Dear Editor,
As of the last BOE meeting on Oct. 8, 15 percent 0f this year’s tax warrant remained uncollected.
Did it finally happen? Has the Owego Apalachin Board of Education set the Tax Levy and assessed taxes in an amount that is no longer affordable and sustainable by our agricultural community?
That is apparently the case for some current Board members, who as of the last day (Oct. 2) to pay their school taxes without penalty, have missed the deadline and will join the other property owners who will experience the same fate. Welcome to the club.
Perhaps next budget season, these same Board members will take the lead on paying closer attention to expenditures, which are necessary for operations and refrain from the discussions to assess taxes “because we can and it’s legal,” or “we are only taking a part of what we could have.”
The primary justification for this year’s 3.72 percent tax levy increase; an additional $589,134.00 was to “replenish our seriously depleted reserves.” With the exception of hiring half-a-music teacher, there is no apparent increase in student services and programs.
Our new school tax levy for Owego is $26.755184 per $1000.00 this is $8.594 per $1000.00 higher than the tax levy paid by Dr. Russell up in affluent Tompkins County where his rate is $18.1611 per 1000.00. How can it be, that Dr. Russell’s board can keep his school tax levy down while he strives to drive yours up? Only our Board knows.
Joe Chartrand
Tioga Citizens for Affordable Education & Excellence
Owego, N.Y.
