Friday, February 28, 2014

High school is big factor in Killington school tax

Rutland Herald
By Josh O’Gorman
STAFF WRITER | February 28,2014
KILLINGTON — The increase in the education tax rate is being driven more by the proposed high school budget than the proposed elementary school budget, and not just by the elementary school budget as previously reported.

During a public meeting Monday night, residents will vote on a proposed budget for Killington Elementary School of $1,579,954, an increase of $17,642 — or 1.1 percent — compared to the current budget of $1,562,312.

Tuesday, voters will head to the Town Office to vote by ballot on a proposed budget for Woodstock Union High School District of $11,722,322, an increase of $400,017, or 3.5 percent, compared to the current budget of $11,322,305.

These budgets, together with external factors from the state, would result in an additional 17 cents on the homestead tax rate, as the rate rises from $1.54 to $1.71.

Killington residential property owners — and property owners across the state — are all looking at a 7-cent increase in their tax rate, based upon a proposal from the Legislature to raise the homestead tax rate from 94 cents to $1.01.

The Legislature has not approved that tax increase, but if it does, it will be the second year in row. Last year, the homestead tax rate rose from 89 cents to 94 cents.

The 7-cent tax increase is shared across both the elementary and high school budgets. When looking at the budgets separately, the high school budget is having a greater impact on the increase than the elementary school budget.

Currently, the overall education portion of the residential tax rate is approximately $1.54.

Of that amount, the elementary budget represents 79 cents, while the high school portion costs 75 cents.

Under the proposed elementary and high school budgets, the education tax rate would rise 17 cents, to approximately $1.71. Of that amount, approximately 85 cents comes from the elementary budget and 86 cents comes from the high school budget.

In short, this year, the elementary budget makes up a larger percentage of the residential tax rate than the high school budget. Under the proposed budgets, the high school budget makes up a larger percentage.

Overall, the proposed elementary school budget would add 6 cents to the tax rate, while the high school budget would add 11 cents.

josh.ogorman@ rutlandherald.com


Comment: Thanks to Josh for updating the analysis of Killington's proposed homestead tax rate and Jim Haff for coordinating with David Leenders of the Windsor County Supervisory to get the proper information out to me, Josh and the voters.

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