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General News: District Still Looking for Savings in Budget
February 29, 2012
By Nancy Peckenham
Next year’s budget proposal for the Cornwall Central School District is still a work in progress, according to Harvey Sotland, assistant superintendent for business.
On Monday, Sotland told the school board that in just the past few weeks the size of the budget had dropped slightly after more employees announced their planned retirements and a bus re-routing saved about $9,000.
Sotland says that he is very optimistic that negotiations with the unions who represent school employees will result in additional cost savings, though he refused to say which unions are involved in the talks or what they are discussing.
He also said that they are exploring more inter-municipal agreements to find savings in transportation and special education programs. The district is also pushing for action by the state legislature that would make it eligible for performance grants. Superintendent Timothy Rehm said he will be in Albany early next week to lobby for the change.
The proposed $61.2 million budget would result in a 4.1 percent increase in the tax levy and Sotland says the district has been told that it cannot exceed a 2.69 percent increase without getting at least a 60 percent vote in favor of passing the budget in May. A simple majority is all that is needed to adopt the budget if its tax levy increase stays at or below 2.69 percent.
Comments:
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Another year. Another bloated budget. When is this going to stop? Each year the budget goes up. This year, 4.1%. Are we getting 4.1% raises at our jobs? No way! Does the school district ever ask if the tax payers can afford these increases? No! I've lived in Cornwall for over 30 years and have never seen a 0% increase. What are we getting for our money, anyway? It's time to take on the union, instead of giving out automatic increases and Cadillac benefits each contract. It's time for public schools to tighten their belts, like the private sector has had to do for years. While the superintendent is in Albany, he should be seeking relief from unfunded mandates. Cornwall is a great place to live, but is becoming unaffordable, especially for retirees.
posted by Bob Reid on 03/01/12 at 4:37 PM
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