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Tim Brennan details how the $20,741,000 school tax levy is calculated as board readies signatures
Summary
Finance presenter Tim Brennan walked the Chester Union Free School District board through the levy formula, New York State equalization rates and town-level impacts — and asked members to sign the tax warrant so Orange County can print and mail tax bills.
Tim Brennan explained the mechanics of the district's school tax levy and asked the board to approve the tax warrant so Orange County can begin bill printing and the 61-day collection period.
Brennan said the district's levy — which he cited as $20,741,000 — begins with the budget approved in May, minus New York State aid and other revenues, with the remainder becoming the levy, or the total dollars the district must raise. "You start with the expenditures needed. That's the budget that was voted on in May minus any New York State aid or other miscellaneous revenues," he said.
Brennan described how New York State's Department of Tax and Finance issues equalization rates for municipalities to adjust for differences in local assessment practices. He gave examples for the three towns in the district: Blooming Grove at 9.61, Chester at 39.52 and Goshen at about 40 percent. "So an assessment reflects about 40% of what the home is worth," he said, and showed the board how the percent-of-levy calculation allocates dollars to each town.
Using those equalization differences, Brennan said roughly 90% of the district's levy burden falls on Chester, about 10% on Goshen and less than 1% on Blooming Grove, meaning Chester residents will see the lion's share of the rate change. He cautioned that equalization rates change annually, which can shift the distribution of increases across towns.
Brennan laid out key dates and collection rules: after the board signs the tax warrant, Orange County prints bills and the district starts a 61-day collection window. September is penalty-free (Sept. 1–30); October includes a 2% penalty, he said. He also said Orange County reimburses non-city districts for uncollected taxes and uses a re-levy process that adds 7% to the total.
"So tonight, we're asking for the board to approve the tax warrant," Brennan told members. After the meeting adjourned, Brennan asked board members to stop for signatures so the county could begin printing bills.
The board did not take additional public testimony on the levy at the meeting; signatures were requested after adjournment to complete the process.
