AUBURN - If Auburn Enlarged City School District taxpayers had any questions or comments about the proposed 2008-09 school budget up for a re-vote next week, they did not voice it at a forum organized by the district to inform the public Tuesday.
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
Auburn school board members follow along during a presentation about the budget at Auburn High School on Tuesday night. The budget will be voted on again June 17.
Auburn school board members follow along during a presentation about the budget at Auburn High School on Tuesday night. The budget will be voted on again June 17.
Community members remained silent during the public budget hearing held at the Auburn High School library, even after it was narrowly defeated May 20, 1,414-1,411.
In fact, it was board members who asked questions about the $66,490,371 budget, which is 4.91 percent higher than last year and carries an estimated tax levy increase of 3.28 percent.
In the budget presentation, Superintendent J.D. Pabis shared the instructional cost the district bears per general education and special education student.
It costs the district $6,933 to educate a general education student, less than similar school districts at $8,399 and less than the state average of $9,168.
Similarly, it costs the district $19,450 to educate a special education student, less than similar school districts at $21,475 and less than the state average of $22,354.
Board member Fred Cornelius asked Pabis why Auburn is spending less on students than other districts, saying, “I'm willing to spend a little more.”
“If we did not feel we were offering an appropriate program, a program that meets our students' needs and allows them to be challenged and become competitive not only in Auburn, but in the global market,” Pabis responded, “we would be coming forth and asking for more.”
Board member Ginny Kent asked Pabis about the idea the budget is a maintenance budget - that is, it maintains current educational programs and staffing levels - and what is going to happen to faculty and staff whose positions were added from Contract for Excellence, the state's education reform which provides extra funding to districts in need of improvement.
The district was a C4E school for this academic year, but no longer has that designation based upon the amount of state aid it received for the next academic year.
Pabis said all of the positions created by C4E money will remain as the extra funding is now part of the general foundation aid.
Cornelius also asked about the
contingency budget, a budget that caps spending should voters again defeat the budget.
At risk will be $267,070 in equipment purchases and $326,874 in programming should the district have to go into contingency.
When it comes to programming, Pabis said it was important to look outside the classroom to cut funds, so instead, cuts will be made in terms of funding field trips, intramural athletics and band, elementary summer school and summer curriculum work.
That is not to say all of these things will be cut entirely, Pabis said.
The portions of field trips, athletics and marching band the district usually pays will fall to those participating; for example, students who go on field trips will have to fundraise a little more to go, etc.
Polls will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 17 at one of five polling places based upon legislative district.
People in District 10 can vote at Casey Park Elementary School; District 11 and the portion of Sennett within the Auburn school district at East Middle School; the portion of Owasco in the district at Owasco Elementary School; Districts 12, 14 and the portion of Fleming in the district at Seward Elementary School; and Districts 13 and 15 at West Middle School.
In other news:
* The board received some good news when members saw the bids from vendors for phase II of the 2006 capital project.
Last month, the board opted to re-advertise for vendors to install heating ventilation air conditioning units to make the district more energy efficient and cost-effective. The district was counseled by a representative of the mechanical engineering firm with whom it contracts to re-advertise for the work as the original single vendor bid may have come in too high, Pabis said.
The representative was correct, as second bids came in below the first, allowing the district to move on plans to replace the doors at East Middle School - several of the original doors will be refurbished and installed on the second floor - and install 75 projectors in classrooms at Auburn High School.
Earlier in the year, the board had to reduce the number of projectors to 25 - the original plan called for 97 - and eliminate the door replacements at East due to a financial shortfall caused by inflation.
The board Tuesday unanimously awarded the bids. Work is likely to be completed by the fall.
* A special board meeting is slated for 5:30 p.m. June 18 in the Harriet Tubman Administration Building, 78 Thornton Ave., Auburn.
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
Auburn Enlarged City School District at a glance
Polling: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., people in District 10 can vote at Casey Park Elementary School; District 11 and the portion of Sennett within the Auburn school district at East Middle School; the portion of Owasco within the district at Owasco Elementary School; Districts 12, 14 and the portion of Fleming within the district at Seward Elementary School; and Districts 13 and 15 at West Middle School.
Proposed budget: $66,490,371 - +4.91 percent
Estimated tax levy: $26,037,483 - +3.28 percent
Contingency budget: $65,896,428
Estimated tax levy: $25,443,540 - +2.28 percent
In fact, it was board members who asked questions about the $66,490,371 budget, which is 4.91 percent higher than last year and carries an estimated tax levy increase of 3.28 percent.
In the budget presentation, Superintendent J.D. Pabis shared the instructional cost the district bears per general education and special education student.
It costs the district $6,933 to educate a general education student, less than similar school districts at $8,399 and less than the state average of $9,168.
