COMPTROLLER GIVES SCHOOL DISTRICTS A REPRIEVE RAISES TAX CAP UP FROM 0.06% TO 0.12 %. WHITE PLAINS DISTRICT IS ABLE TO ROLL OVER BUDGET, ABSORB SALARY INCREASES WITHOUT CUTS

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From the NYS Office of the Comptroller and reporting by John F. Bailey. January 21, 2016:

Property tax levy growth for school districts will be capped at 0.12 percent above current levels for the 2016-17 fiscal year, according to data released Wednesday by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The latest calculation affects the tax cap calculations for 677 school districts as well as 10 cities, including the “Big Four” cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers.

In White Plains City School District, the raising of the anticipated cap from 0.06% to 0.12%, enabled the district to present an anticipated 2016-17 budget of $209.3 Million, up from the 2015-16 current budget in effect of $205.8 Million.

Effect on the tax levy was not detailed, awaiting the city assessment role due March 1. Final school aid from the state is not known. Last year some $2 Million in additional school aid was given the district at the last minute, and it was used to increase staff and pay for increased security.The budget may require adjusting (cuts or additional expenses) if the city assessed value, prepared by White Plains Assessor, Lloyd Tasch, increases in value or declines.

The preliminary budget was presented before about 6 citizens and six members of the school board and employees of the district at a widely advertised public meeting last night at White Plains High School. It is the smallest attendance this reporter has ever seen in the 16 years WPCNR has covered these preliminary runthroughs of the budget.

Meanwhile in another part of White Plains High School, a panel discussion updating parents held by a private group and urging more opting out of state assessment tests by parents this year attendance was greater, about 35 persons, including school board members,  compared to the 6 citizens plus board members by WPCNR count.

“The nearly zero growth in the tax cap will limit budget options for school and municipal officials as they plan for next year,” said DiNapoli. “Although some local governments can rely on available reserve funds to bridge the gap, others may need to take a hard look at operations to find ways to cut costs to stay under the cap.”

The tax cap, which first applied to local governments beginning in 2012, limits tax levy increases to the lesser of the rate of inflation or 2 percent with certain exceptions, including a provision that allows school districts to override the cap with 60 percent voter approval of their budget.

For 2016-17, DiNapoli estimates the state’s school districts (excluding New York City and the Big Four city school districts) will have about $308 million less in levy growth compared to what they had in 2015-16 when the allowable growth factor was 1.62 percent.

White Plains Assistant Superintendent of Business, Fred Seiler said last night at the budget presentation that the 0.12% cap cost the district $3,206,620 in tax levy…compared to the 2% in effect this year (2015-16).

Similarly, the 10 cities in New York with fiscal years ending June 30, will have about $14 million less in allowable levy growth in 2016-17 than during the current fiscal year.

For the list of allowable tax levy growth factors for all local governments, visit:
http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/realprop/pdf/inflation_allowablegrowthfactors.pdf

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