Proposed NYS budget projects hard times
By JOEL CUTHBERTSILVER CREEK - If Gov. David Paterson's current 2009-10 budget proposal were approved, the Silver Creek school district would be hurt two-fold, according to district officials.
At the Silver Creek Central School Board of Education meeting Wednesday, Superintendent David O'Rourke said state aid cuts to the district are inevitable, and likely twice as bad as they might appear. Following a recent state aid freeze at the 2008-09 level and additional cuts featured in the proposed 2009-10 New York State Budget Tuesday, the district budget for the next school year could suffer state aid cuts amounting to $1.04 million.
Currently, state aid makes up approximately 2/3 of district revenue in the budget, with district taxpayers footing the remaining 1/3. According to O'Rourke, based on the current budget proposal, the district stands to lose around $340,000 in aid - a 3 percent cut - shifting more of the financial burden onto taxpayers.
However, O'Rourke acknowledged it's still early in the state budget process, and the legislature may decrease proposed reductions to state aid.
"For now, the message shouldn't be overstated or hyped, but it must be clear," he explained. "$340,000 is a substantial cut in our revenues."
The $340,000 in potential state aid reductions, O'Rourke added, would be imposed after state aid levels were frozen at 2008-09 levels. As a result, while the district originally expected an increase in state aid of around $700,000 for the 2009-10 school year, with the proposed $340,000 cut, the district could see an overall reduction of $1.04 million for next year.
In addition, the governor proposed school districts contribute 15 percent of pre-school special education service costs, previously covered in full by the county and state. O'Rourke estimated an increase of around $50,000 due to this cost.
Although the governor's proposal also included some good mandate relief provisions, O'Rourke said, none will substantially reduce the district's operational cost increases for the 2009-10 school year.
"We have begun our budget planning, and will need to approach our budget differently than prior years as a result of this state aid run," he said. "We will need to examine our programs, weigh their effectiveness, and adjust our resources to provide for our students."
O'Rourke plans to host a community forum Feb. 12, 2009 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium in order to communicate the challenges faced by the district and gather input from the community on the 2009-10 budget.
In other business:
Prior to the start of the meeting, O'Rourke recognized the late Pat Gugino, head bus driver for the district for 5 years, and honored him with a moment of silence.
Middle School Principal Pat Krenzer presented the Middle School Report Card which showed a high proficiency in math and science in grades sixth through eighth, but lower levels of proficiency in ELA.
Middle school students raised over $500 dollars as part of a holiday penny-drive for The Salvation Army.
The school board approved the following federal grant money allocations: $267,474 between teacher and support salaries, contractual services, supplies and benefits, and $17,981 between support salaries, contractual services, supplies and benefits.
A report indicated $380,429.75 - 9 percent - in uncollected taxes for the 2008-09 year.
Mary Mello resigned as a bus and lunch monitor, effective Jan. 2, 2009.
Michelle Tanner resigned as an account clerk typist, effective Jan. 4, 2009, and was appointed as school secretary at an hourly rate of $10.15, effective Jan. 5, 2009.
Kim McMasters was appointed as a substitute cleaner, effective Dec. 5, 2008.
Hourly pay rates for substitute teacher aide/bus monitors, substitute office workers and substitute cleaners were set at $8.52, effective Jan. 1, 2009.
Richard Langworthy's bus driver hourly rate was adjusted to $16, and Al Wilson's substitute bus driver hourly rate was adjusted to $15, effective Dec. 18, 2008.
Ashlee Rhoades was appointed as a part-time cleaner for 16 hours per week at an hourly rate of $8.52, effective Dec. 11, 2008.
The following were appointed as substitute cleaners: Frederick Kenyon, Sherry Moreland, Jessica Pogue, Karen Treni and Ruthann Zrimsek. Sharon Erwin was appointed as a substitute teacher aide and lunch monitor.
Comments on this article can be sent to jcuthbert@observertoday.com
