Budget and Voting Information
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Budget Vote & Election Results May 16, 2023
All of the budget propositions passed and Terry Belanger was elected to the Board of Education. Thank you Avoca community!
Below are the results from the Avoca Central School Annual Budget Vote and School Board Election.
Yes
No
Total
Proposition I Budget
112
25
137
Proposition II Vehicle Purchase
111
26
137
Proposition III Transportation Reserve Fund
111
26
137
Board of Education – 5 Year
Terry Belanger
121
Write-Ins
Kevin Payne
1
Kevin Devine
1
Carl Dockstader
1
Gregory L. Fox
1
Brandon
1
Andrew Dgien
1
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The 2023-2024 Budget Statement consists of:
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The 2022-2023 Budget Statement consists of:
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Board of Education Candidates
Voters will elect one member to the Board of Education for a five-year term commencing July 1, 2023, and expiring on June 30, 2028 to succeed Tawyna Hughes. For more information, please contact Rosalie Smith at rsmith@avocacsd.org.
Terry Belanger
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Terry Belanger is running for his first term on the Board of Education. He and his wife, Stacy, have lived in the Avoca Central School District for 23 years. They have two children, Erika and Ryan. Terry is a store manager for Tops Markets. He has more than 30 years of professional management and leadership experience.
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Budget Vote - May 16, 2023
On Tuesday, May 16, residents of the Avoca Central School District will decide on a proposed budget for the 2023-24 school year. Polls are open from noon to 9 p.m. at the Avoca School Bus Garage. This proposal carries a 1% tax levy increase.
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Absentee Ballot Acceptable for COVID-19 Concerns
Please note, a COVID-19 concern is a valid reason for requesting an absentee ballot this year and falls under the “illness” category for why an individual is requesting an absentee ballot. To vote in the May 16 School Budget Vote by absentee ballot, qualified individuals must complete an Absentee Ballot Application.
Q & A
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Listed below are answers to some commonly asked questions regarding school budgets.
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What is the difference between the tax levy and tax rate?
The tax levy is the total amount of money a school district raises in taxes each year from all property owners in the district.
Tax rates are calculated by dividing the total amount of the levy by the total taxable assessed value in a community. Tax rates are affected by changes in both municipal assessments and state equalization rates, which are determined in the summer. The tax rate is used to calculate each individual property tax bill.
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What is an equalization rate?
As the name implies, equalization rates are intended to spread the tax burden across all municipalities (cities, towns and/or villages) within the school district as fairly as possible. In New York state, each municipality determines its own level of assessment. The rates are intended to “equalize” or balance these differences within the same school district. For example, one municipality’s assessments may be more recently updated than others, and property values don’t change equally in all municipalities within the school district.
A municipality’s equalization rate is set by New York state to reflect a municipality’s level of assessment. It is calculated by dividing total assessed value by total market value.
- An equalization rate of 100 means that the municipality is assessing property at 100 percent of market value.
- An equalization rate of less than 100 means that the municipality’s total market value is greater than its assessed value.
- An equalization rate of greater than 100 means that the municipality’s total market value is less than its assessed value.
You can find additional information on equalization rates and links to local assessment rolls here: https://tax.ny.gov/pit/property/learn/eqrates.htm.
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What is the tax levy limit, or tax cap?
The tax levy limit is the highest allowable tax levy (before exemptions) that a school district can propose as part of its annual budget. When staying at or below the tax levy limit, budget proposals can be approved by a simple majority of voters (50 percent + 1). Any proposed tax levy amount above this limit would require budget approval by a supermajority (60 percent or more) of voters. The tax levy limit sets a threshold requiring districts to obtain a higher level of community support for a proposed tax levy above a certain amount.
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How would the proposed budget affect my taxes? Is it within the cap?
The proposed tax levy increase of 1% represents a $24,159 increase over the prior year’s levy. This increase is $70,271 less than the maximum allowable increase of $94,430 as calculated for 2023-24 through a prescribed state formula. As a result, the budget requires the support of a simple majority (50 percent + 1) of voters to be approved.
Residents’ tax bills are determined by several factors that are out of the district’s control, including assessment levels and equalization rates, which are set by the New York State Office of Real Property Services.
While the final tax rates for 2023-24 cannot be determined until the summer when final assessments and equalization rates are available, the district estimates that a 1% tax levy increase would result in an annual increase of a little less than $11 on a home with a fair market value of $100,000. Based on current equalization rates and assessments, the homeowner would pay an estimated $1,072 in school taxes (before the applicable STAR exemption).
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Why is the district proposing to raise the tax levy?
The last time the district raised the tax levy was the 2013-2014 school year. In fact, the district actually lowered the tax levy in the 2017-2018 school year. Even with the 1% proposed increase, the proposed tax levy for 2023-2024 will be less than it was in 2013-2014.
In addition to annual growth in salaries and the cost of BOCES services, school districts, like everyone, are being impacted by higher inflation rates. This has contributed to greater than normal increases in the cost of health insurance, utilities, fuel, and supplies-everything from classroom and instructional materials to cleaning supplies.
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How could STAR reduce my school taxes?
New York State’s School Tax Relief Program, or STAR, provides partial school property tax savings to eligible homeowners. Most New Yorkers who own and live in their homes are eligible for STAR savings on their primary residences. There are two STAR programs, Basic and Enhanced, with different eligibility requirements. More information can be found at: https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/star/eligibility.htm.
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Are taxpayers’ STAR savings factored into the budget?
No. The STAR program is tax relief for homeowners paid for by New York state through state taxes. This tax relief for homeowners does not affect the school district budget.
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What is a “fund balance” and how does it help offset the amount of my school taxes?
A fund balance is created when a district receives more revenue than expected and/or spends less than the amount budgeted. As part of the 2023-24 budget, Avoca CSD plans to allocate $797,112 from its fund balance to lower the total tax levy and reduce the tax impact on district residents in the coming year. While this is a higher amount than in recent years, this is permitting the district to undertake some needed capital improvements without having to incur any additional long term debt.
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What happens if the budget is defeated?
Under New York state law, if the school budget is defeated, the board of education typically has two options: put the same or a modified budget up for another vote on the third Tuesday in June, or immediately adopt a contingent budget. If residents defeat the proposed budget during a second vote, the board must adopt a contingent budget.
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What are BOCES services and BOCES aid?
Boards of Cooperative Educational Services, or BOCES, provide shared services to school districts as a way to pool resources and share costs. Sharing allows districts to provide programs and services that they might not be able to afford otherwise. A district using BOCES services for the current school year is reimbursed a portion of the cost of the services in the following school year by New York state. The amount returned to each district varies by service and is based on a formula that takes into account the district’s financial resources. The Avoca CSD receives approximately 75% percent reimbursement on the aidable BOCES services it uses.
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Why do salaries and benefits comprise so much of the budget?
It takes many people to create and maintain a safe and productive learning environment for Avoca’s students. Employees teach, transport, coach and care for the community’s children. They clean buildings, mow athletic fields, order supplies and make decisions so that schools run effectively and efficiently. For the 2023-2024 school year, approximately 57% percent of the district’s budget goes to pay salaries and benefits.
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What is the Transportation Reserve Fund that voters are being asked to authorize?
A transportation reserve fund allows the district to set aside money for future construction projects and major purchases, much like a savings account. The fund cannot be established without voter approval, and reserve funds cannot be spent without voter approval. Because capital assets have a predetermined useful life expectancy, a reserve fund reduces the need to borrow money, but still maximizes state aid, when it becomes necessary to replace capital assets in the future.