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A number of financial challenges have faced the school district, but the recently approved $46,076,000 budget causes much less burden to taxpayers than the state-mandated tax levy cap, according to the press release.
The overall tax levy increase, approved by the Croton-Harmon Board of Education on April 9, is 1.61 percent, or $36,527, below the state tax levy cap.
Residents of Cortlandt will pay an estimated additional 1.64 percent in taxes, while Yorktown residents will see about a 4.4 percent increase.
The school system’s operating budget is a 1.49 percent increase from the 2014-15 budget, according to the press release.
Croton-Harmon educators must fund state mandates such as Common Core and the annual Professional Performance Review; these are not fully covered by state-offered school funding.
Officials plan to use $1.3 million in fund balance and $400,000 in reserve funds to alleviate these costs and avoid additional tax increases.
Despite the budget challenges, Croton-Harmon High School students will see several new course choices in the fall. New options will include two levels of computer science, applied geometry and sports medicine.
Residents may vote on the 2015-16 academic year budget on May 19, along with electing two Board of Education members, a proposed tax levy of $819,750 for the Croton Free Library and proposed transportation purchases that will not exceed $300,000.
The proposed transportation purchases would include three minivans, one station wagon or minivan and one full-sized school bus; these would replace five district vehicles that are being retired.
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