Two school districts look for ways to pass budgets

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May 25, 2012

Two school districts look for ways to pass budgets

Mark Boshnack Daily Star The Daily Star Fri May 25, 2012, 09:17 AM EDT

Two area schools with budgets defeated in May 15 voting are at different stages in their plans to bring the issue back to voters June 19.

The plans exceeded the state’s property tax cap, requiring approval by a 60 percent supermajority. The new proposals meet the cap, allowing for a simple majority.

The new budget at Unadilla Valley Central School calls for a 2.4 percent tax levy increase. The previous plan was defeated, 255 to 253.

Following the vote, the board gave Superintendent Robert Mackey a goal of cutting the budget back to the tax cap, while minimizing the impact to students. The proposal was approved at a Monday board of education meeting, Mackey said.

Working with his staff, “we did the best we could” to meet the goal. The plan that will go before voters include the following cuts: the summer swim program, participation in the regional BOCES summer school, district funding of summer and after-school programs. Grant funding will be sought to restore some of the final two. The school will also cut the use of a half-time BOCES physical education teacher. Savings from a retirement announced after the budget vote and additional use of fund balance helped reduce the levy.

The exit polling on the first tally showed that the majority of those responding saw the ballot as the only chance voters have to send a message that all property taxes are too high, Mackey said. But the district said it thought that after several years of cuts and relatively flat taxes, voters would support the effort to maintain programs that benefit students. After the loss, cuts were found that affect the fewest students, he said.

At Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School, Superintendent Lynn Macan did not return a call for comment Thursday. Voters turned down a budget that called for a 4.54 percent tax levy hike, 981 to 1,198. According to the school’s website, the board directed the superintendent and district administrators to prepare a budget with a 2.72 percent tax levy increase, the maximum allowed for a simple majority under the tax cap law, for presentation 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Golding Library.

If a budget is defeated twice, under state law, the school goes on a contingency plan that calls for no increase over the previous year’s spending plan.