SCHOOL TAXES OF YESTERYEAR

Footnotes to Long Island History

School Taxes of Yesteryear

by

Thomas R. Bayles

School Taxes of Yesteryear

By Thomas R. Bayles

In these days of soaring school taxes, as well as all taxes, it may be of interest to make some comparisons with years ago.

The school taxes on our home place in Middle Island were $2.57. In 1925 the school taxes were $10.80 and the whole tax bill for that year was 31.50. Another 25 years in 1950 and the school taxes were 58 and in 15 years more in 1965 the school taxes were 192. Now in 1968 the school taxes on the same place have been nearly doubled to 373 and the rate has gone from 28 cents in 1902 to 14.05 for this year.

If the school taxes continue to increase at the same rate for the next 25 years where will the tax payer be?

The table shown here of the school money and teachers wages back in 1877 in the villages of Brookhaven town give you some idea of the changes during the past 100 years.