age: a government issued birth certificate with a raised or multi-colored seal or naturalization papers.
Proof of Identity: a Driver's License, Passport, employment picture ID, or immigration record.

Marriage License Form

Marriage License Fee Schedule:

General Public: $40.00 Active Duty Military: $17.50

If this is not the first marriage for either party:

The applicant(s) must present certified documents of the dissolution of any previous marriage(s), such as a divorce decree or death certificate.

Need certified copies of your marriage certificate?

Certified copies can be obtained from the Town Clerk's office, only if the original marriage license was issued from the Town of LeRay. An application form must be submitted along with photo identification. There is a $10 fee for this service, payable by cash, check, or card. For more information on marriage licensing, please visit the New York State Department of Health.

DISABLED PARKING PERMIT

The Town Clerk's Office issues disabled parking permits under the authority of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.

In order to obtain a disabled parking permit, the applicant must provide the following:

A completed application form filled out by the applicant's healthcare provider, which is either a Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (PDM), or Nurse Practitioner (NP) *The application must have the healthcare provider's original signature.
A valid Driver's License or non-driver ID card (if applicable).

Applicants may authorize a third party to present this information and obtain a permit on his/her behalf.

For additional information, please visit the New York State DMV.

PROPERTY TAX COLLECTION

All Tax Bills are available to view or print online (click here). To find your parcel(s), just click on the Public Access option and input your town and last name.

PLEASE NOTE

Tax payments can be left in our drop-box in the front foyer during and after business hours.

If you have any questions about your tax bill or need more information about tax rolls, tax rates, or tax exemptions that you may be eligible for to reduce your taxes, please contact the Town Assessor.

IMPORTANT! To take advantage of the installment payment option, you must pay the first installment by January 31, 2025. Payments must be postmarked on or before January 31, 2025 to qualify for this option.

Payment-in-Full Process

As a resident, you can pay your Town and County taxes to the Town Clerk, who is the Receiver of Taxes. Tax bills are mailed out at the end of December, and property owners have the entire month of January to pay without penalty. Late payments are subject to penalties, so make sure to pay on time!

You can make your payment in person using cash or check. If you prefer to mail in your payment, use a check or money order and send it to Melissa Verne, Tax Receiver, 8650 LeRay Street, Evans Mills, NY 13637. Remember, the envelope must be postmarked by the United States Postal Service on or before the due date, or you'll incur a payment penalty.

If you miss the due date, penalties will accrue each month as follows:

February 1 to March 3: 1.0% penalty
March 4 to March 12: 2.0% penalty

After March 12, the Town Clerk will no longer accept tax payments. Unpaid tax bills will be sent to the Jefferson County Treasurer at: 175 Arsenal Street, Watertown, NY 13601.

Installment Payment Process

If you prefer to make your Town and County tax payments in installments, the Town offers an Installment Payment Process, and the details and amounts are listed on your bill. To take advantage of this option, you must make your payments to the Town Clerk by the following dates, using the same methods as listed above:

First Installment: January 31, 2025

Second Installment: March 31, 2025

Third Installment: May 30, 2025

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LAW (FOIL)

The Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers Law, Article 6) (FOIL) grants members of the public access to the records of government in accordance with its provisions. For more information about FOIL and the Personal Privacy Protection Law (Public Officers Law, Article 6-A), please visit the New York State Committee on Open Government’s website.

The Town Clerk Office is the Records Access Officer for the Town of LeRay "Records".

Records means any information kept, held, filed, produced or reproduced by, with, or for the department, in any physical form whatsoever including, but not limited to, reports, statements, examinations, memoranda, opinions, folders, files, books, manuals, pamphlets, forms, papers, designs, drawings, maps, photos, letters, microfilms, computer tapes or disks, rules, regulations or codes.

State Law exempts certain records from disclosure. The Records Access Officer may deny your request, in whole, or in part, if it falls under these exemptions. For more information on exemptions, please refer to subdivision two of section eighty-seven of Article 6 of the Public Officers Law.

PROCEDURE FOR REQUESTS:

Written requests are required, and shall be sent to the Records Access Officers. A request shall reasonably describe the record or records sought. Whenever possible, a person requesting records should supply information regarding dates, file designations or other information that may help to describe the records sought.

RECORDS ACCESS OFFICERS:

Melissa Verne | Town Clerk

Mary Hebert | Deputy Town Clerk

TOWN of LERAY

Jefferson County, New York

TOWN CLERK & TAX COLLECTOR

Related Resources

Applications

Contact Us

Melissa L. Verne