Dear Editor,
On May 16, the OACSD will hold its budget vote. At this year’s budget hearing presentation, Superintendent Green clearly stated that enrollment is declining. Something a lot of us already knew, but was not mentioned too loudly in previous years.
According to the Empire Center, more than half the districts (346) in New York State expect to educate fewer students in 2017-18 than during the current school year, with 19 districts forecasting an enrollment drop of more than 5 percent.
The total budget being voted on is now $45,927,442.00 – an increase of $904,834.00 from last year. State Aid assumption was $21,573.779.00, but the reality is OACSD will receive $21,940,210.00; an increase of $366,431.00.
The Empire Center states nearly half of the 669 New York State school districts seeking voter approval for budgets on Tuesday, May 16 are presenting spending plans that increase property taxes as high as the 2011 property tax cap law allows. A total of 313 school districts have proposed budgets setting property tax levies as high as the cap will allow – indicating that property taxes would have increased significantly more had the cap not been in place to deter them.
The tax levy cap percentage allowed this year for OACSD is 1.05 percent, and that is exactly what the district is proposing.
The Library funding situation disturbs me. I wonder if voters realize, because I know I didn’t, that the Apalachin Library is now getting $92,444 a year from taxpayers. I don’t think that was spelled out very well in previous years. That’s a LOT of money. The Coburn Library has been getting $30,000 a year and wants that increased to $65,000 a year. I believe the Coburn Library should get a ‘raise’ because they do a lot of good for the community, but I believe the Apalachin Library has been compensated more than enough for some time to come.
Board members running? I like Lee Dunham and Stacey Riegel and I want to say that I really appreciated when they spoke up during last month’s board meeting discussion of the Owego Gardens Pilot program. I also like the newest face running, Kathie Rollison.
The history of School board members seems to be lopsided. In order to run for the School board you must be associated with a school system either directly or indirectly or own a business. I would really like to see this change in the future. There needs to be different perspectives.
I applaud Superintendent Green for his refreshing personality; it’s been a long time coming.
Remember, voting starts at the local level.
Sincerely,
Candy Sweppenheiser
Owego, N.Y.
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