MERIDIAN -- Taxpayers in the Cato-Meridian Central School District will see a minor increase to the 2008-09 school budget when they go to the polls next month.
During a board of education meeting lasting more than three hours, the board unanimously approved the proposed school budget expected to be put before voters on May 20.
The overall budget proposed totals $18,259,804, a $1,081,640 increase over last year's numbers of $17,178,164, or 6.3 percent.
This equates to a tax levy of $5,016,248, an increase of $188,290 from last year, or a 3.9 percent increase.
According to Superintendent Deborah Bobo, the increase will fund the creation of a director of technology, a foreign language teacher, a computer technician and a full-time psychologist for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade offering drug awareness.
Additionally the increase will allow the district to purchase 103 computers, provide SAT stipends to two people, provide the tax collector a $2,500 stipend and fund attendance to the New York State Middle School Conference held this year in Syracuse.
Furniture for the elementary, middle and high schools will be purchased at $5,000 per building, and data warehouse enhancement will cost $7,000.
There will be no change to instructional programs.
A last minute proposal from the athletics department to fund a junior varsity football team was approved by the board by deducting $6,000 from various line items within the budget.
A public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. May 6 in the middle school auditorium.
The overall budget proposed totals $18,259,804, a $1,081,640 increase over last year's numbers of $17,178,164, or 6.3 percent.
This equates to a tax levy of $5,016,248, an increase of $188,290 from last year, or a 3.9 percent increase.
According to Superintendent Deborah Bobo, the increase will fund the creation of a director of technology, a foreign language teacher, a computer technician and a full-time psychologist for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade offering drug awareness.
Additionally the increase will allow the district to purchase 103 computers, provide SAT stipends to two people, provide the tax collector a $2,500 stipend and fund attendance to the New York State Middle School Conference held this year in Syracuse.
Furniture for the elementary, middle and high schools will be purchased at $5,000 per building, and data warehouse enhancement will cost $7,000.
There will be no change to instructional programs.
A last minute proposal from the athletics department to fund a junior varsity football team was approved by the board by deducting $6,000 from various line items within the budget.
A public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. May 6 in the middle school auditorium.
