BOMBAY — The tax levy goes up 2 percent in the proposed 2012-13 budget at Salmon River Central School.
A public hearing will be held at 7 tonight in the school auditorium to give residents a chance to comment on the spending plan.
The overall budget is $27,688,195, an increase of 4.6 percent from this year.
The tax levy, or amount to be raised by taxes, is $1,912,628, an increase of 2 percent.
The tax rate would go from an average of $11.87 to $12.11 per $1,000 of assessed property value, which means a home valued at $100,000 would see its tax bill increase by about $21, said Natascha Jock, the school's business executive.
The budget vote will be held from noon to 8 p.m. in the school gymnasium.
Two School Board members will also be selected that day. Two five-year seats are open, with incumbents Linda Durant and Matthew Mainville running unopposed.
NEW SUMMER SCHOOL
In her budget message to residents, District Superintendent Jane Collins said the School Board made two additions to the district's programming in the budget, including adding elementary summer school and distance-learning capabilities.
Summer school would cost the district about $33,000, with distance learning priced at about $83,000. But Jock said distance learning is reimbursed at 90 percent, so the actual cost to residents is much lower.
In addition to the budget vote, residents will be asked to approve the purchase of two 65-passenger buses and one 48-passenger bus at a total cost not to exceed $310,048. Collins said the district has not purchased new buses for two years and that 10 buses in the fleet have 100,000 miles or more on them.
Some of the largest expenses the district has to absorb in the budget are benefits for its faculty and staff. Employee retirement increases $75,000, teacher retirement is up $100,000 from this year, and health insurance is expected to climb by $450,000.
FUEL SAVINGS
The School Board trimmed $100,000 from the budget by creating two district-wide maintenance-worker positions so it will no longer have to contract out for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning service or electrical work.
And improvements from the district's capital project will also help realize savings, as the geothermal system saves on fuel costs, Collins said.
A changeover in telephone service and a reduction in overtime are also expected to save money.
Like other districts, Salmon River has had to make its budget decisions after suffering significant reductions in state aid.
Since 2010, the district has lost $4.26 million in aid, including a 7.45 percent reduction for the coming year, Collins said.
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