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Hilton Central School District Budget
Development for the 2010-11 School Year
BUDGET
DEVELOPMENT
Budget Committees and
administrative cabinet meetings begin discussion and budget
preparation in the fall. Members of the community,
administrators, teachers and staff serve on
Budget Committees; proposals are due Feb. 1 in the
Business
Office/Budget Director. The public budget vote and board
election is May 18, 2010. In addition to the vote
on the budget proposal, there will be three, three-year
positions on the ballot for the
Board of Education. The
positions of current board members Michelle Ames, Steve
Beauvais, Barbara Cutrona expire this year. To become a
Board Candidate: nominating petitions may be filed with the
Board Clerk April 19, 2010 at 5 pm. Qualifications
to become a candidate for the board are: a district resident
for at least one year prior to the election and a qualified
voter (age 18). Nominating petitions are obtained from the
District Clerk, District Offices, in the West Avenue
Building, 225 West Ave., Hilton. For further information,
Hilton Board Clerk is
Patricia
Unterborn: 585-392-1000 ext. 7099.
Monroe County School Boards Association Prospective
Candidate Seminar April 3, 2010
February 10, 2010 SUPERINTENDENT DAVID DIMBLEBY ON GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET PROPOSAL "Governor Patterson’s
proposed state budget that was unveiled in January has
created one of the most challenging budget seasons in
decades. The proposed state budget recommends the reduction
of $3.2 million in state aid to the Hilton Central School
District; a 10% aid reduction. The potential loss of state
aid is twice the amount proposed last year at this time. To
put this into perspective, if we roll over the current
budget and include anticipated increases in health care,
retirement, BOCES and contractual obligations and apply the
proposed state aid reduction, the result will be a 17.69%
increase in the local property tax rate. Clearly this is an
unacceptable level for the district and community to
consider and cause for concern. We have never experienced a
reduction in state aid of this magnitude. Following
discussions with the Board of Education, leadership team and
bargaining unit leaders, we have implemented a number of
mid-year cuts in 2009-10 to reduce our current level of
spending and better prepare ourselves for an uncertain
future. As we look to 2010-11, we again are examining all
areas budgeted areas including non-staff codes, personnel
and programmatic expenditures in an effort to reduce costs
and develop a responsible school budget. Our district
budget committees, school leaders and Board of Education are
considering all options as we develop next year’s budget
that will be put before the voters on Tuesday, May 18. If
the governor’s proposed budget is enacted or the state fails
to approve an on-time budget by April 1, this district will
be forced to make some difficult and painful decisions that
will adversely impact employees, the organization and our
community. I have been addressing staff at meetings
recently to provide some details and answer questions on the
subject. If you have comments or ideas on the district’s
budget during the development phase, I encourage you to
contact the
Superintendent, the
Assistant
Superintendent for Business or a budget committee
representative. I also want to encourage every employee to
take responsibility for reducing costs or increasing
efficiency in your area of responsibility."
--
Superintendent David Dimbleby,
Superintendent's Page
BUDGET CALENDAR 2010 includes
public participation on Budget Development Committees,
public hearings and public discussions at the regular
Board
of Education meetings, presentations for civic groups as
well as a budget newsletter mailed to all district
residents.
