Tax rates would increase 1.91 to 2.31 percent with RCS budget

Tax rates per $1,000 assessed property value would increase 1.91 to 2.31 percent with passage of RCS’ proposed $41.9 million budget, based on tentative projections.

While RCS has no say over tax rates – the Board of Education only approves a budget which includes a portion that must be raised by taxes – school district officials understand the desire of taxpayers to determine how the proposed budget would impact their wallets. Accordingly, Superintendent Vicki Wright this week released the following tax rate projections.

• Coeymans - $17.29 per $1,000 assessed property value, up 2.17%

• Bethlehem -  $18.66, up 1.91% 

• New Baltimore - $26.85, up 2.31%

• New Scotland - $18.16, up 1.91%

District officials caution the rates may fluctuate over the coming months as property owners challenge their assessments during grievance days in their respective towns.

As a town’s overall assessed value increases, there is a greater value to spread the school district’s tax levy across, which in turn reduces the tax rate in each town. Accordingly, if a town’s assessed value decreases, there is less value to spread the tax levy across and the tax rate increases.

Wright noted the tax levy – the amount of money R CS needs to raise in property taxes – would increase 2.64 percent with passage of the proposed budget, while overall spending would increase 2.17 percent.

“The budget represents the best efforts of the district, faculty, staff, Board of Education and budget advisory committee, to control costs while providing a sound education for our students,” said Superintendent Vicki Wright.