A major proposed tax hike in the Chenango Valley School District has taxpayers there on edge.

Tuesday night, more than a hundred people came out to this public hearing.

Last month, the District adopted its 2008-2009 budget.

It includes a tax-levy increase of 14.4 percent.

It's a result of a more than 3-million dollar deficit in the district.

The Superintendent says people who own a house valued at 125-thousand dollars, will see a net increase of 338-dollars, or 28-dollars monthly.

People are afraid they're not going to be able to absorb that kind of increase.

"I pay more in school property tax than every other thing added together that I pay. And it's way too much," said Douglas Reed of the Town of Fenton.

To reduce the budget, people want district leaders to look at bus services, sports programs and administrative cuts.

Taxpayers across the state will head to the polls next Tuesday to vote on school budgets.