Wow. 8.39% school tax increase possibly coming in my town

[Saltwater60]

For all you saying my town is growing and it’s good I’m not sure the math works out. A friend of mine was on the grand island city counsel and they hated it when new builds and new developments were constructed because they lost money. All the infrastructure to install is way more costly than the bit of taxes they get.
That’s why when my republican mayor had a developer want to build a housing development he gave them the land when they said we will install sewers, streets, sidewalks, street lights and they were going to maintain it for 25 years. A democracy came in off and said hey that land is worth something this was a bad deal. That was 8 years ago and not a single shovel has hit the dirt.

 

[Steal2B]

One of the problems is that school budget voter turn out is so low but, however, the teachers union does a great job turning out votes by sending home scary stories of cutbacks to the parents of just the students (no football, no clubs, no music, no holiday parties, elemantary students walking to school on highways, etc), getting the 18 year old students to vote, and getting the union rank and file as well as their family to turn out the vote.

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

Mine it also growing at a strong clip (eastern rochester suburbs and surrounding areas). There's a new street with 20 lots. Houses are about $800k. Another development 20 min east of the city has a dozen lots or so and the builder is asking $850k for those. More affordably there is a new development with houses starting around $350k new but going easily to 400 or more.

It will be interesting to see what impact higher mortgage rates have on these. If you bought an $800k house with 20% down your mortgage at 5.5% with property taxes will be in the vicinity of $5500/month. I know there are some rich folk in the area but really this many, and also willing to live where these developments are? Weirdly I have seen some lots that were unsold for literally a decade all get scopped up in the past 2-3 years and now mostly are sold with new $600k houses on them.

It's insane none of it makes sense.

I don't know how there are so many people out there able to afford such a high cost of living. This isn't California where pay is overly inflated and 6 figure salaries are common. That's how they afford their insane real estate.

Our tax rates are some of the highest in the nation and our wages certainly are not comparable.

 

[Steal2B]

All the infrastructure to install is way more costly than the bit of taxes they get.

I have been attending Planning Board meetings for decades (developers and certain board members with conflicts hate me), it has been made clear at every Public Meeting so far that EVERY NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT over the past 20 year increases school district expenses well beyond the increases in school tax collection. Yeah the budgets are way out of control, since it seems now most of these homes are paying close to 10,000 in school taxes but are not paying their share.

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

One of the problems is that school budget voter turn out is so low but, however, the teachers union does a great job turning out votes by sending home scary stories of cutbacks to the parents of just the students (no football, no clubs, no music, no holiday parties, elemantary students walking to school on highways, etc), getting the 18 year old students to vote, and getting the union rank and file as well as their family to turn out the vote.

I'm so annoyed right now at my local teacher union.

We were just given 3 weeks notice that there is now a random day in may (Friday before memorial day weekend) that suddenly will have no school.

Get this. The reason you ask?

The district made a mistake it anticipated needing more snow days than they ended up needing so the school didnt call enough snow days so now per the teachers contract they are scheduled for 1 too many educational instruction days this year. So the remedy per the contract is to give the teachers and staff off a random day to get them to contract amount of educational instruction days.

 

[Saltwater60]

I'm so annoyed right now at my local teacher union.

We were just given 3 weeks notice that there is now a random day in may (Friday before memorial day weekend) that suddenly will have no school.

Get this. The reason you ask?

The district made a mistake it anticipated needing more snow days than they ended up needing so the school didnt call enough snow days so now per the teachers contract they are scheduled for 1 too many educational instruction days this year. So the remedy per the contract is to give the teachers and staff off a random day to get them to contract amount of educational instruction days.

The vote is May 17th and I just got the message yesterday!!
my school district does the same crap. Also many time elementary, middle and high school will not have the same half days or superintendents days or whatever they are. How stupid and frustrating for working parents.

 

[Saltwater60]

It's insane none of it makes sense.

I don't know how there are so many people out there able to afford such a high cost of living. This isn't California where pay is overly inflated and 6 figure salaries are common. That's how they afford their insane real estate.

Our tax rates are some of the highest in the nation and our wages certainly are not comparable.

I don’t think they can. I worked with a guy who was lazy and almost got fired multiple times. He had a boat, two nice cars, 4-5 kids, went out to eat regularly, just got married and bought a $270,000(10 years ago so a lot back then) and the one day he was possibly getting fired and he told me he has $2,200 in his savings account???!! WTF. I had more than that in my safe at that point not counting what was in my savings account. I was blown away. There’s times I have more than that in my pocket, although rare, but after large side jobs, gun shopping, and car shopping it happens.

 

[Blimey]

I don’t think they can. I worked with a guy who was lazy and almost got fired multiple times. He had a boat, two nice cars, 4-5 kids, went out to eat regularly, just got married and bought a $270,000(10 years ago so a lot back then) and the one day he was possibly getting fired and he told me he has $2,200 in his savings account???!! WTF. I had more than that in my safe at that point not counting what was in my savings account. I was blown away. There’s times I have more than that in my pocket, although rare, but after large side jobs, gun shopping, and car shopping it happens.

