Hilton CSD taxpayers to see lower than expected rate

Taxpayers in the Hilton Central School District will see tax rates that are slightly lower than the district originally anticipated when it prepared its budget for the 2004-05 school year. During the budget process, officials approved an amended budget to accommodate two teaching positions due to an increase in student enrollment.

"The major portion of the increase in state aid this year was due to building aid on our capital project," Assistant Superintendent for Business Steven Ayers said. "That increase was anticipated and was part of the budget. In addition, the board applied $150,000 of additional state aid from the recently adopted state budget to reduce the tax levy."

Ayers said that much of what the district received had been planned for and anticipated, but the additional funds were above school officials' expectations. "Our revenues were based on the governor's projections. We received more than projected so we were able to bring the rates down," he said.

When the bills are mailed in early September, taxpayers will see a five percent increase over the 2003-04 rate.

Taxpayers in the Town of Clarkson will pay $23.14 per $1,000 of assessed value. Properties in Clarkson underwent a full-value reassessment in 2004. Homes were previously assessed at 47 percent of their market value. Rates last year were $49.13.

The rate in Greece will be $24.10 per $1,000; in 2003-04 they were $22.56.

In the Town of Hamlin, district taxpayers will see a rate of $44.49 in this year's tax bill, up from $41.02 per $1,000 in 2003-04. Properties in Hamlin are not assessed at full value.

Clarkson and Parma are at 100 percent valuation. Greece properties are assessed at 96 percent.

Rates for taxpayers in the Town of Parma will be $23.14 per $1,000, up from $22.56 last year, according to district officials.