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Setting the Tax Rate for 2008 2009

Sayville School District

SETTING THE

2008-2009 TAX RATE

 

 

Despite today’s turbulent financial climate, the Sayville School District and Board of Education have continued to hold down the tax rate at 3.99%.  While this has not been easy, the Sayville Board of Education and the District want our fellow Sayville residents to know and better understand what has been behind the process of setting the tax rate this year.

 

THE PROCESS

Each year, the Town of Islip determines the taxable assessment or “Assessed Valuation" of all properties in Sayville and also provides the “Base Allocation” figure that represents the percentage of Homestead (Residential) and NonHomestead (Business) properties within the District. These values change annually based upon such things as the number of homes sold, new homes built, developed properties throughout the year, and Tax CERTs (adjustments to home owners’ tax rates). School districts receive this information in August.

 

tHE Significance of ECONOMIC FACTORS that affect setTING THE TAX RATE

 

-         BASE ALLOCATION FOR 2008-2009

Over the last several years, Sayville has supported legislation to minimize the shift from NonHomestead to Homestead. Even so, this year there has been a shift of almost 1% to the Homestead tax base. Unfortunately, this shift has a negative impact to the Homestead (Residential) tax rate.

  -         ASSESSED VALUATION for 2008 2009

For the first time in nearly a decade, there has been a decrease in Sayville’s assessed valuation (taxable properties). This decline is the result of several factors:

o       Decreases in NonHomestead values mainly due to tax certeriori on significant properties in Sayville.

o       Limited or no new land available for commercial or residential building

o       Decline in the housing market and home sales

  -         STATE AID

One of the largest pieces of the revenue pie, State Aid had been crucial in supporting the public school system. Over the years, however, New York State Aid has wavered in providing funds, making it increasingly difficulty for school districts to forecast education costs and project a tax rate at Budget Time in May. For the 2008-2009 school year, the District will be receiving approximately $540,000 less aid due to prior year adjustments.

 

THE SILVER LINING

Aware that all these factors have a negative impact in the setting of the tax rate, Sayville School District met at a recent Board Meeting with the Board of Education (elected volunteers from the Sayville community and fellow taxpayers) to set the final tax levy.

 

Despite such challenging conditions, Sayville could not allow the complex economic trend to go unchecked; otherwise taxpayers would have been hit with a tax rate increase of 6.45%.

 

To curb this unacceptable rise and set the increase lower—to 3.99%—, the  Sayville Board of Education and Administration needed $1,105,000. 

 

Acknowledging the shift in base allocations, the decreased assessed valuation, and the changes to State Aid that put the burden on the residents this year, the Sayville School Board of Education voted to transfer $1,105,000 from the Fund Balance. This transfer will keep the tax rate increase at the projected rate of 3.99%, which the District proposed when the Budget was presented to the community last May.

  

While school districts across Long Island are experiencing similar frustrations, the Sayville Board of Education continued to hold the line: the result of their diligence in working closely with Sayville District Administrators, along with their commitment to excellence in fiscal as well as academic matters.

 

It is also to the Board’s credit that in previous consecutive years, the projected tax rate increase had been reduced to rates lower than originally proposed at Budget vote.

 

This kind of dedication in managing resources contributes to Sayville School District’s success in affording quality programs that give our students opportunities to excel.

 

TIMES ARE CHANGING

Sayville School District assures residents that we are listening to your concerns. We understand full well today’s challenges and its impact on the economy. However, the writing is on the wall: based upon the current fiscal climate, we anticipate these economic troubles will continue even as we enter the 2009-2010 Budget Process. While we remain dedicated to offering our children the best education, we will be making difficult choices that may affect our programs.

 

As in the past, we realize that we can only succeed with our community’s support—that is why we need to hear from you. Please join us at our monthly Board meetings, attend the Superintendent’s Roundtables, and stay informed.