Taxpayers in the Southern Cayuga Central School District won't have to dole out as many dollars as originally thought for school taxes if voters approve a revised proposed 2008-09 school budget June 17.

With written assurances from the state Education Department, the district has been able to lower the tax levy in its amended school budget adopted by the board of education Monday by adding $150,000 in state aid to the revenue line, Superintendent Mary Kay Worth said Friday.

The new budget proposal of $16,373,330 is 2.9 percent higher than last year and carries a tax levy increase of 4.47 percent. Soon after voters defeated the original budget of $16,448,192, which carried a tax levy increase of 5.24 percent, Worth and the board received notice from the state that the owes $182,196 for building projects since 2002.

As a result, the board's revised budget was in danger of carrying a tax levy increase, despite the spending cuts made.

But at the same time, the state through an audit found state aid shortfalls for the 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 school years.

Through the efforts of state Sen. Michael F. Nozzolio and Cayuga-Onondaga Board of Educational Services Superintendent Bill Speck, the district received reasonable assurance that the state would release the money owed to the district and decrease the amount owed by the district to $32,000, freeing up $150,000, Worth said.

The district has scheduled a budget hearing for 7 p.m. June 9 in the high school auditorium.

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