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May 20, 2009

St. Regis mulls next move

School Board to decide: revote or contingency plan?

By DENISE A. RAYMO

ST. REGIS FALLS — Voters who rejected a budget proposal with a 5.66-percent tax-levy increase may get a 4.8-percent hike under a contingency plan.

The St. Regis Falls Central School Board will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the board room to discuss whether to place a modified budget before voters again or adopt the contingency budget.

The contingency spending plan, developed during the 2009-10 budget sessions, was prepared in case the proposed budget was defeated, Business Manager Susan Perkins said Wednesday.

The proposed budget of $7,590,163 was turned down Tuesday by a vote of 187 to 88.

"They were objecting to the 5.66-percent tax increase," Perkins said. "We don't know what the board will do until they meet on the 27th."

She said the contingency budget cuts $20,622 from the original proposal and mostly slashes equipment purchases for the bus garage, buildings and grounds and general school operations.

It also ends use of the school building after hours by community groups and organizations during the 2009-10 school year.

"The tax (levy) in a contingency budget would go from 5.66 percent to 4.8 percent," Perkins said.

Part of the reason for Tuesday's defeat could be the steady decline in participation by district residents during the budget creation, leaving them less informed "about the ins and outs of the budget process," Perkins said.

She also claimed the 5.66-percent tax-levy increase "is not a true picture in terms of our spending," noting that expenditures were to increase a total of $136,661 from this year's budget.

But every $24,000 of that represents a 1-percent tax-levy increase.

"In larger districts, like Malone, if you ask what 2 percent is in their budget, it might not seem like much," she said, but that same 2 percent in St. Regis Falls represents nearly $50,000.

Angela DeBeer, treasurer for the Brushton-Moira Central School District, agrees, saying 1 percent in a larger district could mean $100,000, while 1 percent in her district is $23,000.

"That's a big difference. They have a larger property-owner base to draw from than smaller districts. People are only seeing the percentages."

Chateaugay Central School Superintendent Dale Breault feels the same way, adding that each $24,000 adds 1 percentage point to his tax levy, leaving even tougher decisions for School Board members.

"If we look to add a teacher, that would mean 3 percent added on to the tax levy. We have to weigh it: Do you have the teacher and raise the tax levy or do you eliminate a teacher?"

E-mail Denise A. Raymo at: draymo@pressrepublican.com


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