People live balls to the wall. Our neighbors are like this and honest to God it’s gotten so silly that when we do something they copy it: concrete walkway, same brand of car, second dog, flower garden—all soon after we do. We are thinking of hinting to them that we’re getting an inground pool (we absolutely aren’t) because we think there is a good chance they will try and preempt us with one if we display intentions

there is a new hood in Webster ny I drove through a week back and three consecutive homes have inground pools. People must just be on their knees with helocs etc

 

[Cooolone]

Totally get it.

My town is growing. There are new developments, new streets, new houses, new stores, new businesses all going in. The tax base has grown. There is more revenue. My town is not stagnant.

Yet, my school taxes are still likely going up 3-4%.

It's so frustrating they just keep screwing taxpayers.

I'm sure property taxes will also go up to help pay for the stadium too.

Frigging sucks.


And @VietnamEraVet @Saltwater60 taxes down in the Carolinas are so affordable it's almost incomprehensibly low compared to NY. you can find super nice houses that have 800-1200 taxes.

Many people in WNY are paying 6000-8000 depending on town and school district you can reduce that to 1000. It's unreal.

I think @VietnamEraVet is originally from OP so if he had village taxes too could easily have been over 8k a year.

Wife and I always say if we're ever able to pay off mortgage here we're still on the hook for 600+ a month in taxes. Not worth it.

Yeah, well my taxes are a little over $1,000 per month! Carolinas, about 1/3 of that... But of course they don't need to plow snow and stuff too. So services rendered in consideration has to be accountable. But that said, 80% of those taxes are directly attributed to the School system.

I'm not complaining too much, because I had 2 kids go through the system, a Blue Ribbon School District, and they both got Scholarships, etc. Which kinda paid some of those taxes back. But there is a lot of irresponsibility that goes with it. There was a time back when the school budget came under fore because it's increases were in the mid teens! And it didn't pass, so the contingency budget basically took away anything the kids did as extra curricular activities, sports, trips, etc. No teachers cut, teams, or management (heavy)... And it didn't pass again the next year and they finally got the message and sharpened their pencils! To just under double digit increases... What a fucking joke it all was...

Anyways, yeah, I'm all done with that, and paying now for services I don't need. So it's time to go! There's nothing this place does for me... I will miss the land and the State, but not all the bullshit and Progressive politics! My wife laughs all the time thinking thankfully we don't have kids in school because there's no way I would remain silent with the indoctrination bullshit going on!

Anyways, I do feel sorry for those left behind, lol

 

[1075tech]

80% less?? Not that I don’t believe you, but how is that even possible. That’s just insane. I want to stay long enough to get my pension then I’m gone. That’s 20 years. I’m not sure I’ll make it.
My wife is in education and she is appalled.

my 1930 1664sqft two story house, 3/2, on a 1/4 acre in Newburgh, without STAR, was something like $5800/yr, about $4800 with STAR. BUT... we hadn't been reassessed in about 20 years. It would not surprise me if the new owners are paying double or more.

The house we are buying here, 1993, 2400sqft cape, 3/2.5, 1.81 acres, taxes are currently $988/yr

 

[tirwin1]

If that’s how it is why bother with the vote?

Bingo! You have the correct answer. Low voter turnout = guaranteed school budget passing.

If the school districts and teachers unions had their way there wouldn't even be a vote. We taxpaying peasants would simply be told how badly we are getting screwed each year. All in the name of the blessed children, don't ya know.

 

[pshift]

They can increase the property taxes all they want and I will keep filing for property tax reductions. Worked 3x so far and saved me some funds...

 

[Acer-m14]

another item that ticks me off with school taxes ..

budget say passes .. they get the extra $$$$$ .. but the damn Teachers are paying $$$$$ out of there pockets to supply the classroom with stuff

i just seen a video a few days ago of a teacher who spent 2K from her own pocket to supply the class room for the kids ..

and also they ask the parents to basically do the same .. who have already payed there school tax .. dear parents here is a list of things we need
for the class .. .. WTF ..

 

[FP1201]

It's insane none of it makes sense.

I don't know how there are so many people out there able to afford such a high cost of living. This isn't California where pay is overly inflated and 6 figure salaries are common. That's how they afford their insane real estate.

Our tax rates are some of the highest in the nation and our wages certainly are not comparable.

I wonder what people are doing to afford these Houses and most likely vehicle payment(s) Groceries, children, etc. Certainly that kind of money isn't up here.

 

[libertysnake]

They will vote yes and gleefully. My first and last vote for school budget was a year ago. Evidently my already rich school district needed a bunch of new shit (it didn’t really—not at all). I think it’s people’s misguided notion that more money will enhance the education. Everything went ahead.

Because it sounds bad when you say "I don't want to give the school more money." No one wants to read into it and understand it's because you don't think they're doing a good job, and don't spend the money in the right ways. They just see it in their simplistic way of "why don't you want to fund our children?," while being ignorant of administrative expenses.

