The Board of Education typically sets the tax rates for each school year in August. The tax rates are based on the total tax levy for the year in the approved budget and final municipal assessments for both towns in the district.
Tax rates vary between towns because property in each is assessed at different levels in relation to full market value. After the towns submit final assessment information to the state Office of Real Property Services each summer, each community is assigned an equalization rate to account for these differences.
The equalization process is designed to fairly apportion the total tax levy between the towns and result in similar tax bills for properties with similar values, regardless of municipality. The district does not control any part of the assessment or equalization process.
Tax bills are typically mailed by Sept. 1 and due by Sept. 30 without penalty.
The 2019-20 school tax rates are:
- Town of Warwick: $162.86 per $1,000 of assessed value
- Town of Chester: $38.34 per $1,000 of assessed value