The best source for local news from Marbletown, Rochester & Rosendale
Published the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month | Vol. 27, Issue 20
October 21, 2022 | $1.00
Property value up by $1 billion Increases affects taxes, superintendent explains at meeting
The incredibly popular Pickle Fest Participants of the pickle-eating contest are pictured enjoying the crisp, juicy, salty and tangy flavors that only pickles can provide. The large influx of people from all sorts of places has an effect on our local businesses. Reshma Ramoutar of Creekside restaurant said, “It’s definitely our busiest day for the restaurant!” On right, Bill Brooks, founder of the Rosendale International Pickle Festival and pickle extraordinaire, was honored with a huge ribbon and thanks. See the full story on page 11
Big flames, but quick work by SRFD
Assistant Chief Firefighter Pat Davis is pictured on Oct. 10, putting out a fire at 32 Mickle Drive, Stone Ridge. Paul Bogart, chief, Stone Ridge Fire Department, said, “We had the fire under control in about an hour. As you can see, it was more than just a barn. It was a shop, two carports, another shed and the neighbor's shed, and four vehicles. The fire is believed to have started in one of the vehicles in the carport. The homeowner was inside the carport when it started but was able to make it out. We were dispatched to the fire at 4 and were on scene until approximately 6:30.”
Rondout Valley Royalty: Standing room only at BOE PAGE 6
Tons of events in the calendar, even a Grateful Dead meet-up in Ros. PAGES 20-22
Amber Kelly BSP Reporter The Rondout Valley Board of Education meeting on Oct. 11 at the district office opened with Rondout Valley school superintendent Dr. Joseph Morgan clarifying school tax changes. “There have been a lot of questions about taxes,” Dr. Morgan said. “There was a significant change in the equalization rate. The equalization rate is established by the state’s Office of Real Property Tax Services. What it does is, if there is not an assessment of the property, then the state Real Property Tax office comes in and says this is what property tax assessment in this town should be.” On a chart, Morgan showed that in 2021 property in Marbletown was assessed at 93% of actual value, Rochester was at 100%, assessed real value, Rosendale at 93%, and Wawarsing at 91%. “In 2022, you’ll see the percentage numbers changed, Marbletown was at 70%, Rochester 72%, Rosendale 74%, and Wawarsing 81%,” Morgan said. “What happened over the last year is the full value assessment of all property in the school district rose $845,651,240 million; almost a billion dollars. So, for the past year, the full value of all the property has gone up significantly. That is reflected in the change over here in the equalization rates,” Morgan continued. “You’ll see that the equalization rate dropped the largest in Rochester, and then Marbletown, then Rosendale, and then Wawarsing. “Also, the share of the school tax amount rose,” Morgan said. “So this tab on the spreadsheet shows the variance from year to year. The variance changed from 2021 to 2022 was that taxes in 2022 in Marbletown went up 3%. As a dollar
See Property value, page 3
Election Day is nearly here, vote and get your sticker PAGE 4