E. Ramapo property tax hike may be less than expected

Property taxes in East Ramapo may not have to be raised quite as high as anticipated if the school board decides to adopt an emergency budget plan.
The East Ramapo school superintendent says that the board could adopt an austerity budget as an alternative to the current $200 million budget plan, a plan that was voted down earlier this month.
School officials say the adoption of an austerity budget would mean that property taxes would be increased by 8.2 percent, down from 8.8 percent as was originally proposed. The plan would not change any program cuts or layoffs laid out in the original budget.