We realize that your eyes may start to glaze over, but see if these Auburn Enlarged City School District numbers and reasoning make sense to you:
€ The projected tax levy is up 4.3 percent from last year and up 69 percent (not a typo) from 2000;
€ The projected enrollment is 4,600 vs. 5,130 in 2000, a decrease of 530 students or 10.3 percent;
€ Taxes up 69 percent and student enrollment down 10.3 percent? Yep! See anything wrong with this picture?
€ The number of teachers, aides, facilitators is -- who knows? The school district doesn't publish these “statistics.” But we're confident that these numbers are up and not down. In fact, they're hiring over a dozen new teachers this year.
€ And lest we forget, turf is back. We voted it down two years ago, but that didn't faze the “turf muscling block” of teachers, administrators and majority of the school board members.
Their rationale is that it won't cost the local taxpayers anything because they've raised the local $150,000 share via contributions.
They conveniently ignored the fact that there is no state aid when it comes time to refurbish this “field of dreams” in about 8 years at a cost of $750,000 and so. And the health hazards controversy? Guess that's been ignored too. And then they have the arrogance to lump this $3.5 million turf into one capital project bucket of $15.7 million. This turf project should have been a separate proposition. Period!
Do they know - or care - that we're in a recession? Gas and food prices are up 20 to 40 percent; the Cayuga County unemployment rate is 6.2 percent; property taxes out of sight - yada, yada, yada!
But then, these administrators and many teachers seldom feel the economic impact of a recession because no matter what - kids have to go to school. Plus, they have the double security blanket of tenure and the union. What. Me worry? Oh, yes. Don#'t forget to vote because -- it#'s your money.
Bill Balyszak
Auburn
€ The projected enrollment is 4,600 vs. 5,130 in 2000, a decrease of 530 students or 10.3 percent;
€ Taxes up 69 percent and student enrollment down 10.3 percent? Yep! See anything wrong with this picture?
€ The number of teachers, aides, facilitators is -- who knows? The school district doesn't publish these “statistics.” But we're confident that these numbers are up and not down. In fact, they're hiring over a dozen new teachers this year.
€ And lest we forget, turf is back. We voted it down two years ago, but that didn't faze the “turf muscling block” of teachers, administrators and majority of the school board members.
Their rationale is that it won't cost the local taxpayers anything because they've raised the local $150,000 share via contributions.
They conveniently ignored the fact that there is no state aid when it comes time to refurbish this “field of dreams” in about 8 years at a cost of $750,000 and so. And the health hazards controversy? Guess that's been ignored too. And then they have the arrogance to lump this $3.5 million turf into one capital project bucket of $15.7 million. This turf project should have been a separate proposition. Period!
Do they know - or care - that we're in a recession? Gas and food prices are up 20 to 40 percent; the Cayuga County unemployment rate is 6.2 percent; property taxes out of sight - yada, yada, yada!
But then, these administrators and many teachers seldom feel the economic impact of a recession because no matter what - kids have to go to school. Plus, they have the double security blanket of tenure and the union. What. Me worry? Oh, yes. Don#'t forget to vote because -- it#'s your money.
Bill Balyszak
Auburn
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tlb4 wrote on May 19, 2008 10:14 AM:
The operational costs for the district(water,sewer,natural gas,transportation costs) has risen. The health insurance premium costs for the district's employees has gone up almost 100% since 2000. These increases account for the majority of the budget.(and the rise of these costs have both surpassed the rate of inflation) Considering these factors and a < 4% school budget increase is actually very good. Of course Mr. Balyszak would rather spout meaningless stats that have nothing to do with the reality of this budget. Some other news, teachers are affected by the recession also,they also pay for gas,food and energy costs. It is ridiculous to suggest that they are immune to the difficulties of a recession. "
Unknown... wrote on May 18, 2008 10:01 AM: