Officials in the Victor Central School District fielded questions and offered clarifications to taxpayers as the district plans to exceed the state’s tax cap.
A virtual town hall was held on the Town’s Facebook page.
“This is going to be a little different from our previous town halls,” Superintendent Tim Terranova said. There was an emphasis placed on what’s best for students and community during the town hall.
Currently, the district is hoping to increase the total budget by 6.14% from last year with a tax levy increase of 9.34%. This means the tax rate is projected to increase to $17.14 for the 2020-2021 budget, an increase of 7.8% compared to last year, according to The Messenger Post.
It’s a big move. For example a home with a value of $100,000 would see an increase of more than $100 in the tax bill.
Assistant Superintendent for Business Jay Schickling said many of the additions were created out of consideration for state mandates. “This budget adds several positions in special education, and again, that goes back to state requirements for meeting the needs of those students that have special needs,” he explained. “We’re also adding English Language Learning positions, because we have seen a demographic increase in students that have a need to learn a second language.”
They’re looking ahead to next year, when the district might have to exceed the cap a second time. “We’re not going to sugarcoat it,” Taranova said.
A number of districts are dealing with financial uncertainty connected to the coronavirus pandemic. Yesterday, The Daily Debrief looked at how one rural district was wrestling with the potential of aid cuts, and learning in a new ‘normal’.
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