Eldred’s school budget questions

ELDRED, NY — On May 18, Eldred Central School voters will be asked to approve a 2004-05 budget with expenditures of $11,220,136, up 9.48 percent from the current school year budget.

To raise that money, the district tax levy, which is based on the governor’s proposal for state aid and the property values in the current tax rolls, would increase by 14.68 percent. The tax levy figure is higher than the new expenditure figure to offset reductions in other revenues supporting the budget.

Based on those numbers, the individual taxpayer will pay the tax rate increase, which is estimated to be 3.48 percent.

For this present school year, district residents paid $14.64 per one thousand of assessed value or $1,464 for a $100,000 home. With the 3.48 percent tax rate increase, residents will pay $15.15 or an additional $51 taxes on a $100,000 home.

Historically, these tax levy and tax rate figures are conservative estimates, as the state Legislature usually increases the Governor’s recommended state aid amounts in the final state budget. Additionally, new construction is expected to increase the tax base values in both Highland and Lumberland when new tax rolls are completed later this summer. Both of these actions would further reduce the tax levy and the tax rate.

The school budget will also include propositions to approve $8,000 in funding for the Sunshine Hall Free Library and $168,000 for the purchase of two 65-passenger school buses and 20 security cameras for the bus fleet.

Incumbent school board member Robert Warden is running unopposed for re-election.