Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
ROSS TIMOTHY
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM INC [CBU]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Vice Pres, Bus. Development
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
6635 KIRKVILLE ROAD, P.O. BOX 178
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/10/2006
(Street)

EAST SYRACUSE, NY 13057
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 03/10/2006   M   30,000 A $ 12.4165 37,400 D  
Common Stock 03/10/2006   M   4,500 A $ 6.625 41,900 D  
Common Stock 03/10/2006   M   5,500 A $ 5.7291 47,400 D  
Common Stock 03/10/2006   S   10,000 A $ 19.0505 37,400 D  
Common Stock 03/10/2006   S   15,000 A $ 18.8655 22,400 D  
Common Stock 03/10/2006   S   15,000 A $ 19.0666 7,400 D  

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option $ 12.4165 03/10/2006   M     30,000 11/02/1999 11/02/2009 Common Stock 30,000 $ 12.4165 0 D  
Stock Option $ 6.625 03/10/2006   M     4,500 11/10/1997 11/10/2007 Common Stock 4,500 $ 6.625 0 D  
Stock Option $ 5.7291 03/10/2006   M     5,500 11/19/1998 11/19/2008 Common Stock 5,500 $ 5.7291 0 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
ROSS TIMOTHY
6635 KIRKVILLE ROAD
P.O. BOX 178
EAST SYRACUSE, NY 13057
      Vice Pres, Bus. Development  

Signatures

 David M. Ferrara, as attorney-in-fact, pursuant to a power of attorney   03/13/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

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