State Sen. George Borrello speaks on the importance of restoring the proposed school aid cuts at Attica Central School last month.

Dunkirk Board of Education members in February had their annual dose of despair when it comes to future funding from New York. Dr. Richard Timbs, a financial consultant and former Board of Cooperative Educational System superintendent, again painted that bleak picture for the second-largest county school system.

Noting a growing state deficit, he warned city officials that even though this year looks stable, troubles are lurking in the coming years with aid from Albany. “I think they’re going to try to continue to shortchange districts like yours across the state,” he said. “Your rate of increase will decrease. … I think this is going to put a big crimp on your revenues, I think you’re going to be very strapped for revenue in the future, in large part due to this.”

That reality has already started to hit home.

At least four of the 18 Chautauqua County districts have concerns when it comes to funding for the next school year. Chautauqua Lake, Clymer, Pine Valley and Ripley are targeted to receive less aid in the current budget proposal put forth by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Though others are in line to receive more overall funding, there is one more issue at play that is impacting the bottom line: COVID funding has dried up. Those federal funds, that totaled $14 billion throughout the state, gave many districts false hope.

Through that windfall, administrators were able to hire additional positions that could be in limbo in the coming years. That created a bit of unnecessary inflation at area districts — and led to those facing shortfalls to dip into oversaturated reserves that can be counted on for rainy days.

Downpours, it would appear, may be just beginning.

As the state budget deadline of April 1 continues to draw near, the lack of aid across the state has galvanized both Republicans and Democrats in the state. Earlier this week, the New York State United Teachers union applauded efforts by the Senate and Assembly to add $419 million to Foundation Aid.

“We thank the Senate and Assembly for making it clear that our students, educators and schools are a top priority,” said union President Melinda Person. “Great things are happening in our public schools, and in New York we are united across party lines and legislative chambers to support them with the resources they need.”

State Sen. George Borrello also backs the push for more funding. “Rural schools were hurt the worst by the removal of a provision that has kept funding stable for our schools, even if they experienced enrollment declines,” he said.

While the pain of aid reductions are real today, state taxpayers — and the big bonuses that come from Wall Street — cannot continue to subsidize an unusually high number of districts that exist in Chautauqua County. Take away the two city schools of Jamestown and Dunkirk that have a combined enrollment of 6,146, that leaves a total of 10,716 students attending the other 16 school districts. That’s an average of 670 per school, which is far too few for a county where population declines show no signs of reversing.

To the north, Hamburg Central School is dealing with the pain of recent overly optimistic budgeting. With a total enrollment of 3,205, the district announced the possible layoffs of 17 positions, including 13 teachers, last week.

As is normally the case, community members turn out in droves to protest reductions in the public sector while merely shrugging their shoulders when a major private employer has to close. That was exactly the case Tuesday for the Hamburg school board as hundreds showed up to voice their displeasure.

“We’re not in a great financial situation as a school district,” Superintendent Michael Cornell was reported in The Buffalo News as telling an audience that was standing room only in the Armor Elementary School cafeteria and hallway. “I’m the superintendent of schools, and the buck stops with me.”

It appears no county district is in the same condition, though all are eager to find out if more money will be trickling their way from Albany. In the meantime, Timbs’ forecast and Hamburg’s current situation are an important lesson — especially for the smallest of districts.

Ripley, with an enrollment of 117 students in kindergarten to grade six and a budget of more than $9 million, was lamenting its aid loss of $70,000 earlier this year. There is an obvious answer to that revenue problem.

Eliminate the unneeded elementary principal and have the superintendent, who is compensated $190,000 annually, pick up the duty. That equates to more than $120,000 in savings for next year.

Problem solved.

John D’Agostino is the editor of The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 716-487-1111, ext. 253.