BY R .J. MARX

Debra Jackson, superintendent of the Bedford Central schools, said this week that tax rates in the district will be lower than the district anticipated at budget time. Bedford's tax hike, which had been voted upon at budget time, was a rise of 6.35 percent. That number has been reduced to a 3.97 percent increase. In Pound Ridge, the estimated tax rate at budget time was 8.44 percent. That tax rate was readjusted to 6.01 percent.

"Greater revenue offsets the budget, so the final tax rate is lower than we estimated in May," she said. "It's a very positive story for the community. It's in a range of 2.2 to 2.4 percent lower in each of Bedford, Mount Kisco, Pound Ridge, New Castle, and North Castle, from where the district draws its students."

The district's 2006-07 estimated tax rate is now $106.94 in Bedford, per $1,000 of assessed value. This is up from $102.86 in 2005-06, for an estimated change of $4.08 per $1,000 of assessed value. In Pound Ridge, the estimated change is $4.33 per $1,000 of assessed value.

A total of $3.5 million was directed to the revenue portion of the budget, said Dr. Jackson, of which $1.4 million had been planned in the original budget.

Mark Betz, assistant superintendent for business and administrative services, said that more revenue was coming into the district, much of which was coming from increased interest rates. "It makes a huge amount of difference," he said. "You may have the same amount of money to invest, but at higher rates. We've benefited from higher interest rates while we've had cash to invest."

The state's homeless child aid fund also increased this year, and is now about $350,000, said Dr. Jackson. She said that the registrar, Mary Lou Cavaliere, and assistant principal of the Mount Kisco Elementary School Cheryl Pease have helped to identify homeless students. "We have many more homeless than people realize," she said.

Dr. Jackson said homeless students are without a permanent residence, and that there about 26 in the district. "They're all different circumstances," she said. "Not a group home — it's students whose parents don't have a place, are transient, may be living with a couple different relatives — anyone who does not have a school district permanent residence."

Dr. Jackson said that the town assessors have "been very diligent in the certiorari. area, and taking a very firm stance in regards to requests for tax reductions."

Certiorari refers to requests for reassessments by homeowners, and has provided another source of increased revenue, according to Dr. Jackson.

Such cases can take four or five years to settle, said Mr. Betz. He said he meets with the assessors, including Bedford's Tom Polzella and Pound Ridge's Carole Long, to apportion the taxes equally among the towns.

"We really do make an effort to give the worst possible numbers at budget time," said Dr. Jackson, "so that it wouldn't be a surprise. If the number comes back, it's always a lower number,so that you weren't thinking you voted on taxes at a different rate."

She said the district's goal is to have the most precise number presented to the voters in May. "It's a good-news story, and it's also a story that says we need to monitor where we're going to be."

Coming up, the district will be negotiating the civil service and administrator's contracts, and fuel and energy costs will remain variable. "We might need less courses, we might make some curriculum changes, and build the budget from the ground up."

Dr. Jackson said that there were students enrolling in the district through the start of the year. This will not have an impact on the budget numbers, she said.

"I realize the taxpayers really have been supportive," said Dr. Jackson. "I appreciate that, as does everyone in the district, the school hoard, and the students. I'm pleased we could come up with a number that's a reduction, and we'll continue to work to put forth a conservative budget and quality schools."