Dear Editor,
On Tuesday, June 16 between the hours of 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., the Tioga Central School District Amended Budget Proposal shall be put before its residents for approval, again.
The District School Board and Administrators found the means to reduce the proposed tax levy to a 17 percent increase. An additional benevolent gesture by Tioga Downs owner Jeff Gural, will assure a continuance of most of the extracurricular programs and activities for students, including the arts and sports.
Although it may appear that all is now well, in my opinion, the reasons that caused this situation have not been resolved nor have steps been taken to assure taxpayers they will not face the burden of the errors this Board and Administration placed on the community and their children.
The Tioga Central School District, it appears, was relying on funding from New York State and other sources that was not realized (or in hand) to maintain an insufficient tax base to educate the children of this community.
Instead of relying on conservative business model’s that permit adequate fiscal responsibility and resources to accomplish their strategic goals of educating the children of the community efficiently, the District appears to facilitate and wait, and a pray and see approach.
The State of New York, for at least the past five years, have publicly stated within various and almost daily media sources the financial burdens every department and agency is forced to bear. New York State has been attempting to increase their cash flow for years with aggressive Collection enforcement of various taxes and other bureaucratic actions.
The Tioga Central School District educates a student for approximately $16,000 per student, while in similar Districts the cost is approximately $5,000 more. The average across New York State to educate a student is almost $22,000.
Our Districts Board and Administration have under-assessed us for the student educational costs for a considerable time. This adversely affects the entire District, including faculty, staff, supplies and materials, and most importantly our children, the students!
As taxpayers, residents and parents, we need to be responsible for our children receiving an education that will provide the opportunities to meet and succeed the challenges they may meet in their future.
An individual whom has been educated for six years in secondary education and whom is dedicated to providing 10 hours a day for 10 months at a fair wage is NOT the problem. Attempting to meet the continuing rising cost of today’s society while attempting to be fiscally responsible is NOT the problem. Failure of elected and appointed individuals charged by its community, to act in a manner that is responsible for that community’s future is a problem. Failure of the community to oversee its “Officials” by participating at various meetings is also a problem, among others.
Provide our community’s children with the means and opportunity, while thanking Jeff Gural for his generosity! PASS THE BUDGET! Do not permit poor leadership to continue to penalize our children for their errors of judgment! Fix the Problem by participating at the meetings and by electing true Leaders!
When elections for the School Board reoccurs, vote for the candidate that will think for our future. Elect the candidate that will anticipate situations and work for resolutions. It is my hope that the Tioga Central School District and its residents both learn from this experience and apply it to future Public management – provide the education and opportunities necessary to succeed in the real world without becoming a fiscal nightmare.
Vote for responsible LEADERSHIP!
Your friend and neighbor,
Daniel Cofone
