School taxes rise as predicted
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Just as predicted, the town's drop from 100 percent assessment has raised school taxes.

(See editorial on page four)

The Williamsville Central School District Board of Education approved its tax rate for the 2007-08 school year at the Aug. 14 meeting, and it includes an increase for Amherst residents.

In the Town of Amherst, the rate is $19.65 per $1,000 of assessed value, representing an increase of 20 cents, or 1.03 percent.

Superintendent Howard Smith said the increase in Amherst was expected once it was apparent the town wasn't going to be at 100 percent assessment.

Because the equalization rate dropped to 92 percent, used in calculating the tax rate, that caused a shift of $872,512 to the town's tax levy.

"We told town officials in early spring that their decision to alter the full-value assessment program would lead to Amherst residents paying a larger share of school taxes," Smith said.

The property tax levy is the amount of funds raised by local taxes to support the school district's budget. This year, the tax levy represents 67.6 percent of the total revenues needed to support Williamsville's $145.2 million budget.

In Clarence, the tax rate is $18.08 per $1,000 and in Cheektowaga, $29.32, representing a 7.05 decrease in both towns.

"Had the Town of Amherst remained at 100 percent equalization rate, the towns of Amherst, Clarence and Cheektowaga would have realized the same tax rate as last year," Smith stated in a letter to Supervisor Satish Mohan on Aug. 15.

The Sweet Home School District is also expecting a rise in taxes for Amherst residents. The Board of Education didn't vote on the rates until its Tuesday meeting, after press time.

Superintendent Geoff Hicks also sent a letter to Mohan, dated Aug. 16, in which he reminded the supervisor, "You assured the school district that returning to full-value assessment was 'my plan and it is doable: we are not late,'" as stated in a May 31 letter.

He added that the inability to fulfill the promise is irresponsible and disheartening to the taxpayers in Amherst.

In Sweet Home, $300,000 of the tax levy needs to be shifted, which falls on Amherst residents. The increase, which has not been officially approved, is estimated to be 2.67 percent because of the equalization rate drop.

Mohan isn't willing to admit fault just yet. When asked for a response to the increase in school taxes due to a lower equalization rate, he said he doesn't think it should have had an effect.

Mohan said he plans to contact the New York State Office of Real Property Services for more information.

"I will be having a meeting with all the school administrators to be sure there is no conflicting information," Mohan said.

Both Hicks and Smith also stated that should the town not return to 100 percent, then the property tax levy will shift further.

Amherst Central School District was also affected but not as severely.

Mark Whyle, director of administrative services, said the rate will be $19.65 per $1,000, only 4 cents off the projected rate.

Because the Amherst district is in one town, the change in equalization rate doesn't cause a tax levy shift as in Sweet Home or Williamsville. However, the decrease in the equalization rate basically washed out the increase from assessments, Whyle said.

The Williamsville Central School District STAR program is also affected by the assessment change. According to the district, lower tax exemptions for residents qualifying for the program will occur.

Hicks estimates that Amherst taxpayers could lose at least $1,500 in STAR exemptions, and senior citizens would lose $2,800.

Whyle said Amherst is also projecting a decrease in STAR benefits, which could be worse in the future if there is no change to the current rate.