Proposed Horseheads school budget includes tax increase, but state aid could soften blow
Residents in the Horseheads Central School District will be asked to vote Tuesday to approve a proposed 2025-26 school budget that will raise property taxes.
But school officials say unexpected additional state aid that was approved as part of the late state budget will help lessen the impact on the school tax rate.
The Horseheads Board of Education approved a tentative $105,800,502 budget that would increase both spending and the tax rate by about 3% over the 2024-25 spending plan.
Because the tax increase exceeds the state-imposed limit, it will take a 60% supermajority of voters to override the cap and approve the budget.
School Superintendent Thomas Douglas is asking residents to approve the budget as presented, and then he will ask the school board to apply the additional $384,119 in foundation aid to lessen the property tax impact.
"This new, but welcomed, late state revenue will allow me to further meet the expectations of the board, while also helping our community. This is the right thing to do with this additional state aid," Douglas said.
"Pending the outcome of the challenged budget being voted on this Tuesday, I will recommend to the Board of Education in August, upon the community approval of the budget this week, the additional late state aid should be utilized to reduce the estimated tax rate from $0.48 per $1,000 to $0.36 per $1,000 of assessed full value, while still preserving all programs and services for our students," he said.
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The proposed budget right now would increase the tax rate from the current $15.94 per $1,000 of assessed value to $16.42. For a home with a full-value assessment of $100,000, that would result in a $48 property tax increase for the year.
Final full value tax rates are calculated in August, once assessment values and equalization rates are confirmed by each municipality. Thus, if the budget passes Tuesday, the additional state aid would be applied at that time to ease the tax burden, Douglas said.
Residents on Tuesday will also be asked to vote on a proposition to purchase school buses at a cost not to exceed $1.9 million, and to choose among seven candidates running for three available school board seats.
The vote will take place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday in the Horseheads High School north gym. Voters should enter through the pool entrance.
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Horseheads residents will vote on new school budget with tax increase
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