Norwich School District zeroes out tax levy increase
NORWICH – Residents of the Norwich City School District may see some relief in their school taxes this year, thanks to a resolution adopted Wednesday night by the district’s board of education.
When voters took to the polls on May 19, they approved a spending plan for the district which was estimated to increase the local tax levy by 2.72 percent. That increase won’t be necessary, according to Deputy Superintendent Margaret Boice.
At last night’s meeting, Boice recommended that the board authorize a tax warrant for the 2009-10 academic year which represented no increase over the previous year. Further, she explained that given a decrease in the proposed budget for Guernsey Memorial Library, the total warrant issued was in fact $17,067 less than the prior year, representing a slight decrease in the local tax levy.
“We’ve ended the year in very good shape,” Boice said, explaining that she felt “very comfortable” recommending the zero tax levy increase given the district’s undesignated fund balance at the end of the 2008-09 fiscal year.
Whether or not individual taxpayers will see a reflection of this in their tax bills, however, remains to be seen.
“Theoretically, everyone should see a decrease,” Boice said. But according to the deputy superintendent, the district only has control over the amount of the warrant they issue, not how it is apportioned.
“Everything else is subject to changes in assessed value and the equalization rate,” she explained. With district boundaries encompassing ten Chenango townships, as well as the City of Norwich, the impact on individual tax bills will depend on assessed value and equalization rates in each of those eleven municipalities. As a result, some may see more of a decrease while others may still actually see an increase, she said.
Boice also alerted the board to something which could cause future uncertainty for the district.
“I was given notice that Walmart is going to grieve their assessment,” she reported, relaying information she had received from two Town of Norwich assessors. “They are asking for a substantial reduction of over $3 million.”
As the grievance procedure for businesses differs from residential property owners, the Town of Norwich, where the big box retailer is located, will be left to defend its position in court, she explained.
According to Boice, a $3 million decrease in the town’s tax base could potentially cause a 3 percent or more swing for taxpayers in that part of the district. If the matter were to be settled mid-year in Walmart’s favor, the district itself would be forced to reach into its coffers to make up the shortfall.
The tax warrant authorized by the board will raise a total of $10,887,257, of which $9,951,453 will go to the school district and the remaining $935,804 to Guernsey Library.
The budget approved by the taxpayers in May totaled $37,873,070, a .86 percent increase in spending over the 2008-09 year.
When voters took to the polls on May 19, they approved a spending plan for the district which was estimated to increase the local tax levy by 2.72 percent. That increase won’t be necessary, according to Deputy Superintendent Margaret Boice.
At last night’s meeting, Boice recommended that the board authorize a tax warrant for the 2009-10 academic year which represented no increase over the previous year. Further, she explained that given a decrease in the proposed budget for Guernsey Memorial Library, the total warrant issued was in fact $17,067 less than the prior year, representing a slight decrease in the local tax levy.
“We’ve ended the year in very good shape,” Boice said, explaining that she felt “very comfortable” recommending the zero tax levy increase given the district’s undesignated fund balance at the end of the 2008-09 fiscal year.
Whether or not individual taxpayers will see a reflection of this in their tax bills, however, remains to be seen.
“Theoretically, everyone should see a decrease,” Boice said. But according to the deputy superintendent, the district only has control over the amount of the warrant they issue, not how it is apportioned.
“Everything else is subject to changes in assessed value and the equalization rate,” she explained. With district boundaries encompassing ten Chenango townships, as well as the City of Norwich, the impact on individual tax bills will depend on assessed value and equalization rates in each of those eleven municipalities. As a result, some may see more of a decrease while others may still actually see an increase, she said.
Boice also alerted the board to something which could cause future uncertainty for the district.
“I was given notice that Walmart is going to grieve their assessment,” she reported, relaying information she had received from two Town of Norwich assessors. “They are asking for a substantial reduction of over $3 million.”
As the grievance procedure for businesses differs from residential property owners, the Town of Norwich, where the big box retailer is located, will be left to defend its position in court, she explained.
According to Boice, a $3 million decrease in the town’s tax base could potentially cause a 3 percent or more swing for taxpayers in that part of the district. If the matter were to be settled mid-year in Walmart’s favor, the district itself would be forced to reach into its coffers to make up the shortfall.
The tax warrant authorized by the board will raise a total of $10,887,257, of which $9,951,453 will go to the school district and the remaining $935,804 to Guernsey Library.
The budget approved by the taxpayers in May totaled $37,873,070, a .86 percent increase in spending over the 2008-09 year.
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