By Dave Hill<br><a href="mailto:hilld@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Dave</a>
The Tonawanda News
April 23, 2008 01:46 am
—
Tonawanda taxpayers will be voting May 20 on a city schools budget that contains the lowest tax rate increase in about 10 years.
A tax hike of 1.5 percent is estimated under the Tonawanda City School District’s proposed $30,846,261 budget for 2008-2009. The tax figure is half of what was proposed at the budget advisory team meeting just two weeks ago, and was driven largely by a more than 5 percent increase in state aid, combined with significant savings realized through the four labor contracts the district settled recently.
Peter Michaelsen, Tonawanda’s assistant superintendent for business and finance, said the tax levy increase is the lowest it has been in the eight years he’s been with the district and probably longer than that.
“By no means are we fat. We live a very lean life here,” he said of the proposed budget.
Michaelsen lauded state Assemblyman Robin Schimminger, D-Kenmore, for obtaining an additional $50,000 for the district, which is receiving nearly $800,000 more from the state.
“That’s the highest budget to budget increase since I’ve been here,” Michaelsen said. “On the flipside, I don’t know where the state is getting it.”
The Tonawanda School Board has scheduled a public hearing on the budget for 6:30 tonight in the high school library, 150 Hinds St. The board is expected to vote to adopt it at a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
The spending plan includes a $15,000 down payment to show the district’s commitment to a school resource officer, a position Superintendent Barbara Peters said is vital. District officials are hoping the city will split the cost of the $61,000 position, which was terminated two years ago when the district lost grant funding for it.
Middle School Assistant Principal Kathleen Tassy said that having a police officer in the secondary complex is a huge asset.
“I’ve been the assistant principal with an SRO and without an SRO, and it’s a world of difference having an SRO,” she told the board. “Having somebody there Monday through Friday is really very, very helpful for us as a school.”
Tonawanda’s budget also provides for five staff additions, including a new hire for a pre-kindergarten program at Fletcher Elementary School; an academic intervention services math teacher at the high school; and a labor relations/human resources specialist.
Board President Jim Weber praised the district’s budget advisory team for their contributions and said the proposed budget should be well received by district taxpayers.
“To keep our budget (spending increase) at 3.12 percent is a very good thing,” he said. “I certainly can recommend to the public to accept this budget.”
After Tuesday night’s regular board meeting, Weber made a surprise announcement that he will not be seeking re-election to the School Board due to personal and business reasons.
“I’m concerned I can’t commit to the full three years,” he said. This is his third year on the board; he served seven years on the budget advisory team.
Candidates for the board must return their petitions by May 1. As of Tuesday, none of the 10 individuals who picked up petitions have returned them, District Clerk Pamela Stiegman said. Two three-year terms are on the ballot, while the third-highest vote getter in the election will serve out the final year on Dan Calabrese’s term.
Contact reporter David J. Hill at 693-1000, ext. 115.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.