New state legislation proposes refund for school tax payers in East Ramapo
Freshman Assemblyman Aron Wieder has introduced legislation that would require that the East Ramapo School District refund taxpayers.
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Freshman Assemblyman Aron Wieder has introduced legislation that would require that the East Ramapo School District refund taxpayers.
News 12's Diane Caruso spoke with Wieder in a virtual interview while he was in Albany.
"If you walk into a grocery store and you pay money for a product, and you expect the delivery of the product and the product doesn't arrive. Don't you ask for a refund?" the Democrat explained.
It stems from the district recently identifying a surplus estimated at $30 million last November to now possibly over $100 million.
Weider says the more than 4% tax hike that district taxpayers were mandated to pay last year by the state Education Commissioner should be returned to them in the form of a refund.
Weider is also asking the state attorney general examine the state Education Department policies and procedures in how this came about.
Questions come as the district is searching for a new superintendent.
An interim superintendent began at the start of this school year.
A spokesperson for the school district says the New York state comptroller is already performing a finance audit of the East Ramapo Central School District. Results from this review are expected back within a few weeks.
