Budget Talks Begin in HHH

The vote for the 2012-13 school budget won't be held for another six months, but Half Hollow Hills is already planning for big changes as the tax cap legislation becomes a reality.

An informational budget forum will take place at on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.

Administrators plan to discuss the potential effects of the cap on the school district and how the budget process this year, will be different from those in the past.

The tax cap legislation, which passed this summer, ensures that local governments and school districts do not raise their annual property tax levies by more than 2-percent.

Half Hollow Hills was able to keep all of its programs for the 2011-12 school year, but that tax cap may change that this coming school year. State required pension and health care premiums were the two largest culprits of tax rate increases in this year's budget, and without state mandate relief, the district may have to put some programs on the chopping block in order to meet the requirements and stay within the cap.

Also, to be discussed is how the cap can be overridden by a 60 percent majority vote from residents.