AUBURN - Auburn Enlarged City School District taxpayers can expect to see an increase in their tax bills if the new budget is approved by voters on May 20.

On Tuesday, the board of education unanimously adopted the proposed school budget expected to be put on the ballot.

The overall budget proposed totals $66,741,144, a $3,363,380 increase over last year's numbers of $63,377,764, or 5.31 percent.

This equates to an estimated tax levy of $26,288,256, an increase of $1,078,166 from the previous year, or a 4.28 percent increase.

Local impact is based upon home assessments and eligibility for STAR, New York State's School Tax Relief Program, a property tax rebate program and a partial property tax exemption from school taxes. The exemption is available for all owner-occupied, primary residents while the Enhanced STAR is available for senior citizens.

Based upon the 2007-08 assessments, the local impact for a $100,000 home with no STAR rebate is $1,863, an increase of $76 from last year. For a house with Basic STAR, $1,304, an increase of $53. For an Enhanced STAR, $805, an increase of $33.

Beyond contractual wage increases and the cost of fringe benefits such as health insurance, the increase will fund the 19 full-time equivalent staff members added through the Contract for Excellence, the state's education reform program that provides extra funding to districts in need of improvement, Business Administrator Marianne O'Connor said during a budget presentation.

The increase will also be added to debt service - cash required over a given period for the repayment of interest and principal on debt - for the district's energy performance contracts and for previously approved capital improvements.

Equipment upgrades are also built into the budget. Specifically, the district will be looking to upgrade cameras on school buses.

The increase will also cover the skyrocketing cost of fuel.

According to current estimates, the district is likely to receive about $37,399,863 in state aid, of which $660,000 is reserved for new C4E programs.

In other news:

• Local organizations and private citizens presented the board with nearly $55,000 in monetary donations earmarked for the installation of synthetic turf at Holland Stadium to help relieve the taxpayers of some of the local share.

Guy Cosentino, executive director of the Stardust Foundation of Central New York, pledged an investment of $50,000 towards turf.

He said there is a larger issue at stake: the estimated $15.68 million proposed capital project dealing with school infrastructure, energy efficiency and technology, of which Holland Stadium is one facet.

“The foundation believes that the turf issue tends to sidetrack thoughtful discussion of the larger issue,” he said.

The foundation is also pledging the funds because the working agreement between the district and Cayuga Community College to share usage of each of their facilities embodies the overall mission of the foundation, he said.

In order to obtain the money, the voters must approve the project and the district has to continue the partnership with CCC.

“We are not normally in the business of financing schools,” he said. “This is an exception. We think this is a good investment.”

The Auburn Administration Association presented the board with a $500 donation; Auburn resident Dick Williams donated $650; William Cregg, owner of Dewald Roofing, donated $1,000, Paul Vitale donated $1,500; and board member Sam Giangreco and various members of his family donated $1,300.

• The board approved the retirement of East Middle School Principal Diane Dolcemascolo effective Aug. 29.

• The next board meeting will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 23 in the Auburn High School library.

Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net