 

[Acer-m14]

I wonder what people are doing to afford these Houses and most likely vehicle payment(s) Groceries, children, etc. Certainly that kind of money isn't up here.

a suit case full of credit cards for one

 

[Stuckinny]

SeeThroughNY :: Pensions

The Pensions section provides a database of names, last employer, retirement date and benefit amount for individuals who have retired from public service, including New York State, New York City, state and regional public authorities, public school districts, and New York's county, city, town...

www.seethroughny.net

This is where your taxes are going. Top earner, Anne Bussel, $678,861 per year pension. Outlier? Statistically yes, but that does not matter anymore.

 

[SonOfSun]

My son was #2 in the county for tech the one year and he was building a bridge. Some asshole kid smashed his work And he had to go after school for weeks to rebuild it. I was kind of pissed as was his teacher. His teachers a good guy.

Makes me think of this funny video.



Wish they still made stuff like this, now everything is so PC.

 

[Acer-m14]

My son was #2 in the county for tech the one year and he was building a bridge. Some asshole kid smashed his work And he had to go after school for weeks to rebuild it. I was kind of pissed as was his teacher. His teachers a good guy.

Makes me think of this funny video.



Wish they still made stuff like this, now everything is so PC.

if that happened in shop class when i was in high school .. i would be looking at Dad holding a belt to spank my dumb ass as i got off the bus .. because the school or the teacher would have called him .. before i got home from school that day .. if i did shit like that .

 

[meketrefe]

Speculation and mortgage instruments are at the epicenter of this unsutainable economic model where government sets the parameters for the next bubble. They are getting so good at this that they might be able to predict when it is going to burst next, bail out banks, etc ..
The victims of all these excesses are the citizens who end w/o money, assets and pay astronomic taxes "twice". One for mortgages they cannot afford and second for the government to bail out those who lobby and pay for their political careers.
yet people keep falling for this scheme.
In addition infrastructure, education, security, etc... They all are falling apart.

 

[fresch]

NY #1 in spending #9 in rank.
Must throw more money!

 

[spat]

I knew if you voted it down there was a contingency budget, but I always thought it was substantially less not 0.28% less and they just shoveled the 8.11% increase down your throat. If that’s how it is why bother with the vote?

Here is the proposed budget for you to vote on.

The contingency budget is the same except we don't fix the refrigeration on the drinking fountain by the chemistry lab.

 

[Saltwater60]

People live balls to the wall. Our neighbors are like this and honest to God it’s gotten so silly that when we do something they copy it: concrete walkway, same brand of car, second dog, flower garden—all soon after we do. We are thinking of hinting to them that we’re getting an inground pool (we absolutely aren’t) because we think there is a good chance they will try and preempt us with one if we display intentions

there is a new hood in Webster ny I drove through a week back and three consecutive homes have inground pools. People must just be on their knees with helocs etc

My house is unique and I’m glad for that. Mine is one of the oldest and largest on the street and I like it that way. I totally would mess with them and say you’re getting a the pool. Report back on what they do. Maybe you can bankrupt them and get them to move. That would annoy me.

 

[Grimscale]

I knew if you voted it down there was a contingency budget, but I always thought it was substantially less not 0.28% less and they just shoveled the 8.11% increase down your throat. If that’s how it is why bother with the vote?

it is a blatant "taxation without representation".
And, for many, like @Bigfoot , it's also "taxation without benefit".

The old song-and-dance "you benefit by having schooled people in society" has been shown to be completely false lately.

If they can't understand this, then maybe a huge class-action lawsuit of people who either never had kids, or whose kids are no longer in school, would help open their eyes.

And, if that fails, maybe those without kids, or whose kids grew up, should work to overthrow the school administrators. Then they can affect change from within.

 

[Defilade]

What needs to stop is this gross spending on the dam sports!! Astro turf, Cession stands, Huge lighting and sound systems and with some schools looking like they have stadiums! And then the amount of busing these kids all over the dam place to kick and catch balls! Enough of that Bullshit!

 

[Saltwater60]

it is a blatant "taxation without representation".
And, for many, like @Bigfoot , it's also "taxation without benefit".

The old song-and-dance "you benefit by having schooled people in society" has been shown to be completely false lately.

If they can't understand this, then maybe a huge class-action lawsuit of people who either never had kids, or whose kids are no longer in school, would help open their eyes.

And, if that fails, maybe those without kids, or whose kids grew up, should work to overthrow the school administrators. Then they can affect change from within.

You’re absolutely correct and this is taxation without representation. If I vote it down the taxes still increase.

 

[Grimscale]

You’re absolutely correct and this is taxation without representation. If I vote it down the taxes still increase.

People have to have the guts to just stop paying school taxes and force the issue.

 

[Saltwater60]

People have to have the guts to just stop paying school taxes and force the issue.

Enough of us need to get the guys together and stop paying all taxes and take the country back. If the shitweaseals aren’t getting laid they will quit.

 

[fresch]

Only the " oath " takers will arrest forgetting the oath they mumbled.

 

[Stuckinny]

You’re absolutely correct and this is taxation without representation. If I vote it down the taxes still increase.

Unfortunately you are represented, you voted for the school board members who represent you. Though in NY that works out just as well as any other politician we vote for.