Blaming the State government and declines in property values for the need to take the unprecedented step of cutting school spending, the nine-person New Rochelle Board of Education last night agreed in an 8-0 roll call vote to authorize the budget put for by Schools Superintendent Richard Organisciak. Cindy Babcock-Deutsch, the former Board President whose term ends in July but is not seeking re-election, was not present for the vote on the resolution.
The district is projecting that the proposed school tax levee will result in a 3.8% school property tax increase. Last year’s projected school tax increase was 3.2% but ended up between 6% and 9% due to a failure of school officials to base their revenue projections on realistic estimates of tax appeals in the wake of the massive property value decline over the past few years.
The budget will cut $5mm from last year’s budget, which was the largest ever in the history of the District. This year’s budget is the second largest ever proposed for a budget vote in New Rochelle. The board announced that there will be 75 job cuts.
The budget cuts and tax increases are likely to continue into next year according to economists who foresee larger cuts in New York State school funding and a flat real estate market over the year. It will take 4 to 5 years of similar action by the district to bring the budget in line with home values. Local property taxes account for more than 70% of district revenue.
The tax levee vote will take place on May 18, 2010.
Amazing how last years 3.2% increase was actually 6.7%!
Having just received my school tax bill in the mail I wanted to check and see what increase I actually paid this year vs. last year and yes my taxes went up 6.7% so what happened to 3.2% tax increase voters approved last May?
And let me tell you another thing, the tax bill itself is very deceiving because it says my taxes went up only 2.56%. What kind of math is the school board using? And what does that say about this years 3.8% increase? Will it be closer to 8% or 9%? I think the obvious answer is YES, so how can anyone support it?
The fact that most homeowners who escrow for their property taxes don’t see the bills is a problem that shouldn’t be overlooked. Most have no idea what their paying and I encourage everyone to be more proactive regarding their taxes and holding our elected officials (including the school board) accountable.