Taxpayers can't afford Auburn's school budget

Sunday, June 15, 2008 12:02 AM EDT

The following paragraph from Governor Paterson and a representative from New York State School Board Association puts the state's fiscal problems into perspective.
Paterson's commission found 71 percent of a district's budget goes to salaries and benefits, mostly for unionized workers, and that despite record state aid - nearly $1.8 billion this year alone - property taxes continue to rise. “They are now the country's highest. We agree that something has to be done,” said David Albert of the state School Boards Association, which opposed the measure Tuesday. “We have to be responsible to the electorate, but at the same time, we have to make sure we provide a sound education.”

Ask yourself, has the Auburn School Board been responsible to the electorate? Has the Auburn school board provided a sound education? The answer is simple enough, no! We are currently one of the 10 highest taxed counties in the country. We have a drop out rate that is through the roof. We have been on the state's failing list, yet J.D. Pabis and his Board of Education continues on like it was business as usual, proposing million dollar construction projects and hiring administrators like never before in the history of the district -- $66 million dollars is too much for a district with a declining school population.

On June 17th vote no! Tell J.D. Pabis and the Auburn Board of Education that we cannot afford his budgets or his wish list spending proposals. Call your state representative and tell them you support the efforts of Governor Paterson.

Jerry L. Morgan Sr.

Auburn

The Citizens' Say

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There are 3 comment(s)

jlmorgansr wrote on Jun 15, 2008 2:35 PM:

" I agree with both of you. I have said many times over, that JD Pabis and his board should take the budget back and rework it prior to submitting it for public approval. What did we get in response? JS Pabis says this is the bare bones budget. Mr Lansford says we should all pay more especially because he is a Vietnam Vet, and Mr Cornelius tells us that he would gladly open his wallet to pay more money.
So there you have it. If a 100 people went into that board meeting they would still sit there and tell us there was nothing they could do because this is the lowest tax increase in a number of years. Arrogant? yes I think they are. Ignorant, yes I think they are. Lazy? yes I think they are, they haven't the courage to give direction to the man who is suppose to be working at the pleasure of the board.
Ladies and gentlemen what we have here is a classic example of the tail wagging the dog.
Now more than ever before, we need to get to the polls and sent a message. To Pabis and to the Board. Vote NO! "

quest wrote on Jun 15, 2008 11:50 AM:

" Voting No on the school budget will directly effect Auburn's neediest students! It will eliminate the elementary summer school program that gives 200 students ages 4-8 extra help over 6 weeks in the summer.

If you want to fight unnecessary spending go to board meeting and cut the 18 new middle management positions that were recently created that have become part of the budget. Also cap the Superintendents salaries. These two funding areas have a budget that far exceeds 1.4 million in funds!

Stop the madness in spending before the budget is voted on, not during. How many in these top positions actually live in the Auburn district?? "

Unknown... wrote on Jun 15, 2008 9:24 AM:

" We have to start paring down this school budget to something that is more reflective of this community, and we don't have to do it in a way that hurts the kids. This means that we HAVE TO reduce the amount of the top heavy administration that is in place now. There is far more there than we need in this community. "

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