Fake vs. Fact | Setting the Record Straight (Tax Assessments)
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At the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, we believe that open, honest communication is the foundation of a strong partnership with our community. Often, speculation on social media or in neighborhood conversations, like a game of telephone, can cloud the reality of the work being done in our school buildings. You don’t have time for confusion, and you deserve the facts.
We have created this Fake vs. Fact page to serve as a direct, credible source for our community. Here, we address common rumors with verified, evidence-based information, ensuring you have the clarity you need to stay informed about our schools, our scholars, and our future.
This Fake vs. Fact page serves as a direct 'source of truth' for our community, dedicated to replacing uncertainty with understanding. By comparing common rumors and disinformation against verified data and district policy, we aim to eliminate confusion and ensure every conversation about our schools is rooted in reality.
We invite you to check back regularly as we work to keep our community informed, engaged, and empowered with the truth.
Do you have a rumor that you would like clarified? Use this form to ask your question.
FAKE: The Town of Newburgh and Town of New Windsor pay higher school taxes than the City of Newburgh (or vice versa).
(Common misperception.)
FACT: This is False. All taxpayers pay a rate based on the assessed value of their property, regardless of where their property is located.
The six municipalities that the district receives taxpayer funding assesses properties at a different rate, so an equalization rate is applied to adjust for the different calculations of each municipality. (Municipalities: City of Newburgh, Town of Newburgh, Town of New Windsor, Cornwall, Marlboro, Walkill)
NYSED school tax equalization rates are annual percentages calculated by the NYS Office of Real Property Tax Services (ORPTS) to determine the ratio of total assessed value to total market value in a municipality. They are primarily used to fairly apportion school taxes across municipalities that share a school district, ensuring fair distribution based on full market value.
The NYSED school tax equalization rate is the ratio of a municipality's total assessed value (AV) to its state-estimated total market value (MV). The formula is: Equalization Rate = Total Assessed Value ÷ Total Market Value. This rate ensures fair tax distribution across municipal boundaries.
This isn’t unique to just the Newburgh school district. School districts often span multiple towns. If Town A assesses homes at 100% of their value and Town B assesses them at only 50%, Town B’s residents aren't necessarily paying less; they just have a lower "on-paper" value.
Without an equalization rate, a school tax based strictly on assessed value would be wildly unfair. The state uses this percentage to convert everyone’s "assessed value" back to "full market value" so that every homeowner in the school district pays their fair share of the school budget based on what their home is actually worth.
Typically, tax dollars are included in rental rates paid by residents to their landlords. That rate is calculated independently by property owners.
ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!
