AUBURN - More than five weeks ago, Auburn Enlarged City School District Superintendent Joseph D. Pabis declared the district's proposed 2008-09 school budget to be both “fiscally responsible and educationally sound.”

And he still believes it to be true, even after voters narrowly defeated that budget May 20. In a meeting Pabis organized with reporters Thursday, he explained why voters should approve the original budget proposition of $66,490,371 when it's put before them for a second time June 17.

The proposed budget, which is 4.91 percent higher than last year and carries a tax levy increase of 3.28 percent, is the last of three drafts presented to the board of education since March. The first draft called for a budget of $67,132,922; on April 8, the board adopted a reduced budget of $66,741,144; two weeks later, the board amended the budget to $66,490,371.

Through that period, the district reduced its operating budget $642,551.

“In each of those budget progressions, we kept looking at students,” Pabis said. “Students first. When cuts were made, we were able to take the cuts not from student programs. We were able to work the numbers where we felt that it was an option that would not affect programs because programs would affect kids.

“This is one of the rationales of why the district elected to bring back the same budget, because of the amount of cuts made prior to it coming forth.”

Board member Joe Leogrande was the lone vote against putting the original budget up for a re-vote.

“I think the budget should have been adjusted a little bit to show the public who voted no, which was the majority, that the school board is sympathetic to their no vote,” he said. “Jordan-Elbridge Central School District did it and Southern Cay ga Central School District did it, too. I think there is always something there you can take out just to show a good faith effort to get the people on your side.”

Pabis said there are many factors for the budget's overall increase from last year, including skyrocketing prices for diesel gasoline, electricity, food, heat, the same increases individuals see. Additionally, the state and federal governments, through No Child Left Behind, are mandating more programs that are unfunded, he said.

“Every year, as the bar is raised for school success and student success,” he said, “there is no new money to have the mandates.”

Nearly 70 percent of the total budget encompasses salaries and benefits of the district's employees, Business Administrator Marianne O'Connor said.

Though the district's enrollment is slowly declining - a trend in many local school districts - Auburn is unable to decrease classes, teachers and staff immediately because the decrease may be in various grade levels. A student from one grade could leave the district and another could leave from another grade, she said.

The results of decreasing enrollment will be seen over time, she said. Pabis added that over the last few years, the district has not filled various positions through attrition.

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 $1,845, an increase of $58 from last year. For a house with Basic STAR, $1,292, an increase of $41. For an Enhanced STAR, $797, an increase of $25.

While the budget may be the same on June 17, it is clear the district is doing something different when it comes to promoting it.

Just 14 percent of district's registered voters came out May 20, when the budget was defeated 1,414-1,411. Out of the 2,825 who did vote, 266 just voted for board of education but not the budget.

Some people who voted were not registered; in city school districts such as Auburn, people can only vote for budgets and other propositions if they are registered voters.

Voter registration forms, affidavit and absentee ballots can now be found at every school building. Sample ballots will be posted at all polling places, as it has in the past. And the only thing people will be voting on is the budget; there will be no other propositions on the ballot.

Pabis and O'Connor have extended invitations to speak about the budget to various organizations, including the benevolent societies of the police and fire department as well as rotary and CSEA. O'Connor will be speaking to a group of senior citizens, and budget announcements are now made before any school event.

The district has scheduled a public budget hearing 7 p.m. June 10 at the Auburn High School library.

Should voters defeat the budget again, the district will go into a contingency budget, $593,944 less than the proposed budget. No new equipment not state aidable can be purchased under a contingency budget.

The board has some discreation over what else to cut in a contingency budget. In Auburn, a new custodian likely would not be hired, O'Connor said, and there would be some reductions to field trip related transportation, athletics and club activities, and the district would cancel its elementary summer school.

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