Following the President's Address to West Point Graduating Class: Schumer, Hall Ask President Obama to Help Highland Falls School District

Press Release

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Congressman John Hall today released a letter to President Barack Obama, respectfully requesting his assistance in obtaining emergency funding for the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery School District as it faces the prospect of double digit property tax increases and the tremendously difficult steps of closing schools and laying off staff. Schumer and Hall brought Highland Falls' unique problem to the attention of the Commander-in-Chief following his remarks to the West Point graduating class this past weekend.

"Highland Falls does a tremendous job of educating students with resources constrained by the federal government's tax treatment of the district" said Schumer. "To ask such a small group of people to shoulder yet higher taxes this year is not just unfair, but unjust, particularly as it is the district that serves so many of our military families. We need some help getting the district through this school year as we work toward a long term solution."

"The community of Highland Falls needs a permanent solution so that the district can continue to provide a great education without straining local taxpayers," said Hall. "In the meantime, we're calling on President Obama to help secure the financial resources necessary to see this community through. It's time for the federal government to keep its promise to Highland Falls, and we'll continue fighting to make sure that promise is delivered."

Highland Falls School District is in a unique position. The land within the district is approximately 93% exempt from property taxation due to wholly exempt Federal and State owned land. The acquisition of land by the United States Military Academy at West Point accounts for approximately 72% of this exempt property, while New York State parklands and other property accounts for the remaining 21%. This situation has put continued and intense financial strain on the district, and to cover their necessary expenses, the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery District school board has no choice but to consider a minimum of a double digit property tax increase, following an eleven percent increase for the 2009-2010 school year. In addition, in preparation for necessary reductions in spending for the 2010-2011 school year, the school district has already been forced to make tough decisions, such as closing its elementary school, letting go staff, and ending vital extracurricular programs.

Schumer and Hall are working on developing a legislative solution that will implement a permanent fix for the Highland Falls School District, but are requesting the President's assistance in helping the district make it through the 2010-2011 school year. The legislators acknowledged that schools around the state are in a financially difficult position, but Highland Falls, due to its uniquely and artificially small tax base, is in dire trouble.

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