ROTTERDAM Board approves budget with sharp cuts BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter
The Mohonasen Board of Education on Monday unanimously approved sending a $42.7 million budget to voters that cuts more than 17 full-time equivalent positions. The tax levy would increase by 2.3 percent under this spending plan. The owner of a house assessed at $100,000 in Rotterdam would see his taxes increase by about $19. The board needed to cut seven elementary school teachers, four support staff substitutes, three secondary positions and other parttime workers because of a reduction in state aid of about $1.9 million. Consequently, the district is eliminating one section each of kindergarten, first, second, fourth and sixth grade and two sections of third grade. The class size will increase by about two to four students per class for an average size of about 23 students in second and third grade. At the high school, a total of three full-time equivalent positions were eliminated, resulting in fewer sections being offered of some business, social studies, math and English classes. At the middle school, music and physical education positions were also reduced. Districtwide, the board is eliminating part-time special education and English as a second language teachers because of fewer of those types of students in the district. School officials also made another $630,000 in reductions districtwide including cutting the operation and maintenance budget by $239,000, eliminating out-of-state athletic trips, limiting equipment purchases, eliminating mid-day bus runs, The tax levy increase was originally going to be 2.5 percent, but Assistant Superintendent for Business Denise Swezey said the district will get $40,000 in additional revenue because BOCES is going to lease some of Mohonasen’s classrooms this summer. Board member Tom Andriola said he was concerned about increasing class size at the elementary level and would like to use the $40,000 in revenue to restore a teaching position. ............>>>>................>>>>..............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01402&AppName=1
Board member Tom Andriola said he was concerned about increasing class size at the elementary level and would like to use the $40,000 in revenue to restore a teaching position. Joe Salamone preferred to use the money to lower the tax rate for residents. “They’re struggling to get by.”
Could it be! Does someone ACTUALLY have a brain on there?!
That is what you call an 'urban' community. The days of the 'burbs' are slowing decreasing! The liberal socialist love to create the 'urban' communities. They just don't live in them.
Clarifi cation If voters in the Mohonasen school district approve a proposition to buy 36 acres of land, the entire $1.425 million would come from the district’s capital reserve fund. Because this purchase would be directly tied to the capital project the board and administration is planning for the fall, the purchase would be eligible for the 95 percent state aid reimbursement if the capital project is approved and if the district is still eligible for 95 percent state aid at the time.
Because this purchase would be directly tied to the capital project the board and administration is planning for the fall, the purchase would be eligible for the 95 percent state aid reimbursement if the capital project is approved andif the district is still eligible for 95 percent state aid at the time
I thought the same thing, but I called and clarified last month. I guess state legislation extended it for a period of time, so they are covered for that time. Not sure how I'm voting, still...
Mohonasen was one of the few districts that had a large proposition on its ballot. A proposal to purchase 36 acres of land adjacent to the high school/middle school campus from the O’Hare and Lindenman families narrowly passed by a vote of 1,118 to 1,077. The cost of $1.425 million will be taken from the district’s capital reserve. Because this purchase would be directly tied to the capital project the board and administration are planning for the fall, the purchase would be eligible for the 95 percent state aid reimbursement — if the capital project is approved and if the district still qualifies for that level of state aid at the time. Voters also approved a $42.7 million budget that would increase the tax levy by about 2.3 percent by a vote of 1,323 to 881. Taxes on an average house assessed at $100,000 in Rotterdam would increase by $19. The spending plan eliminated 17 full-time equivalent positions to offset a state aid cut of about $1.9 million. Residents also re-elected President Dominic Cafarelli to another three-year term with 1,356 votes. He will be joined by newcomer Mark Sabatini, who received 1,487 votes. Cafarelli said Tuesday he was extremely pleased with the outcome and the turnout, which topped 2,100 people. He attributed the uptick in interest to concern about the economy. “Usually, we pass our budgets by a 2-to-1 margin. It was less than that this time,” he said. Now, the district can proceed with its next capital initiative, which will be set for a vote in early fall. “We will be meeting with our architects shortly, and we will be finalizing our building project,” he said. The project as confi gured now includes a new bus garage, a new technology wing addition to the high school and new classrooms and a new library at Draper Middle School. Reached on Tuesday, Sabatini said he was excited to be elected to the board. “The first year I’m going to kind of learn the system, understand [things] a little bit better before I can go and make an impact,” he said. Michael Godlewski fi nished third and did not win a seat. Residents also approved buying seven 21-to-22-passenger buses at a cost of $390,000 by a vote of 1,358 to 835. A total of 82 percent of the cost would be paid for through state aid, leav- ing taxpayers responsible for $69,420.
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