- • Committee budget proposals due
Feb. 1, 2010
- • Board reviews rollover budget
Jan. 26, 2010 - Regular Board of Education Meeting 7 pm
District Offices
- • Board reviews debt service and
BOCES budget Feb. 9, 2010 - Regular Board of Education
Meeting 7 pm District Offices
- • Board review of benefits,
salary and budget Feb. 23, 2010 - Regular Board of
Education Meeting 7 pm District Offices
- • Board review first draft of the
budget Mar. 9, 2010 - Regular Board of Education Meeting
7 pm District Offices
- • Board continues review first draft
of the budget Mar. 23, 2010 - Regular Board of Education
Meeting 7 pm District Offices
- • Board adoption of budget proposal
expected April
13, 2010 - Regular Board of Education Meeting 7 pm
District Offices
- • Return Board of Education
petitions to District Clerk by 5 pm April 19, 2010 -
District Offices, 225 West Ave., Hilton
- Board adoption of BOCES budget
expected April 27, 2010 - Regular Board of Education
Meeting 7 pm District Offices
- • Budget Insight mailed
May 10, 2010
- • Public Hearing on Budget May 11,
2010 - Board of Education Meeting 7 pm District Offices
- • Budget Vote & Board Election
May 18, 2010
Frequently
Asked Questions
ASK A FURTHER
QUESTION:
Assistant
Superintendent for Business Steven Ayers
What are
the factors impacting development of the proposed 2010-11
budget? A national recession and
a State budget crisis are major factors in the development
of the Hilton School District's 2010-11 budget. Utility costs, potential changes in
state aid allocations or reductions, contractual
obligations, BOCES' charges, retirement costs, and health
costs are priority items under consideration. New York State
has been particularly hard hit by the recession and faces a
budget deficit. Federal support to public schools
through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act [federal
stimulus] is specifically-targeted funding within each
school district.
How are
school taxes determined?
School tax is computed using the school tax levy, property
assessment and equalization rates. The Hilton Central School
District uses property values provided by the four towns in
the school district – Parma, Greece, Clarkson and Hamlin –
to levy taxes. Each property within a town is assigned a
value by the town assessor. The
New York State Office of
Real Property Services evaluates each town’s assessment
practices and sets specific equalization rates to ensure a
fair tax burden distribution across the district.
How does
an increase in property assessment affect school taxes?
School taxes are based on the school tax levy, property
assessments, and equalization rates. The only factor within
the district’s control is the school tax levy [local share], which is the
total dollar amount collected from property owners to
support school district operations. The tax levy is
the total amount of tax dollars needed to make projected
revenues equal to projected expenses. The tax rate is
computed by dividing the tax levy – the total tax dollars
needed – by the total value of all properties [assessments]
that make up the school district’s tax base. The tax levy is
shared on a proportionate basis by all taxpayers based on
the assessed value of their property. If a property
assessment goes up, school taxes may or may not increase.
For example, if the assessment increases on the same
percentage basis that it does for all other property owners
in town, and all other factors remain unchanged, the school
tax bill would not change. This is because the tax burden
still is being distributed equitably among all property
owners. However, if your property assessment has
increased at a higher percentage than other properties in
town, your tax burden also will increase. In some instances,
a particular neighborhood’s property assessments will change
more significantly than other properties throughout town.
The town is solely responsible for determining property
assessments. If you have questions about your property
assessment, please contact the town assessor. If you have
questions about the school tax levy – the total dollars
needed from property owners to support the operation of the
school district – please contact Hilton CSD Business Office
at 585-392-1000 ext. 7034/7097.
How is the
contingency budget determined?
The amount of a contingency budget is dictated by a formula
provided by the New York State Education Department. The
State stipulates the maximum amount that a contingency
budget can be, but in the event voters do not approve a
proposed budget, the board would not be obligated to adopt
the highest dollar amount allowed by the contingent budget.
The school district is required to calculate the contingency
budget information and to share it with the public via the
Budget Notice included in the Budget Insight mailed
to all district homes in the week preceding the vote.
Core educational services continued to be provided with a
contingency budget, but in the event of a budget defeat, law
provides that no equipment purchases beyond State-mandated
limits and no community use of facilities without user fees
be instituted. The District is obligated to honor all
of the contracts as well as provide sports and
transportation in the same manner as in prior years.
What
measures are being used to control cost?
The school district has explored cost-saving measures in
recent years. To reduce heating costs, we have turned back
thermostats in all district buildings as well as many other
energy-savings measures. For more:
Monroe County School Boards Cost Efficiencies in School
Districts
"The Best for Less" Video from Monroe County School Boards
How has
the county sales tax settlement impacted the budget?
