Pearl River School Board Approves 1.98% Tax Rate Increase

Pearl River School District Director of Operations Quinton Van Wynen estimated that the tax rate increase for residents would be 2.43 percent when he proposed the 2011-12 budget this past spring.

That estimate was based on a 2.75 percent tax levy increase, but did not reflect the proposed cost-cutting reduction in transportation because that measure was being voted on along with the budget. The proposed budget and the reduction in transportation for the high school were May 17.

At Wednesday's Pearl River Board of Education meeting, Van Wynen presented a proposed tax rate increase of 1.98 percent, which the board approved.

"The budget has been adjusted to $58,841,114, which reflects the decrase in the budget due to the transportation changes," Van Wynen said. "That will bring us in with a recommendation of the tax rate at $37.57 per thousand per homestead, which is a year-over-year increase of 1.98 percent.

"It came in just about where we anticipated iwht minor adjustments on the base proportion and assessments."

Van Wynen did comment on the lack of interest by the public. Only three residents attended the meeting, none of them to comment on the tax rate or the budget.

"The most important meeting of the year," Van Wynen said.

Van Wynen also provided an update on summer projects at the schools. The renovations of the bathrooms in the high school will be ongoing through Labor Day weekend, but are still expected to be completed in time for the start of school.

The gym floor is also been renovated and the work to improve energy efficiency in the district is ongoing.

"The energy performance work is still on schedule," Van Wynen said. "It is going well. I don't have readings from the meters yet, but the first phase of getting the work done is coming along very smoothly."