A proposed school property tax exemption for wartime veterans will be the subject of a public hearing before the Riverhead Board of Education Tuesday night.
State lawmakers authorized the exemption in a bill passed during the 2013 session; it took effect Dec. 1. The new law authorizes a school property tax exemption for veterans who served “during a period of war,” defined by the statute as: the Persian Gulf Conflict (on or after Aug. 2, 1990); the Vietnam War (Feb. 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975); the Korean War (June 27, 1950-Jan. 31, 1955); or World War II (Dec. 7, 1941-Dec. 31, 1946.) Prior to the change in the law, only counties, towns and villages could grant these exemptions.
There are different exemption levels for eligible veterans: combat veterans, noncombat veterans and disabled veterans. The measure allows the exemption from school property taxes of a certain percentage of assessed value; the percentage depends on the classification of the property owner (combat, noncombat or disabled.) Each exemption comes with a cap that limits the total exemption available. For example, the noncombat veterans exemption is 15 percent of a property’s assessed valuation, with a basic maximum exemption of $12,000; the combat veteran exemption is 25 percent of assessed value, with a basic maximum exemption of $20,000. A maximum exemption of $52,000 would be allowed for disabled veterans.
School board members have indicated their desire to offer the exemption, but worried about the tax impacts on the rest of the district’s taxpayers.
According to officials, if the exemption is implemented, RCSD school taxes on the “average” home in the Town of Riverhead would increase by $21.15 per year; the school tax bill on the “average” home in Southampton Town within the Riverhead school district would increase by $24.36 per year; district taxpayers in the Brookhaven portion of the district would see their tax bills rise by $19.28 per year for the “average” home in that township.
2014-2015 operating budget adoption expected
The Board of Education is set to adopt a proposed $121,285,298 operating budget for the 2014-2015 school year tomorrow night.
The board will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget May 13, one week before the statewide school budget vote May 20.
An $852,000 bump in state aid over the amount originally allocated in the governor’s state budget plan will allow the district to hire two additional ESL teachers, spend more money on maintenance items and still keep the tax levy under 2 percent, according to Superintendent Nancy Carney.
The district’s tax levy for the upcoming school year will be $93,500,131 — $368,000 below the 2 percent cap mandated by state law. Overall spending will increase 3.13 percent in 2014-2015, according to documents provided by the school district.
Additional ESL teachers are very badly needed, Carney told school board members at the board’s last meeting. In the 2005-2006 school year, there were 11 ESL teachers to instruct 378 ESL students, she said. Today, there are 13 ESL teachers for 870 ESL students. ESL teachers instruct in English and teach non-native speakers the language, Carney noted.
2012-2013 Actual |
2013-2014 Approved |
2014-2015 Proposed |
Percent Change |
|
General Support | $10,160,103 | $11,715,448 | $11,818,615 | 0.88% |
Inatruction and Administration |
$63,170,198 | $65,632,340 | $68,219,901 | 3.94% |
Transportation | $5,556,449 | $5,829,145 | $5,744,999 | -1.44% |
Benefits and Debt Service |
$26,244,288 | $34,426,672 | $35,501,783 | 3.12% |
$105,131,038 | $117,503,605 | $121,285,298 | 3.13% |
2013-2014 Budgeted |
2014-2015 Anticipated |
Percent Change |
|
Property Tax Levy | $91,668,001 | $93,500,131 | 2.00% |
State Aid | $19,778,404 | $21,552,967 | 8.97% |
Appropriated Fund Balances and other Reserves |
$3,050,000 | $3,125,000 | 2.46% |
PILOTs | $800,000 | $800,000 | 0.00% |
Tutions | $1,138,000 | $1,138,000 | 0.00% |
Reimbursements and Refunds | $575,000 | $575,000 | 0.00% |
Interest, Donations & Misc. | $594,000 | $594,200 | 0.00% |
TOTAL | $117,603,605 | $121,285,298 | 3.13% |
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