Florida, Greenwood Lake school budgets pass

Voters in both Greenwood Lake and Florida approved their school budgets this week, a trend pretty much throughout the county. Only Tuxedo and Highland Falls failed to pass their budgets. In Greenwood Lake, voters also approved their school budget by a closer margin — just 24 votes. The $21.9 million budget is up 7.8 percent over last year’s spending plan. Incumbents Patricia Bianco and William Kelly retained their seats on the Board of Education, against challenger Ronald Sommer. Although the final tax rate will not be established until August, the estimate for Greenwood Lake residents is $148.34 per $1,000 of assessed value. For a homeowner whose house is assessed at $20,000, school taxes will be $2,966.80. For an assessment of $30,000, school taxes would cost $4,450.20. In Florida, the $16,094,925 budget passed by 57 votes. Daniel Codi was reelected to his Board of Education seat and newcomer Karyn Meier will join him. Both are three-year terms. The increase to Florida residents is 5.69 percent over last year’s taxes. What this means to Florida school district taxpayers is they will be paying $151 per $1,000 of assessed value for school taxes. The final tax rate will not be determined until August. A home assessed at $40,000 will pay $6,040 in school taxes. Voters also okay library budget Voters also approved Florida Public Library’s 2007-08 budget by a vote of 356 to 249. The budget totals $362,980; tax levy is $264,480, an increase of $9,875 or 3.8 percent over the current spending. Estimated tax rates are 76 cents per $1,000 for Town of Goshen residents, an increase of two cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation; and $3.51 for Town of Warwick residents, an increase of 13 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Incumbent library trustee John Sgombick and new trustee Donna Bell also were elected to five-year terms.