Pearl River School Board Approves Tax Rate

The Pearl River School Board approved a resolution establishing the tax levy for both the school district and Pearl River Public Library at Tuesday's meeting.

The total tax levy for the school district is $50,256,982, which was approved by the voters in May. The library requested a tax levy of $2,042,208, which was voted in by residents of the district in June. 

The total budget is $60,289,068. The school tax rate for 2012-13 is $38.45 per $1,000, which is a 2.375% increase over the previous year. That increase is lower than expected.

"It was increased assessments and the base proportion shifted. Not as much as I was hoping for, but it did shift a bit," Pearl River Director of Operations Quinton Van Wynen said. 

Van Wynen added that a large chunk of the assessment comes from Orange and Rockland Utilities substations.

The district also approved contracts for pool time for the Pearl River swim team. This includes between $6,000 and $7,000 to the Clarkstown School District for regular-season meets and practices at Felix Festa Middle School. For the second consecutive year, Pearl River is using the facilities at Nauraushaun Swim Club for its preseason practices at a total cost of $800. In the past, the team had used Felix Festa's pool for that as well. 

"It is a significant savings," Van Wynen said. "It also gives us extra pool time. We just hope the weather cooperates."

That was just one matter that has an impact on district athletic teams from Tuesday's meeting. The district rescinded the appointment of Thomas Boyle as an assistant/diving coach due to a lack of fingerprint clearance.

Pearl River Superintendent Dr. John Morgano provided an update on the construction of four new classrooms at Pearl River High School. 

"All I saw a few weeks ago was an empty space with all these wires hanging down," Morgano said. "Now I see classrooms that are being painted. Things are moving along according to schedule."

"I think it's looking better and better that we'll be finished, but it's still going to be very close with the classrooms," Van Wynen said. "The cleaning and other projects for the summer are on target. We've had a good summer."