School Taxes Could Rise $226 For Average Hillsdale Homeowner

The average Hillsdale homeowner could see a school tax increase of more than $200 next year.

The proposed $48 million Pascack Valley Regional Schools budget would include increases for average homeowners in Hillsdale, River Vale and Montvale, according to Business Administrator Yas Usami. The average Woodcliff Lake homeowner would see a decrease.

State law dictates that regional school district tax levies be divided between the towns based on their assessed values.

In Hillsdale, that means an increase of $127 for a property assessed at $549,000. The Hillsdale K-8 district's budget would cause an additional increase of $99 for that same property, for a total increase of $226 in school taxes next year if both budgets are approved by the county and the respective school boards.

Both boards have scheduled public hearings March 21 to present their budgets.

Neither budget would require a public vote as proposed because they do not exceed the state-mandated 2 percent maximum tax levy increase.

The Pascack Valley Regional budget would have the following effects for the four towns:

River Vale

Woodcliff Lake recently submitted a report to the Executive County Superintendent for their petition to withdraw from the regional district because they pay a higher cost per student in the district.

A similar report prepared for Hillsdale and River Vale found that savings for the average Woodcliff Lake homeowner would likely be less than $20, while taxes for the average Hillsdale and River Vale homeowners would increase by more than $500.

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