Taxpayers in the Cato-Meridian Central School District can look forward to a small reduction in the original tax levy estimates, after the school board voted 4-3 this week to reduce the original 3.9 percent tax levy increase to 2.7 percent - a change of $50,000.
The adjustment came after the district's internal audit committee reported the district spent less money than anticipated over the last school year and achieved more revenue - resulting in a larger fund balance overall. The committee recommended adding $50,000 to an existing $150,000 giveback - which had helped the district achieve the initial 3.9 percent increase.
Board Co-Vice Presidents Charles Ware and Michael Lees voted for reducing the tax levy at Monday's school board meeting, along with members Heidi Dennison and Rodney Pollock. President Kathleen Bratt voted against the reduction, along with members Dean Cummins and Jill Modafferi, citing concerns that skyrocketing fuel and other costs might leave the district short of funds in the future.
“We don't know where those costs are going to go and we don't want to have to make up that amount in future years, which may result in having to raise the tax levy,” Bratt said Wednesday.
The decrease sets the tax levy at $4.64 million, down from the $4.69 million increase voters approved May 16. Just how much property owners in the district's nine municipalities save depends on geography, equalization and taxable assessed rates, figures over which the district has no control.
In other news:
€ At the prodding of the incoming high school principal, Joe Coleman, members began preliminary discussions on installation and finance of surveillance cameras. Coleman, who was not present at Monday night's meeting, had done a walk-through of the school with representatives from a private company to determine possible security issues in the building.
The unnamed company assembled a proposal that members previewed, which estimated a cost of $60,000 to enhance the interior and exterior security schemes at the high school, as well as at the elementary and middle school complex.
Crosby Lamont, the district's assistant superintendent for business, briefed members about state money that might be used to help finance the upgrades. How robust potential improvements could be is ultimately up to the board.
“I think there are some strategic locations where video would enhance our security perimeter,” Ware said in a telephone interview Wednesday.
He did not, however, foresee advancing discussion until the beginning of the 2006-07 school year, when administrators are present at meetings.
€ Daniel Fay of Teitsch-Kent-Fay Architects updated the board on the district's capital improvement project. He told the board about plans to follow up with the site manager about work on the field hockey field, as members further considered member Dean Cummins' offer to donate topsoil for the site.
At this time, Paul Vitale Inc. is contracted to provide materials for the site. Lamont said topsoil alone for 3,200 cubic yards would cost $31,870. Additional expenses bring total expenses for the project to $115,689.60.
The board is currently weighing those estimates against how much cost the school district stands to bear if it undertakes the project on its own, with the help of surrounding towns to transport the soil either for free or at a reduced rate. Members will come back to the next board meeting with more detailed cost breakdowns around that option, and possibly make a determination on the direction the district will take.
€ Fay told the board his company would cover the costs of additional work on a stone monument to long-time athletic director Mary Alice Dady, located in front of the athletics complex. Workers were asked to darken the existing lettering on the stone, to make it visible from the road. The cost of the work totaled $684.
Staff writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or at olivia.goldberg@lee.net
Board Co-Vice Presidents Charles Ware and Michael Lees voted for reducing the tax levy at Monday's school board meeting, along with members Heidi Dennison and Rodney Pollock. President Kathleen Bratt voted against the reduction, along with members Dean Cummins and Jill Modafferi, citing concerns that skyrocketing fuel and other costs might leave the district short of funds in the future.
“We don't know where those costs are going to go and we don't want to have to make up that amount in future years, which may result in having to raise the tax levy,” Bratt said Wednesday.
The decrease sets the tax levy at $4.64 million, down from the $4.69 million increase voters approved May 16. Just how much property owners in the district's nine municipalities save depends on geography, equalization and taxable assessed rates, figures over which the district has no control.
In other news:
€ At the prodding of the incoming high school principal, Joe Coleman, members began preliminary discussions on installation and finance of surveillance cameras. Coleman, who was not present at Monday night's meeting, had done a walk-through of the school with representatives from a private company to determine possible security issues in the building.
The unnamed company assembled a proposal that members previewed, which estimated a cost of $60,000 to enhance the interior and exterior security schemes at the high school, as well as at the elementary and middle school complex.
Crosby Lamont, the district's assistant superintendent for business, briefed members about state money that might be used to help finance the upgrades. How robust potential improvements could be is ultimately up to the board.
“I think there are some strategic locations where video would enhance our security perimeter,” Ware said in a telephone interview Wednesday.
He did not, however, foresee advancing discussion until the beginning of the 2006-07 school year, when administrators are present at meetings.
€ Daniel Fay of Teitsch-Kent-Fay Architects updated the board on the district's capital improvement project. He told the board about plans to follow up with the site manager about work on the field hockey field, as members further considered member Dean Cummins' offer to donate topsoil for the site.
At this time, Paul Vitale Inc. is contracted to provide materials for the site. Lamont said topsoil alone for 3,200 cubic yards would cost $31,870. Additional expenses bring total expenses for the project to $115,689.60.
The board is currently weighing those estimates against how much cost the school district stands to bear if it undertakes the project on its own, with the help of surrounding towns to transport the soil either for free or at a reduced rate. Members will come back to the next board meeting with more detailed cost breakdowns around that option, and possibly make a determination on the direction the district will take.
€ Fay told the board his company would cover the costs of additional work on a stone monument to long-time athletic director Mary Alice Dady, located in front of the athletics complex. Workers were asked to darken the existing lettering on the stone, to make it visible from the road. The cost of the work totaled $684.
Staff writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or at olivia.goldberg@lee.net
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