School property taxes in West Babylon, Amagansett, Springs districts would pierce cap, report says
Officials in the Amagansett school district are proposing increases of up to 12.2%. Credit: Google
Three financially pressed school districts in Suffolk County are seeking voter overrides that would allow substantially larger tax hikes for the 2024-25 school year than normally permitted under state cap restrictions, the state comptroller's office reported.
The new report, obtained by Newsday, shows that West Babylon in western Suffolk is proposing a tax hike of up to 9.998%. Two smaller systems, Amagansett and Springs, both in East Hampton Town, are proposing increases of up to 12.2% and 13.04%, respectively.
Representatives of all three districts, in interviews this week, said they faced inflationary pressures on their budgets and confirmed their decisions to push overrides of the state's strict tax cap law. The law sets a baseline limit of 2% for tax increases in 2024-25, with some adjustments allowed for districts based on local circumstances.
Officials in West Babylon and Amagansett added, however, that their tax projections were preliminary, and their ultimate proposals might be lowered somewhat, depending on how much financial aid they obtain from Albany.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and other state officials last week projected annual revenues at $1.35 billion more than originally predicted and suggested that much of the additional money would go to expanding school aid and avoiding aid cuts.
West Babylon schools Superintendent Yiendhy Farrelly said in a statement this week that her district still saw the need for a tax cap override but added, "We remain hopeful that our school district will receive additional state aid and that our community will support maintaining all instructional and co-curricular programs."
Preliminary tax forecasts are compiled from local districts by March 1 each year by the comptroller's office as a sort of "early alert" for taxpayers. Districts, under law, must adopt final spending and tax proposals by April 26. Public voting on those proposals is scheduled this year for May 21, and any tax overrides require approval by at least 60% of voters.
In West Babylon, officials said at a Feb. 28 board meeting that the district is experiencing higher costs in multiple areas and has been spending down millions of dollars in reserve funds in order to balance the budget. Among examples of cost increases expected in 2024-25 were an additional $4 million for regional BOCES services, $2.5 million for employee salaries, $2.37 million for employee benefits and $910,000 for professional services and insurance.
A 9.98% property tax boost next year would raise West Babylon's total tax collections, known as a levy, to $90.86 million, up from the current $82.62 million. Without a voter override, the district's allowable tax increase would be 2.01%, local officials said.
Amagansett representatives, in describing the need for a large tax hike, cite inflationary costs in areas such as special education, employee health and retirement benefits.
A 12.2% tax increase would raise Amagansett's total levy to $12.35 million next year from the current $11 million. Next year's allowable levy without an override would be $11.35 million.
Richard Loeschner, Amagansett's interim superintendent, said even with additional financial support from state lawmakers and the governor, the district would probably still have to pierce its tax cap, but to a lesser degree.
In Springs, officials said the district struggles to pay tuition bills totaling about $10 million to send older students to high school in a neighboring system. Springs itself operates classes from prekindergarten to eighth grade.
A 13.04% boost in taxes would expand Springs' levy to $34.58 million, up from $30.59 million. Next year's allowable levy, within cap limits, would be $31.32 million.
Springs schools Superintendent Debra Winter, in a message to Newsday, said: "The district will pierce the cap even with the increase in state aid, because the increase in aid for Springs is not that much."
Three financially pressed school districts in Suffolk County are seeking voter overrides that would allow substantially larger tax hikes for the 2024-25 school year than normally permitted under state cap restrictions, the state comptroller's office reported.
The new report, obtained by Newsday, shows that West Babylon in western Suffolk is proposing a tax hike of up to 9.998%. Two smaller systems, Amagansett and Springs, both in East Hampton Town, are proposing increases of up to 12.2% and 13.04%, respectively.
Representatives of all three districts, in interviews this week, said they faced inflationary pressures on their budgets and confirmed their decisions to push overrides of the state's strict tax cap law. The law sets a baseline limit of 2% for tax increases in 2024-25, with some adjustments allowed for districts based on local circumstances.
Officials in West Babylon and Amagansett added, however, that their tax projections were preliminary, and their ultimate proposals might be lowered somewhat, depending on how much financial aid they obtain from Albany.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and other state officials last week projected annual revenues at $1.35 billion more than originally predicted and suggested that much of the additional money would go to expanding school aid and avoiding aid cuts.
West Babylon schools Superintendent Yiendhy Farrelly said in a statement this week that her district still saw the need for a tax cap override but added, "We remain hopeful that our school district will receive additional state aid and that our community will support maintaining all instructional and co-curricular programs."
West Babylon schools Superintendent Yiendhy Farrelly in 2022. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Preliminary tax forecasts are compiled from local districts by March 1 each year by the comptroller's office as a sort of "early alert" for taxpayers. Districts, under law, must adopt final spending and tax proposals by April 26. Public voting on those proposals is scheduled this year for May 21, and any tax overrides require approval by at least 60% of voters.
In West Babylon, officials said at a Feb. 28 board meeting that the district is experiencing higher costs in multiple areas and has been spending down millions of dollars in reserve funds in order to balance the budget. Among examples of cost increases expected in 2024-25 were an additional $4 million for regional BOCES services, $2.5 million for employee salaries, $2.37 million for employee benefits and $910,000 for professional services and insurance.
A 9.98% property tax boost next year would raise West Babylon's total tax collections, known as a levy, to $90.86 million, up from the current $82.62 million. Without a voter override, the district's allowable tax increase would be 2.01%, local officials said.
Amagansett representatives, in describing the need for a large tax hike, cite inflationary costs in areas such as special education, employee health and retirement benefits.
A 12.2% tax increase would raise Amagansett's total levy to $12.35 million next year from the current $11 million. Next year's allowable levy without an override would be $11.35 million.
Richard Loeschner, Amagansett's interim superintendent, said even with additional financial support from state lawmakers and the governor, the district would probably still have to pierce its tax cap, but to a lesser degree.
In Springs, officials said the district struggles to pay tuition bills totaling about $10 million to send older students to high school in a neighboring system. Springs itself operates classes from prekindergarten to eighth grade.
A 13.04% boost in taxes would expand Springs' levy to $34.58 million, up from $30.59 million. Next year's allowable levy, within cap limits, would be $31.32 million.
Springs schools Superintendent Debra Winter, in a message to Newsday, said: "The district will pierce the cap even with the increase in state aid, because the increase in aid for Springs is not that much."
John Hildebrand is Newsday's senior education writer and has covered school news and policy issues affecting Long Island for more than 40 years.
