VERGENNES — With Monday’s adoption of a proposed $9.5 million Vergennes Union High School budget, estimates for Addison Northwest Supervisory Union school tax rates have also been released and show a range of increase from about 7 to 9.6 cents in the five towns.
Residents who are paying based on income-sensitivity provisions in the state’s school-financing laws will not necessarily see the full impact of any changes in school spending or tax rates. A significant majority of homeowners in all ANwSU towns receive prebates, per the most recently available state data.
The ANwSU estimates, prepared by business manager Kathy Cannon, assume that all four ANwSU school budgets pass as proposed (the three AnwSU elementary school boards adopted budgets last week, and the Independent will take a closer look at those plans next week) and that the Legislature makes no significant changes to school funding laws this winter.
Factors that play into each town’s rates include their overall number of pupils, the ratio of students at their elementary schools and at VUHS, per-pupil spending at each elementary school, and the towns’ Common Levels of Appraisal (CLAs), which measure how accurate are their assessments of property values, according to state data analysis.
The five ANwSU towns have all reappraised in recent years, and the market has been relatively stable. Thus, their CLAs are all relatively close to 100 percent, ranging from 94.82 in Waltham to 112.40 in Addison, according to Cannon.
The estimates — exclusive of the portion of tax rates need to support municipal, non-school spending — are:
•  Addison, an increase of 7.99 cents to $1.403.
Addison’s CLA of 112.4, because it is higher than 100 percent, would lower that increase to about 7.1 cents.
A 7.1-cent increase translates to $71 in higher taxes per $100,000 of assessed value, assuming that a resident is paying taxes based on the full value of a home.
•  Ferrisburgh, an increase of 8.31 cents to $1.423.
Ferrisburgh’s CLA is now 100.36, a figure that Cannon said the town is appealing. If it stands, it would lower the increase to 8.28 cents.
An 8.28-cent increase translates to almost $83 in higher taxes per $100,000 of assessed value, assuming that a resident is paying taxes based on the full value of a home.
•  Panton, an increase of 8.91 cents to $1.324.
Panton’s CLA is now 96.7, and would raise that amount to 92.1 cents.
A 92.1-cent increase translates to roughly $92 in higher taxes per $100,000 of assessed value, assuming that a resident is paying taxes based on the full value of a home.
•  Vergennes, an increase of 9.03 cents to $1.325.
Vergennes’ CLA is now 104.21, a number that Cannon said city officials are appealing. If that figure stands, it would lower the tax rate increase to about 8.7 cents.
A 8.7-cent increase translates to $87 in higher taxes per $100,000 of assessed value, assuming that a resident is paying taxes based on the full value of a home.
•  Waltham, an increase of 9.08 cents to $1.327.
Waltham’s CLA stands at 94.82, and would raise that increase to about 9.6 cents.
A 9.6-cent increase translates to $96 in higher taxes per $100,000 of assessed value, assuming that a resident is paying taxes based on the full value of a home.
Andy Kirkaldy may be reached at [email protected]