Similarly, it costs the district $19,450 to educate a special education student, less than similar school districts at $21,475 and less than the state average of $22,354.
Board member Fred Cornelius asked Pabis why Auburn is spending less on students than other districts, saying, “I'm willing to spend a little more.”
“If we did not feel we were offering an appropriate program, a program that meets our students' needs and allows them to be challenged and become competitive not only in Auburn, but in the global market,” Pabis responded, “we would be coming forth and asking for more.”
Board member Ginny Kent asked Pabis about the idea the budget is a maintenance budget - that is, it maintains current educational programs and staffing levels - and what is going to happen to faculty and staff whose positions were added from Contract for Excellence, the state's education reform which provides extra funding to districts in need of improvement.
The district was a C4E school for this academic year, but no longer has that designation based upon the amount of state aid it received for the next academic year.
Pabis said all of the positions created by C4E money will remain as the extra funding is now part of the general foundation aid.
Cornelius also asked about the
contingency budget, a budget that caps spending should voters again defeat the budget.
At risk will be $267,070 in equipment purchases and $326,874 in programming should the district have to go into contingency.
When it comes to programming, Pabis said it was important to look outside the classroom to cut funds, so instead, cuts will be made in terms of funding field trips, intramural athletics and band, elementary summer school and summer curriculum work.
That is not to say all of these things will be cut entirely, Pabis said.
The portions of field trips, athletics and marching band the district usually pays will fall to those participating; for example, students who go on field trips will have to fundraise a little more to go, etc.
Polls will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 17 at one of five polling places based upon legislative district.
People in District 10 can vote at Casey Park Elementary School; District 11 and the portion of Sennett within the Auburn school district at East Middle School; the portion of Owasco in the district at Owasco Elementary School; Districts 12, 14 and the portion of Fleming in the district at Seward Elementary School; and Districts 13 and 15 at West Middle School.
In other news:
* The board received some good news when members saw the bids from vendors for phase II of the 2006 capital project.
Last month, the board opted to re-advertise for vendors to install heating ventilation air conditioning units to make the district more energy efficient and cost-effective. The district was counseled by a representative of the mechanical engineering firm with whom it contracts to re-advertise for the work as the original single vendor bid may have come in too high, Pabis said.
The representative was correct, as second bids came in below the first, allowing the district to move on plans to replace the doors at East Middle School - several of the original doors will be refurbished and installed on the second floor - and install 75 projectors in classrooms at Auburn High School.
Earlier in the year, the board had to reduce the number of projectors to 25 - the original plan called for 97 - and eliminate the door replacements at East due to a financial shortfall caused by inflation.
The board Tuesday unanimously awarded the bids. Work is likely to be completed by the fall.
* A special board meeting is slated for 5:30 p.m. June 18 in the Harriet Tubman Administration Building, 78 Thornton Ave., Auburn.
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
Auburn Enlarged City School District at a glance
Polling: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., people in District 10 can vote at Casey Park Elementary School; District 11 and the portion of Sennett within the Auburn school district at East Middle School; the portion of Owasco within the district at Owasco Elementary School; Districts 12, 14 and the portion of Fleming within the district at Seward Elementary School; and Districts 13 and 15 at West Middle School.
Proposed budget: $66,490,371 - +4.91 percent
Estimated tax levy: $26,037,483 - +3.28 percent
Contingency budget: $65,896,428
Estimated tax levy: $25,443,540 - +2.28 percent
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Post your comment - click hereThere are 11 comment(s)
jmw53 wrote on Jun 12, 2008 6:33 AM:
GoodbyeCNY wrote on Jun 11, 2008 11:29 PM:
tome8689 wrote on Jun 11, 2008 10:39 PM:
Husker9 wrote on Jun 11, 2008 10:12 PM:
tlb4 wrote on Jun 11, 2008 10:12 PM:
jmw53 wrote on Jun 11, 2008 8:43 PM:
GoodbyeCNY wrote on Jun 11, 2008 4:54 PM:
The taxpayer watchblog wrote on Jun 11, 2008 3:09 PM:
Let's see...perhaps the voters are speechless at the audacity of this board to put the same budget back up for a vote without so much as a dime of change.
Can you spell A-P-A-T-H-Y.
As for the question of whether Mr. Cornelius is willing to spend "a little more."
Well I'll tell you what Fred, open up your wallet and start spending like a drunken sailor, but leave mine alone.
The voters are tired of paying for an overbloated system, that desparately needs consolidation. "
MISSEY1941 wrote on Jun 11, 2008 2:22 PM:
tlb4 wrote on Jun 11, 2008 1:40 PM:
This budget was the 2nd least tax levy increase of any of the school budgets in the county. "
Jonathan dough wrote on Jun 11, 2008 12:24 PM: