Alyssa Sunkin / The Citizen
AUBURN - Nobody spoke.
Of the seven community members that attended the Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education's budget hearing Tuesday, not one voiced questions or concerns about the proposed 2009-10 budget of $66,447,313, which is .84 percent higher than last year and carries an estimated tax levy increase of 1.3 percent. The statewide vote is next Tuesday.
While that echoes what occurred just one year ago, when the 2008-09 budget was twice rejected by voters and nobody commented about the spending plan at two public hearings prior to the votes, district leaders hope this year's silence is indicative of something else.
"I'm hoping with the three community open forums that we had, it answered all the community's questions," board president Charlie Cator said. "But after last year, I wouldn't take anything for granted."
When Cator was elected as president last July, he promised taxpayers to coordinate a series of open forums to create a free-flowing dialogue between the community and the district. Since that time, the board hosted four such forums, three since January dealing specifically with next year's budget.
And while Superintendent J.D. Pabis and Business Administrator Marianne O'Connor gave a presentation on the budget during a state mandated public hearing Tuesday, the board is doing additional presentations at other venues to reach more people.
Presentations have been given to the Rotary Club, residents at the Boyle Center and the Retired Teachers' Association, and more are planned for the residents of Schwartz Towers, the Liars Club at Auburn Family Restaurant, at the senior citizen concert and luncheon and the arts festival at the high school. A banner is also hanging across Genesee Street reminding people to vote on May 19.
"We're going out into the community more than we've ever done," Cator said. "We're not waiting for them to come to us; we're going out to them."
Board vice president Sam Giangreco added that "the lines (of communication) are open," and anyone that has questions or comments can contact board members. Contact information can be found on the district's Web site, district.auburn.cnyric.org.
Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, 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.
Of the seven community members that attended the Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education's budget hearing Tuesday, not one voiced questions or concerns about the proposed 2009-10 budget of $66,447,313, which is .84 percent higher than last year and carries an estimated tax levy increase of 1.3 percent. The statewide vote is next Tuesday.
While that echoes what occurred just one year ago, when the 2008-09 budget was twice rejected by voters and nobody commented about the spending plan at two public hearings prior to the votes, district leaders hope this year's silence is indicative of something else.
"I'm hoping with the three community open forums that we had, it answered all the community's questions," board president Charlie Cator said. "But after last year, I wouldn't take anything for granted."
When Cator was elected as president last July, he promised taxpayers to coordinate a series of open forums to create a free-flowing dialogue between the community and the district. Since that time, the board hosted four such forums, three since January dealing specifically with next year's budget.
And while Superintendent J.D. Pabis and Business Administrator Marianne O'Connor gave a presentation on the budget during a state mandated public hearing Tuesday, the board is doing additional presentations at other venues to reach more people.
Presentations have been given to the Rotary Club, residents at the Boyle Center and the Retired Teachers' Association, and more are planned for the residents of Schwartz Towers, the Liars Club at Auburn Family Restaurant, at the senior citizen concert and luncheon and the arts festival at the high school. A banner is also hanging across Genesee Street reminding people to vote on May 19.
"We're going out into the community more than we've ever done," Cator said. "We're not waiting for them to come to us; we're going out to them."
Board vice president Sam Giangreco added that "the lines (of communication) are open," and anyone that has questions or comments can contact board members. Contact information can be found on the district's Web site, district.auburn.cnyric.org.
Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, 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.
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