Afton taxpayers face 1.99 percent tax levy increase; budget hearing Thursday
AFTON – On May 17, the Afton Central School District will ask district residents to approve a budget for the 2011-12 academic year totaling $14,724,301.
The tentative spending plan, which was adopted by the district’s board of education on April 21, represents a $273,362, or 1.89 percent, increase in spending over the current year’s budget.
Members of the school community will have the opportunity to learn more about the proposed budget at a hearing at 7 p.m. Thursday in the old high school gymnasium. This is a change of venue for the meeting, which was initially slated to take place in the school’s auditorium.
“This has been the most difficult budget year since I became a superintendent,” said Superintendent Betty Briggs.
According to the administrator, the district faced a $1,461,910 budget gap. Closing the gap required a number of cuts, including the elimination of 6 instructional and 4 non-instructional positions. While four of these positions were vacated due to retirement, it was not an easy decision for school leaders.
“It is very difficult to cut positions, since in a district our size any cuts make a tremendous impact on students,” Briggs said. She said she hopes some of these positions will be restored to part-time or in full as the district continues to look for ways to cut costs.
Athletics was another area singled out for reductions. As a result, modified volleyball and golf have been cut completely. Modified boys and girls basketball teams will also be reduced, leaving one for each. Equipment and supply budgets have also been trimmed.
There was trimming elsewhere as well.
“All lines of the budget were evaluated closely and adjustments made if needed,” Briggs reported.
According to the superintendent, even though the board has adopted a tentative spending plan, the school is still investigating other opportunities to cut costs.
“All unions and non-unit members were asked to take no increase this year,” she said. No agreement has been reached as of press time, but Briggs expects a decision soon.
Afton leaders has also been in talks with neighboring districts, exploring opportunities to collaborate and share services.
“We have been discussing a sports merger with Bainbridge-Guilford, but so far no action has been taken,” Briggs reported.
The budget vote and school board election will take place on May 17. Polls will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the lobby at the school’s main entrance.
In addition to casting their vote on the budget, district residents will also decide who will fill two vacancies on Afton’s board of education. Two candidates will appear on the ballot: Duane Phillips, who was appointed to the board last year, and newcomer Ted King.
The tentative spending plan, which was adopted by the district’s board of education on April 21, represents a $273,362, or 1.89 percent, increase in spending over the current year’s budget.
Members of the school community will have the opportunity to learn more about the proposed budget at a hearing at 7 p.m. Thursday in the old high school gymnasium. This is a change of venue for the meeting, which was initially slated to take place in the school’s auditorium.
“This has been the most difficult budget year since I became a superintendent,” said Superintendent Betty Briggs.
According to the administrator, the district faced a $1,461,910 budget gap. Closing the gap required a number of cuts, including the elimination of 6 instructional and 4 non-instructional positions. While four of these positions were vacated due to retirement, it was not an easy decision for school leaders.
“It is very difficult to cut positions, since in a district our size any cuts make a tremendous impact on students,” Briggs said. She said she hopes some of these positions will be restored to part-time or in full as the district continues to look for ways to cut costs.
Athletics was another area singled out for reductions. As a result, modified volleyball and golf have been cut completely. Modified boys and girls basketball teams will also be reduced, leaving one for each. Equipment and supply budgets have also been trimmed.
There was trimming elsewhere as well.
“All lines of the budget were evaluated closely and adjustments made if needed,” Briggs reported.
According to the superintendent, even though the board has adopted a tentative spending plan, the school is still investigating other opportunities to cut costs.
“All unions and non-unit members were asked to take no increase this year,” she said. No agreement has been reached as of press time, but Briggs expects a decision soon.
Afton leaders has also been in talks with neighboring districts, exploring opportunities to collaborate and share services.
“We have been discussing a sports merger with Bainbridge-Guilford, but so far no action has been taken,” Briggs reported.
The budget vote and school board election will take place on May 17. Polls will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the lobby at the school’s main entrance.
In addition to casting their vote on the budget, district residents will also decide who will fill two vacancies on Afton’s board of education. Two candidates will appear on the ballot: Duane Phillips, who was appointed to the board last year, and newcomer Ted King.
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