The four candidates vying for three seats on the Southern Cayuga Central School District Board of Education introduced themselves to those school employees and residents who turned up for the budget hearing Monday.

Incumbents Ted Rejman and Jim Wilcox spoke about their years on the board and where they would like to take the district. Joe Lonsky and Teresa Reeves also had seven minutes to tell a crowd of about 16 why they want the positions.

Along with the meet the candidates portion, Superintendent Mary Kay Worth gave her budget presentation for the fifth time since the end of April. The board also had to review the budget with surrounding towns and organizations.

The board kept the presentation informal, allowing taxpayers to call out questions as they went along. Residents asked about the contracted 4-percent teacher raises as compared to the current rate of inflation, and one man asked about the role of guidance counselors to encourage students to consider if college is right for them.

Worth presented the revenues and the expenses along with an explanation of why the board included them.

One priority was to put back some of the equipment and resources, “sacrificed in recent tough budget years,” Worth said.

Voters will decide whether to pass the $6.4 million levy for the $5.9 million budget from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, at the planetarium. This is an increase of 4.06 percent from last year's budget. The increase in tax levy amounts to an increase of 3.9 percent.

The state added more money for the district's pre-Kindergarten program, but Worth also detailed why Southern Cayuga didn't get as much of an increase in other state aid as surrounding districts.

The “property rich” district has too much valuable farm land and lakefront property to earn more money, she said.

Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311, ext 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net