ELBRIDGE - Jordan-Elbridge Central School District board members mulled over options to salvage their proposed budget on Wednesday. Trounced by a 200-vote margin, despite a 3.47 percent spending increase, which was much lower than last year's (6.49), the budget needs either a second look or to be abandoned.
Superintendent Marilyn Dominick informed the board and the 40 residents at the board meeting of options. The district can propose a new budget or the same one, or they can elect not to go to a second vote and accept a contingency budget. The board has until June 17.
A number of board members said they were not ready to vote on what kind of budget to propose, so they agreed to cancel a scheduled public hearing on the capital project Tuesday. Instead, they will hold a special public meeting at 7 p.m. in the high school library to discuss whether to propose another budget or go to contingency.
If they propose another budget that is defeated, the district will have to operate under a contingency budget for the 2008-2009 school year. Among the limitations imposed by contingency are no purchases of new equipment, no public use of school buildings by outside agencies unless there is no cost to the district, no non-essential maintenance, and no capital expenditures except for emergencies.
Board members were openly frustrated at the rejection and were hoping the public voices suggestions.
“I am surprised that the board and superintendent told reporters that voters were confused about what they were voting for,” resident and school board member-elect Dianna Foote said. “I can name six other districts with smaller increases and lower taxes. I think a huge number of voters knew exactly what they were voting for.”
“I agree with Mrs. Foote that the voters spoke,” board member Noel Hotchkiss said. “I don't think the community really understood what they just wished for.”
In light of the large number of negative votes, he advocated moving immediately to contingency unless the board received an overwhelming number of petitions asking for a new budget.
Also discussed was the idea of withholding a vote on the $28.9 million capital project, which was expected June 10. Instead, community members could study the capital project as a committee.
“If you don't take the 90 percent in funding for capital improvements for needed repairs, you will never have an opportunity in your lifetime to see that opportunity come again,” Hotchkiss said. “If Jordan-Elbridge doesn't get its chunk, it won't save you a nickel of tax dollars.”
“In my opinion, there was a well-orchestrated movement to defeat the budget,” Erica O'Brien, board member, said. “It had more to do with money and nothing to do with the kids. There's an e-mail going around saying that what we put before the voters was not in the interest of the community.”
“There were not a lot of parents voting on this budget,” Connie Drake, resident, said. “There were a lot of elderly, fixed-income people. We have to be careful as a community how we approach it.”
Board president Arien Schneider stressed the months of work the board put into developing the budget.
“We know what we can't do,” he said, focusing on how much the board had already trimmed from the budget.
“We would have been looking at double-digit figures. When you look at how much you have in your pocket by the time you go to contingency, it amounts to pennies.”
Voters also rejected (655-453) a land purchase proposition capped at $45,000 to acquire 3.5 acres of land east of the southeast corner of the high school property to construct a storm water retention basin. They did approve school bus purchases.
The added money in the budget was expected to fund employee benefits, especially health insurance, for which costs have increased 10.5 percent, fuel costs and contractual increases. BOCES costs have also risen.
Three teacher positions and non-instructional staff positions were eliminated with no change to instructional programs.
On June 10, district taxpayers are scheduled to vote on three propositions: approval to authorize a $28.9 million capital project for renovations related to instruction, infrastructure, drainage and athletics, including synthetic turf. While it's possible this vote may be postponed, board members were concerned that if it goes beyond July, state aid might no longer be available.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or
kathleen.barran@lee.net
A number of board members said they were not ready to vote on what kind of budget to propose, so they agreed to cancel a scheduled public hearing on the capital project Tuesday. Instead, they will hold a special public meeting at 7 p.m. in the high school library to discuss whether to propose another budget or go to contingency.
If they propose another budget that is defeated, the district will have to operate under a contingency budget for the 2008-2009 school year. Among the limitations imposed by contingency are no purchases of new equipment, no public use of school buildings by outside agencies unless there is no cost to the district, no non-essential maintenance, and no capital expenditures except for emergencies.
Board members were openly frustrated at the rejection and were hoping the public voices suggestions.
“I am surprised that the board and superintendent told reporters that voters were confused about what they were voting for,” resident and school board member-elect Dianna Foote said. “I can name six other districts with smaller increases and lower taxes. I think a huge number of voters knew exactly what they were voting for.”
“I agree with Mrs. Foote that the voters spoke,” board member Noel Hotchkiss said. “I don't think the community really understood what they just wished for.”
In light of the large number of negative votes, he advocated moving immediately to contingency unless the board received an overwhelming number of petitions asking for a new budget.
Also discussed was the idea of withholding a vote on the $28.9 million capital project, which was expected June 10. Instead, community members could study the capital project as a committee.
“If you don't take the 90 percent in funding for capital improvements for needed repairs, you will never have an opportunity in your lifetime to see that opportunity come again,” Hotchkiss said. “If Jordan-Elbridge doesn't get its chunk, it won't save you a nickel of tax dollars.”
“In my opinion, there was a well-orchestrated movement to defeat the budget,” Erica O'Brien, board member, said. “It had more to do with money and nothing to do with the kids. There's an e-mail going around saying that what we put before the voters was not in the interest of the community.”
“There were not a lot of parents voting on this budget,” Connie Drake, resident, said. “There were a lot of elderly, fixed-income people. We have to be careful as a community how we approach it.”
Board president Arien Schneider stressed the months of work the board put into developing the budget.
“We know what we can't do,” he said, focusing on how much the board had already trimmed from the budget.
“We would have been looking at double-digit figures. When you look at how much you have in your pocket by the time you go to contingency, it amounts to pennies.”
Voters also rejected (655-453) a land purchase proposition capped at $45,000 to acquire 3.5 acres of land east of the southeast corner of the high school property to construct a storm water retention basin. They did approve school bus purchases.
The added money in the budget was expected to fund employee benefits, especially health insurance, for which costs have increased 10.5 percent, fuel costs and contractual increases. BOCES costs have also risen.
Three teacher positions and non-instructional staff positions were eliminated with no change to instructional programs.
On June 10, district taxpayers are scheduled to vote on three propositions: approval to authorize a $28.9 million capital project for renovations related to instruction, infrastructure, drainage and athletics, including synthetic turf. While it's possible this vote may be postponed, board members were concerned that if it goes beyond July, state aid might no longer be available.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or
kathleen.barran@lee.net
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logic wrote on May 22, 2008 9:14 PM:
Maybe they should go back to the five. The community must have awaken to this situation. "