The increase in the average estimated school tax rate, based on the proposed budget, would be 5.96 percent to the homeowner. Please answer a few questions on how this will effect you?
http://mikeaforwoodbury.com/questions/survey.php?s_id=8
Monday, March 20, 2006
New Survey!
M-W superintendent proposes $126.5 million school budget
M-W superintendent proposes $126.5 million school budget
Spending would increase 7.17 percent, By Michelle Rugnetta
Central Valley - Monroe-Woodbury School Superintendent Joseph DiLorenzo’s first budget proposal for the district totals $126.5 million, which would increase spending over the current austerity budget by 7.1 percent.
DiLorenzo, who joined the district at the end of last year, said that less than one percent of the total proposed budget can be tied to “discretionary” purchases, such as the creation of several new teachers’ aide positions in the district and the re-paving of the North Main Street School parking lot and playground, an improvement that has been postponed since the 2004-05 school year.
The remainder of the 7.1 percent increase is tied to budget items such as increasing fuel costs, contractual obligations to staff, insurance and student services, such as special education support, provided by BOCES.
“I believe (that) this budget is the appropriate budget,” DiLorenzo said during his presentation to the School Board Wednesday night. “It maintains staff and services at current levels, while providing a safe environment for our children (as well as) exemplary programs. We gave a good hard look at it and came up with something appropriate for the community.
“I don’t know if we could have been more conservative than that,” he added.
Approximately 71 percent of the total proposed budget will fall on the shoulders of those who pay school taxes in the district. The remainder will be covered by state aid.
The increase in the average estimated school tax rate, based on the proposed budget, would be 5.96 percent to the homeowner. “But,” DiLorenzo noted, “that can be increased or decreased (by others associated with the final tax bill.).”
The budget will be submitted to voters on May 16. If the proposed budget does not pass the vote, a contingency budget in the amount of $124.5 million will be adopted, which will force a $2 million decrease to the proposed budget.
“Two million dollars is a lot of money to get to in terms of cuts,” DiLorenzo said.
Those decreases would be absorbed by capital or building and grounds expense reductions, administrative cutbacks, and program cancellations, such as extra-curricular activities.
“The additional $2 million for the proposed budget, for a homeowner who pays $8,000 in school taxes represents a total of $160 per year, or about $3 a week,” the superintendent said.
The transportation budget shows the highest potential line item increase, aimed to replace old buses with newer models that are in line with NYS school transportation regulations.
“Older buses require expensive repairs and this become cost-prohibitive over time,” DiLorenzo said. The increase, which would total $1.7 million, will be submitted for a public vote as a separate proposition on the ballot.
Two public forum sessions, where the public is formally invited to review all recommendations and make comments directly to the school board, were planned twice during this budget review process. There were no comments from the public at the forum on March 7.
An additional public forum has been planned for May 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Central School District offices on Route 32.
Spending would increase 7.17 percent, By Michelle Rugnetta
Central Valley - Monroe-Woodbury School Superintendent Joseph DiLorenzo’s first budget proposal for the district totals $126.5 million, which would increase spending over the current austerity budget by 7.1 percent.
DiLorenzo, who joined the district at the end of last year, said that less than one percent of the total proposed budget can be tied to “discretionary” purchases, such as the creation of several new teachers’ aide positions in the district and the re-paving of the North Main Street School parking lot and playground, an improvement that has been postponed since the 2004-05 school year.
The remainder of the 7.1 percent increase is tied to budget items such as increasing fuel costs, contractual obligations to staff, insurance and student services, such as special education support, provided by BOCES.
“I believe (that) this budget is the appropriate budget,” DiLorenzo said during his presentation to the School Board Wednesday night. “It maintains staff and services at current levels, while providing a safe environment for our children (as well as) exemplary programs. We gave a good hard look at it and came up with something appropriate for the community.
“I don’t know if we could have been more conservative than that,” he added.
Approximately 71 percent of the total proposed budget will fall on the shoulders of those who pay school taxes in the district. The remainder will be covered by state aid.
The increase in the average estimated school tax rate, based on the proposed budget, would be 5.96 percent to the homeowner. “But,” DiLorenzo noted, “that can be increased or decreased (by others associated with the final tax bill.).”
The budget will be submitted to voters on May 16. If the proposed budget does not pass the vote, a contingency budget in the amount of $124.5 million will be adopted, which will force a $2 million decrease to the proposed budget.
“Two million dollars is a lot of money to get to in terms of cuts,” DiLorenzo said.
Those decreases would be absorbed by capital or building and grounds expense reductions, administrative cutbacks, and program cancellations, such as extra-curricular activities.
