The Board of Education made two decisions relating to school taxes at their board meeting the evening of August 11, 2009.  The first decision was to officially set tax rates now that municipal equalization rates and assessed values were established by each of the nine towns within the District.

Tax rates for Mendon, Henrietta and Rush were set at $20.47 per thousand of assessed value, a decrease of $.22 per thousand from the previous year.  Victor’s rate at $21.93 represents a decrease of $.33.  The largest decreases were set for West Bloomfield and Richmond respective rates of $21.90 and $21.93.  This represents a decrease for West Bloomfield of $1.12 and for Richmond of $1.35.

Tax rates for the towns of Lima, Avon and Livonia were affected by changes in equalization rates that were reduced below full value.  Therefore, tax rates will increase by $.83 in Lima and Avon and by $.56 in Livonia. 

The total tax levy, as projected during the budget process, increased by .76% or $173,318.  This represents the lowest levy increase since records were electronically accessible, dating back to 1998.

In a second tax-related decision by the Board, it was determined that the tax collection site at the District Office on Church Street was no longer the most efficient nor cost-effective option.  Beginning with tax bills to be mailed on August 31, 2009, tax collections will occur at alternative sites.

An inter-municipal arrangement was established so that Town of Mendon and Village of Honeoye Falls property owners, representing 64% of the parcels billed by the District, can benefit from a single collection site at the Mendon Town Hall.  Mendon residents will benefit from a single resource through the Town Clerk’s Office as well as access to Monroe County’s computerized system allowing residents to view the status of their tax bills online.  This shared service arrangement saves the District an annual cost of $3,000 plus the cost to purchase a new tax software system.  James Merzke, Mendon Town Clerk, was named School Tax Receiver for Mendon and will be responsible for the production and mailing of tax bills, school tax collections, reporting and inquiries for property owners in Mendon.

Property owners in the remaining eight towns outside of Mendon will continue to receive their tax bills and place any calls of inquiry with Ed Johnson, HF-L Director of Finance and School Tax Collector.  Tax collections will be processed at Five Star Bank in the Village of Honeoye Falls.  Taxes can no longer be received at the District Office.