The Moravia school board this week adopted a 2005-06 budget that increases the tax levy by 7 percent.
The $15,869,065 budget is up 4.5 percent from the current budget, though school board president Russell Riddell is hoping the tax levy can be brought down when the new assessment rates are complete.
Like many other districts in the area, Moravia is facing increases in health insurance, up $154,000, teachers and employee retirement, up 65,000, and BOCES programming, up $55,000. The biggest increase is the district's special education program, which is up $175,000.
"We looked at all of the test scores coming in, and we felt we needed to provide additional services to those students," Riddell said.
The increase in the program includes a new teacher, an assistant and additional slots for the BOCES alternative education program.
New York state is also requiring that the district refinance their capital construction project, which will add another $106,000 to the budget.
When district administrators first presented their preliminary budget, they were looking at a 7-percent overall increase, which would have put the tax levy hike into the double digits. The board has spent the last several weeks working with administrators to try and bring that number down.
"We didn't feel having the tax levy that high was fair to the taxpayers," Riddell said. "We think this budget helps the programs we need to focus on, but also keeps things fair for everyone."
Staff writer Ashley Lipsky can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or
ashley.lipsky@lee.net
Like many other districts in the area, Moravia is facing increases in health insurance, up $154,000, teachers and employee retirement, up 65,000, and BOCES programming, up $55,000. The biggest increase is the district's special education program, which is up $175,000.
"We looked at all of the test scores coming in, and we felt we needed to provide additional services to those students," Riddell said.
The increase in the program includes a new teacher, an assistant and additional slots for the BOCES alternative education program.
New York state is also requiring that the district refinance their capital construction project, which will add another $106,000 to the budget.
When district administrators first presented their preliminary budget, they were looking at a 7-percent overall increase, which would have put the tax levy hike into the double digits. The board has spent the last several weeks working with administrators to try and bring that number down.
"We didn't feel having the tax levy that high was fair to the taxpayers," Riddell said. "We think this budget helps the programs we need to focus on, but also keeps things fair for everyone."
Staff writer Ashley Lipsky can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or
ashley.lipsky@lee.net
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