Media Advisory FOR RELEASE: Monday, August 10, 2009 Scotia-Glenville school tax rates decline by 1.66% from previous year; lower STAR reimbursements from the state will mean higher bills The Board of Education today adopted school tax rates that are 1.68% lower than the previous school year for Glenville and Scotia property owners. That translates to a $53.56 lower tax bill for the typical property owner with a $160,000 assessment. At the time of the vote on the proposed $46.65 million budget in May, the district projected a tax rate decrease of .5 percent for a $21 savings for that typical homeowner. The rates will be effective with school tax bills due this September. Because of changes in the state's equalization rates for each town, the impact of school taxes is felt differently in the three communities that make up the Scotia-Glenville school distirct. About 99.8 percent of Scotia-Glenville is located in Glenville or Scotia. The Board of Education adopted the following tax rates: • Glenville: $19.86 per $1,000 assessed value – 1.68% decrease 2008-09 Glenville rate: $20.20 per $1,000 • Charlton: $25.21 per $1,000 assessed value – 0.19% decrease 2008-09 Charlton rate: $25.60 per $1,000 • Amsterdam: $172.34 per $1,000 assessed value – 0.35% increase 2008-09 Amsterdam rate: 171.74 per $1,000 For a typical Glenville homeowner with a $160,000 assessment, taxes would decline by $53.56 next year BEFORE reductions from the state's STAR school tax reduction program. "We are grateful that our community supported the 2009-10 spending plan that will continue to advance education opportunities for the 3,000 Scotia-Glenville students who walk through our doors every day," said Superintendent Susan M. Swartz. Changes to the state's STAR program Because of changes to the state's STAR tax reduction program, the amount of reduction in September's school tax bills will not be as large as last year. The exemption for Basic STAR will decline to $29,730 ($33,400 in 2008-09) and the Enhanced STAR exemption will drop to $56,280 ($63,240 in 2008-09). For the 2009-10 school year, the basic STAR savings will be $590.72 and the Enhanced STAR savings (for homeowners over age 65) will be $1,118.26. As a result of the lower STAR reimbursements from the state, the typical Basic STAR property owner will see a $30.75 higher tax bill and the typical Enhanced STAR property owner will see a $105.90 higher tax bill. During the 2008-09 school year, those savings were $675 for Basic STAR homeowners and $1,278 for Enhanced STAR homeowners. For further information, contact Susan Swartz, Superintendent, at 382-1215 or Robert Hanlon, Communications, at 386-4343.