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Ask the Superintendent -
October 24, 2007
On December 4, 2007, the residents of our
community will be asked to go to the polls to vote
on a $69,949,000 Referendum for a capital
improvement project that is being proposed to
address increasing enrollment in our schools. The
referendum vote will culminate a comprehensive
three-year study by the Growth Task Force on this
issue with refinements by the Board of Education.
Those of us who work in the district see the
enrollment growth in our schools each day. Two
thorough Demographic Studies commissioned by the
Board of Education (January 2006/August 2007)
predict this growth will continue.
The proposal being placed before the voters is the
one plan, out of the eleven possible scenarios
studied, that best meets future educational needs
and also provides the district with the best State
Aid ratio. The plans studied ranged from 100 million
dollars, with the construction of a new High School,
to 55 million dollars to meet the minimum range
growth projection. The proposal endorsed by the
Growth Task Force and the Board of Education targets
the mid-range growth projection and provides the
district with the best dollar value to meet future
educational requirements.
Our building aid ratio is 58.4%, which translates to
the State of New York paying for almost half of this
project. (In a future article I will go into more
detail on this “new math”). The community must, if
the referendum is approved, pay for the other half.
This is the half that concerns all of us the most.
The following information is provided to help you
better understand the financial impact of this
Building Project:
- The district
plans to finance the Building Project over 21
years through Bond Anticipation Notes (BANS)
and/or bonds;
- The cost of
this Building Project will be phased in over a
two-year period in an effort to ease the initial
impact on the tax levy (and the residents);
- During the
first year, the Building Project will result in
an additional 3.8% to the established tax levy.
For example: if the tax levy increase is 5%, you
must add an additional 3.8% for a total increase
of 8.8% for that year;
- During the
second year, the Building Project will result in
an additional 4.2% to the established tax levy.
For example: if the tax levy is 5%, you must add
an additional 4.2% for a total increase of 9.2%
for that year.
- Thereafter,
from year three through 21, the increase will be
incorporated into your tax bill.
In an attempt to
give you the most accurate personalized information,
we will be placing during the first week of
November, a “clicker/calculator” on our web page.
This will allow you to calculate your annual
estimated school tax increase for the capital
project over your 2007/08 tax bill. You will simply
have to enter your the assessed value of your home
to ascertain the actual increase to your tax bill
for this Building Project in year one and also for
year two. We are trying to provide you with the most
accurate information possible.
Although exceptionally general, the following chart
will give you an idea of what this calculator can
do. I am selecting two broad range assessments. The
calculator is personalized by town and by an
individual’s home assessment. For this example I am
only using the Town and Village of Goshen.
Capital Improvement Project
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Assessed
Valuation for Goshen
(Village and Town)
$100,000 |
Assessed
Valuation for Goshen
(Village and Town)
$100,000 |
| Year 1 -
Estimated Additional Tax |
$103 per
year
$8.60 per month |
$206 per year
$17 per month |
| Year 2 -
Estimated Additional Tax |
$214 per
year
$18.00 per month |
$428 per year
$36 per month |
Our date book for our Capital Project Tour is
filling up rapidly. Remember our motto – “Any group
of two will do.” If you would like us to explain or
have us answer your questions, please call 294-2410
so that we may address your concerns.
Roy Reese
Superintendent of Schools
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