Greece Central board finalizes $128.07 million 2025–26 tax levy; board votes to adopt warrant

The Greece Central School District Board of Education on Thursday approved the districts 202526 tax levy and tax warrant, finalizing a levy of $128,072,028 and formally instructing district staff to submit the warrant and related paperwork.

The action came after a presentation from district staff explaining how changes in state equalization rates and the STAR reimbursement program will change the amount taxed and the distribution of who pays. "For tonight, we are gonna finalize the 25/26 budget development season with the, hopefully the approval of the tax warrant," said Romeo, a district staff member who led the presentation.

The board adopted the levy and the warrant in a recorded motion on agenda item 5.01. Vice President Stencil moved the establishment of the 202526 tax levy and Mister Maloney seconded; the motion passed 9 to 0. Board members were asked to sign the warrant with district staff after the meeting.

Romeo told the board the levy figure represents the amount approved by voters earlier in the budget process and that the district must now report final numbers to Monroe County and New York State. The presentation said the levy remains $128,072,028 and described how the towns collector and state STAR reimbursements are expected to distribute collections: the town of Greece is projected to collect about $115,500,000 and New York State is expected to reimburse roughly $12,600,000 in STAR funds, numbers the presenter described as the districts current best estimate.

The district also outlined the proposed tax rate and changes residents will see. The tax rate is shown moving from $25.11 per $1,000 of taxable assessed value in 202425 to $25.37 per $1,000 in 202526. The presenter said that change corresponds to a 26-cent increase per $1,000 of assessed value and that the levy itself will not change if subsequent county and state adjustments shift how collections are allocated.

District staff explained the role of equalization in calculating exemptions. The equalization rate used by the state has fallen from 100% in 202122 to 68% in 202425 and was reported as 61% for 202526, a shift the presenter said was determined by New York State and not by the district. That decline reduces the dollar value of basic STAR and enhanced STAR exemptions; the presentation used example calculations to show that the basic STAR credit residents will see on their bills is estimated to fall from roughly $596 last year to about $536 this year, and enhanced STAR calculations will change as well, resulting in smaller STAR reimbursements for many taxpayers.

Using a sample $200,000 taxable home, the presentation showed a projected increase in the annual bill of about $112 in 202526 compared with 202425; staff attributed that increase partly to the small rate rise and partly to lower STAR and equalization benefits. Romeo advised that Monroe Countys finalization of tax certiorari settlements and the states STAR file could adjust how much is collected locally or reimbursed but would not change the levy itself.

Board members asked clarifying questions about whether the levy represented the May voter-approved figure and whether the change in STAR values was formula-driven. Romeoreiterated that the levy is the voter-approved figure being ratified in writing and explained that the STAR exemption amounts fall as the states equalization rate declines.

The board approved related administrative items during the meeting, and the presenter reminded trustees to sign the warrant with district staff before leaving. The district also noted that some tax certiorari settlement numbers were still being finalized at the county level and that the states STAR download could change allocation lines later in the week, though staff said those downloads would not change the levy amount.

The boards adoption of the tax warrant concludes the districts immediate budget formalities for 202526; staff said further study sessions on related topics such as the veterans exemption will follow before those exemptions take effect in later fiscal years.