Cambridge Finance Department
About
The Cambridge Finance Department manages the city’s operating and capital finances, handling their planning, implementation, oversight, integrity and reporting. For most residents and property owners, it is the office that processes payments for real estate and personal property taxes, motor vehicle excise tax, water bills and municipal lien certificates. It also publishes yearly property tax information, including newsletters on tax rates, exemptions and deferrals.
The department brings together several divisions: Assessing, Auditing, Budget, Information Technology, Personnel, Purchasing and Treasury. Payments can be made online, by mail or through a drop box behind City Hall that accepts checks and money orders. The city now uses property software that pulls records directly from the Massachusetts Registry of Deeds, reducing manual data entry and improving consistency from year to year.
What to Know
- Payments count as made when received by the Collector, not when postmarked.
- Cash should never be left in the payment drop box.
- A water and sewer discount program is available for seniors.
- Residents can donate to the City Scholarship Fund through the department.
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