The Hilton School District was affected by
Monroe County's sales tax intercept which resulted in a 50
percent reduction in sales tax revenue when instituted in
October 2007. To cover an increasing Medicaid burden, county
government withheld money from school districts, altering a
long-standing state law outlining the sharing of sales tax
revenue. After a legal challenge by local school
districts, Monroe County withdrew its plan in July 2008. A
repayment agreement is in place, but the entire sum of money
due the district won't be repaid for five years. The payment
of withheld funds from the County will continue this year.
For
the 2009-10 school year, what are the taxes on a house
assessed at $100,000 in Parma? Actual
Tax on Full Assessment: $2,238.00. Tax with Basic STAR
[$30,000]: $1,566.60. Tax with Enhanced STAR [$50,000]:
$1,119.00. STAR - NYS School Tax Relief Program
- for further information contact each Town's Assessor's
Office.
Voting
Information/Absentee Ballots You must be a
registered voter to vote in Hilton School District Annual
Budget Vote and Board Election. Voter registration is
required. Residents wishing to vote in the Hilton School
District Budget Vote and Board Election are required to be
registered voters with the Monroe County Board of Elections
[having voted in any general election within the past four
years at your current address] or registered with the
District. To register with the district please call the
District Clerk at 585-392-1000 ext. 7099. No proof of
residency is required at the time of the vote. Absentee
ballots are available for registered voters who are unable
to appear at the Budget Vote due to vacation outside the
county, hospitalization, illness or other qualifying
circumstances. Qualified voters may request an application
for an absentee ballot at the District Clerk's Office at the
West Avenue Building, 225 West Ave., Hilton Monday through
Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Completed applications must be
received by the District Clerk at least seven days prior to
the vote if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter.
Completed applications are examined and reviewed by the
District Clerk. Residents whose application forms are
approved will receive an absentee ballot. Returns of
completed ballots in person must be at the District Clerk’s
office no later than 5 p.m. on the day of the vote. For
absentee ballot or district voter registration, please call
District Clerk Patricia Unterborn at 585-392-1000 ext.
7099. Polling locations: There are two
polling locations open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. All residents
of the town of Greece vote at the Northwood Elementary
School, 433 No. Greece Rd. only. All Parma, Hamlin and
Clarkson residents vote at Hilton High School, 400 East Ave.
Hilton. No proof of residency is required. You must be a
registered voter with Monroe County Board of Elections or
registered with the District.
VOTING REQUIREMENTS. For further information, call
585-392-1000 ext. 7099.
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BUDGET RESULTS 2009
Hilton Central School District’s Budget Vote was held
Tuesday, May 19, 2009. Voters in the Hilton Central School
District approved the $68.5 million Budget by a vote of 869
– 321 on May 19, 2009 at the annual Budget Vote and Board
Election. The $650,000 bus purchase proposition was also
passed by a vote of 817 – 347. Incumbents returned to
Board of Education for three-year terms were: Daniel
Wellington with 945 votes, current Board President, and
Robert Prorok with 892 votes. The
Budget Insight May
2009 was mailed to all households in the district.
TAX RATES SET FOR 2009-10
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BUDGET
RESULTS 2008 Budget passes 992-580;
Bus Purchase passes 970-578 - May 20, 2008
Vote. Residents of the Hilton Central School District
passed the District’s 2008-09 $66.7 million budget by a
vote of 992-580. One additional proposition also passed:
a $814,000 school bus purchase proposition by a vote of
970-578. Two, three-year positions on the Board of
Education were decided. Returned to the Board were
incumbents Aggie Seneway by a vote of 1,245 and Tim
Gagnon by a vote of 1,203.The Hilton Board of Education
had voted April 8, 2008 to adopt the $66,664,457 Budget
Proposal for the 2008-09 school year reflecting an
estimated decrease of 0.13% in the local tax
rate. Annual Budget Notice:
Budget Insight May 2008 mailed to all households in
the Hilton Central School District.
Board sets tax rates for 2008-09
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