“The additional $2 million for the proposed budget, for a homeowner who pays $8,000 in school taxes represents a total of $160 per year, or about $3 a week,” the superintendent said.
The transportation budget shows the highest potential line item increase, aimed to replace old buses with newer models that are in line with NYS school transportation regulations.
“Older buses require expensive repairs and this become cost-prohibitive over time,” DiLorenzo said. The increase, which would total $1.7 million, will be submitted for a public vote as a separate proposition on the ballot.
Two public forum sessions, where the public is formally invited to review all recommendations and make comments directly to the school board, were planned twice during this budget review process. There were no comments from the public at the forum on March 7.
An additional public forum has been planned for May 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Central School District offices on Route 32.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Cornwall's Toxic Dump Sites
Cornwall's Toxic Dump Sites -- Or where not to purchase investment property in town
With the price of real estate in Cornwall skyrocketing over the past three years, we can assure you that there is property around town that you definitely want to avoid.
Toxics Targeting Inc. has placed on the Internet a detailed toxic site map of Cornwall which shows the areas that you will not want to use for your next family reunion or soccer match.
The site map was last updated on May 29, 2003.
One of the nastiest toxic dump site in Cornwall is the old Star Expansion complex on Industry Drive located off Route 32 in Mountainville. This site map is available online and can be downloaded as a PDF file by clicking here.
The site is under constant monitoring by the Environmental Protection Agency and may be returned to the national SuperFund list.
With the site contaminated with solvents and heavy metals, homes that are located nearby and north of the location should have their well water monitored on a regular basis.
Star Expansion was formerly owned by Peter Stern, the owner of nearby Storm King Art Center.
Our understanding is that Mr. Stern sold the property in or about 1997 to Pennsylvania investors who later abandoned the property when they learned the true extent of the site's contamination and the costs that would be incurred for cleaning-up the mess.
Currently the site is used as warehouse space for a chain of dollar stores. Further development of the location is pending.
With the price of real estate in Cornwall skyrocketing over the past three years, we can assure you that there is property around town that you definitely want to avoid.
Toxics Targeting Inc. has placed on the Internet a detailed toxic site map of Cornwall which shows the areas that you will not want to use for your next family reunion or soccer match.
The site map was last updated on May 29, 2003.
One of the nastiest toxic dump site in Cornwall is the old Star Expansion complex on Industry Drive located off Route 32 in Mountainville. This site map is available online and can be downloaded as a PDF file by clicking here.
The site is under constant monitoring by the Environmental Protection Agency and may be returned to the national SuperFund list.
With the site contaminated with solvents and heavy metals, homes that are located nearby and north of the location should have their well water monitored on a regular basis.
Star Expansion was formerly owned by Peter Stern, the owner of nearby Storm King Art Center.
Our understanding is that Mr. Stern sold the property in or about 1997 to Pennsylvania investors who later abandoned the property when they learned the true extent of the site's contamination and the costs that would be incurred for cleaning-up the mess.
Currently the site is used as warehouse space for a chain of dollar stores. Further development of the location is pending.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Woodbury, Tuxedo approve small tax breaks for volunteers
Woodbury, Tuxedo approve small tax breaks for volunteers
Volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers in the towns of Woodbury and Tuxedo may now file annually to have a portion of the assessed value of their primary residence exempt from town property taxes.
Due to a limitation in each of the towns’ new laws, imposed by the enabling legislation of the state and county, the benefit they will receive will be small. The volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers, if they file for the benefit, would be better off by about $5 or $10 per year.
Some local assessors refer to this latest course served up by Albany as “The Happy Meal” in that its value is equivalent to one Happy Meal per year from a McDonald’s restaurant.
The actions by the Woodbury and Tuxedo town boards are two of the latest notes in New York State’s governmental music. Officials said the tax break, however small, was in recognition of what volunteers contribute to their communities, particularly in the emergency services.
Volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers in the towns of Woodbury and Tuxedo may now file annually to have a portion of the assessed value of their primary residence exempt from town property taxes.
Due to a limitation in each of the towns’ new laws, imposed by the enabling legislation of the state and county, the benefit they will receive will be small. The volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers, if they file for the benefit, would be better off by about $5 or $10 per year.
Some local assessors refer to this latest course served up by Albany as “The Happy Meal” in that its value is equivalent to one Happy Meal per year from a McDonald’s restaurant.
The actions by the Woodbury and Tuxedo town boards are two of the latest notes in New York State’s governmental music. Officials said the tax break, however small, was in recognition of what volunteers contribute to their communities, particularly in the emergency services.
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