Media Advisory

FOR RELEASE: Monday, August 13

Scotia-Glenville tax rates lower than projected in May;
lower STAR reimbursements from the state

The Glenville school tax rate – which covers about 99.8 percent of the property owners in the Scotia-Glenville School District – will rise by 1.8 percent in the 2007-08 school year, slightly less than the 2 percent projected before voters approved the $44.567 million budget on May 15.

The Board of Education adopted the following town school tax rates on Monday:

• Glenville: $19.55 per $1,000 assessed value - 1.79% increase 2006-07 Glenville rate: $19.21 per $1,000
• Charlton: $25.14 per $1,000 assessed value - 9.93% increase 2006-07 Charlton rate: $22.87 per $1,000
• Amsterdam: $175.96 per $1,000 assessed value - 1.23% increase 2006-07 Amsterdam rate: 173.83 per $1,000

For a typical Glenville homeowner with a $160,000 assessment, taxes would rise by $54.88 next year BEFORE reductions from the state's STAR school tax reduction program.

The STAR program would reduce tax bills by an estimated $726 for Basic STAR homeowners and by $1,374 for Enhanced STAR homeowners.

"We are very pleased to be able to deliver such a small tax increase, a below-inflation increase, for the Scotia-Glenville community," said Superintendent Susan Swartz.

Changes in STAR from the state
The state's total STAR reimbursement to the district, however, will also decline by $78,000 in the coming year because of a decline in the state's equalization rate. Those rates are determined by the state every year.

When figuring the STAR tax reduction, a Glenville homeowner with a Basic STAR exemption would subtract $37,120 from his or her full-value assessment and a homeowner with an Enhanced STAR exemption would subtract $70,270 from his or her full-value assessment. Last September, just after the town's full-value assessment went into effect, those amounts were $39,070 and $73,970, respectively.

Middle Class STAR should further reduce tax increase for most
In addition, each Scotia-Glenville property owner will receive the Middle Class STAR rebate check this fall of $450.29 for incomes of $90,000 or less; $337.72 for incomes between $90,000 and $150,000; $225.15 for incomes between $150,000 and $250,000; and $355.22 for those already receiving the Enhanced STAR exemption.

Applications for the rebate check will be mailed to homeowners on Sept. 10, according to the state's Office of Real Property Services web site.

For further information, contact Susan Swartz, superintendent, at 382-1215 or
Robert Hanlon, Communications, at 386-4343.