Southeastern Greene board approves tentative 2016-17 budget
MAPLETOWN – Southeastern Greene School Board approved a tentative 2016-17 budget Monday that for about the 14th consecutive year will not require a tax increase.
The board approved a budget of $10.887 million, which is $172,000 greater than the current year budget.
The budget funds all current programs and positions and covers all increases in contractual obligations, business manager Pat Sweeney said Tuesday.
Most of the increase in spending Sweeney attributed to increased contributions to the teacher retirement program, which went up about 16 percent.
The district has not raised taxes in close to 14 years, Sweeney said.
“We also have had two (tax) decreases in that period of time,” he added.
The tax rate in the district 12 years ago was 26.23 mills, Sweeney said. The current tax rate is 23 mills.
The board is expected to pass the final budget at next month’s regular meeting June 27.
The board also voted Monday to continue to offer a break to property owners who pay property taxes early, as it has done for a number of years.
Property owners who pay their property taxes during the discount period will receive a discount of 7.5 percent. The normal rate offered by other districts is 2 percent, Sweeney said.