Dear Editor,
This is the last OACSD budget letter from me until the fall (or beyond).
Someone other than me needs to try to convince Mr. Chartrand that the budget passed. He seems to believe I’m wrong about this. A comment in this column last week made the same point. Thank you to that person.
Anyhow, Joe and I occasionally exchange e-mails discussing the school topic. It should be obvious by now, of course, that each of us is incredulous that the other could think as they do. Makes for a lively discussion.
In a recent exchange Joe referred to the actions of the school administration as “shenanigans”. Shenanigans is an interesting word. Tends to indicate something underhanded is afoot. In the current discussion and in his most recent letter to the local newspapers, Joe seems to think applying less than the allowable tax increase and deferring part of it is some kind of devious plot. If so, let it continue. Allow me to illustrate why.
The 2014-15 tax levy was $15,857, 524. Applying the 3.72 percent increase brought it to $16,446,676. Then if, and only if the school board were to apply the allowable remaining 1.5 percent next year, next year’s tax levy associated just with the deferred amount applied would be $16,693,376. The two-year total would be $33,140,052. If it were applied.
If, on the other hand, the whole 5.22 percent increase had been applied this year, the tax levy would have gone to $16,685,306 this year. With no remaining allowable increase it would remain at $16,685,306 next year for a two-year total of $33,370,612 – $230,560 more than the potential amount using the current method.
Yes. The current method creates a lower tax levy. An underhanded plot if ever there was one.
And of course by using the current method, any additional percentage increase next year above the deferred amount will be applied to the lower baseline, thus smaller. Dreadful I guess.
SO, the shenanigan isn’t one after all.
In the March 8, 2015 Pennysaver he wrote about the current budgets, stating, “If it exceeds your district’s tax cap – VOTE IT DOWN.” It didn’t. It met his requirement.
His response to meeting his requirement was published on April 4, 2015, stating, “For the next OACSD Budget Vote – YOU best VOTE NO!”
Flip flop. Made it an emphatic command too. But the voters disobeyed. Thank you voters.
Have a good summer everyone.
Sincerely,
Rich Ives
Owego, N.Y.
