J-E school board considers belt tightening

JORDAN -- Money is tight everywhere these days, and the same holds true for the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District.

William Hamilton, assistant superintendent for business and finance, presented to the board of education Wednesday, a revised budget proposal for the 2008-09 academic year that takes into account taxpayers' wallets.

Initially, the district looked at a proposed budget of $27, 715, 240 for next year, but after learning that Jordan-Elbridge was going to be receiving considerably less state aid than was promised by Gov. Eliot Spitzer last year and the financial state of the taxpayers, Hamilton devised a proposed budget of $26, 955, 778 -- cutting $759,000 with a tax levy of 5.8 percent or $11, 143, 503.