Dear Blue Waves Families,
As the result of a recent reduction in the amount of PILOT payments to be paid to the Riverhead Central School District from Browning Hotel Properties, LLC, the Board of Education voted to adjust the 2023-2024 tax levy. Browning Hotel Properties, LLC successfully challenged the Town of Riverhead’s Board of Assessor’s assessment of its facility in a tax certiorari proceeding, resulting in the assessed value of its facility being reduced from $5,054,000 to $3,739,086 for the tax years 2020–2021 through 2022–2023. This resulted in their PILOT payments being reduced by $521,774.77. This reduction in revenue to the District, without being replaced, would result in cuts to programming and services. To ensure this does not become necessary, the Board voted to increase the 2023-2024 tax levy by an equivalent amount. Even with this increase, the tax levy for the 2023-2024 school year remains below the District’s tax cap limit.
If you have any questions, please contact our Assistant Superintendent for Business, Dr. Rodney Asse, at 631-369-6708, or at rodney.asse@g.riverhead.net.
Sincerely,
Dr. Augustine E. Tornatore
Superintendent of Schools