Tax Hikes Fluctuate in Adopted Lakeland Budget
Projected tax increases for property owners in the Lakeland School District will range from less than one percent in Carmel to 4.6% in Cortlandt under the proposed $160.3 million 2013-14 budget recently adopted by the Board of Education.
Tax rates vary in the six municipalities in the district due to assessments and equalization formulas which are out of Lakeland’s control. Besides the proposed hikes in Carmel and Cortlandt, school taxes are slated to jump 1.3% in Yorktown, 1.4% in Somers, 4% in PutnamValley and 2.5% in Philipstown.
District officials said Lakeland only received $31,000 more in state aid than they anticipated, which had no affect on the budget. To balance the budget and keep the tax levy within the state mandated cap, $8.15 million was utilized from fund balance and reserve accounts.
Also assisting the district was the acceptance of retirement incentives by 18 certified and seven support staff employees that helped close a $1.46 million deficit. Eight of those positions will not be replaced due to enrollment decreases and program restructuring.
“For the last two years we did have retirement incentives that worked quite well. That’s a major help,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. George Stone. “We obviously can’t count on that every year. We have to do planning already for next year.”
The proposed budget, which residents will head to the polls to decide on May 21, maintains current class sizes, a full range of interscholastic and co-curricular programs, and continues existing programs including advanced placement, science research, music and art programs. In addition, no additional fees will be charged to community groups for use of district facilities and grounds, as is being done in the neighboring YorktownSchool District.
A public hearing on Lakeland’s budget will be held May 7 at 7 p.m. at the AdministrationBuilding in Shrub Oak.
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