School Board Criticizes Tax Cap
The two-percent state mandated property tax cap is not popular at the Pleasantville School District.
That was one of the messages delivered at the Pleasantville Board of Education’s budget work session held last Tuesday. The work session is the first in a series designed to educate district residents on the challenges the district faces as officials prepare the 2012-2013 budget.
Despite it being November, officials have already begun work on next year’s budget. Recently, a citizens committee was formed, giving residents a chance to have their voice shared on the budget.
Tuesday’s work session primarily focused on the tax cap and how it impacts the residents. The tax cap has never been popular in the district, as officials have complained that it is ineffective and provides no mandate relief for rising pension and health care costs.
“The cap has the potential to widen the gulf between the haves and the have nots,” Board President Lois Winkler said. “Taxes will remain high but services will be effected.”
The tax cap, which is a cap on the tax levy, not the tax increase, will allow the district to levy $32,975,420 in taxes, an increase of $666,252, or 1.87 percent from 2011-2012.
Read more in the Nov. 15 to Nov. 21 edition of The Examiner.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.