Southwestern School Budget Plan Heads To Voters
The Southwestern Central School District Board of Education approved a $28,687,534 proposed 2018-19 budget, pending the approval of voters May 15.
On the ballot will be propositions regarding the budget, the purchase of three new busses and a referendum regarding libraries in the town of Busti that would spread funding of the libraries to all residents in the district.
“Our goal is to be fiscally conservative,” said Maureen Donahue, superintendent of Southwestern Central School District.
The budget increased about $1.3 million from the 2017-18 school budget. Donahue said the main reason for the increased budget was an increase in debt services because of the current capital construction taking place at Southwestern Central School. She noted that the district also has an increase in revenues.
The tax levy for the 2018-19 proposed budget is $12,834,362. Donahue said the district was able to remain under the tax cap.
She said the district was limited due to the lack of foundation aid awarded by the state. Donahue said the district was one of the lowest in the county in terms of foundation aid increases. Southwestern received a $166,000 bump in aid for the 2018-19 school year.
Donahue said she was “very appreciative” of the state aid, but said the state still owed them more in foundation aid. The $120,000 increase in aid was up $25,000 from the proposed increased in the governor’s proposal last year.
“Our increase (in foundation aid) from the state was minimal,” she said. “That really hurt us.”
Donahue said a house assessed at $100,000 will have an approximate increase of $13.98. She noted that the number was just an estimate.
She said a highlight of the budget was the district’s attempt to keep expenditures down.
Southwestern will hold a public hearing regarding the budget May 8 at 7.p.m.
The superintendent said the district will have a better idea of what the tax rate will be at that meeting because the tentative county tax roll will be released prior to the hearing.
Donahue encouraged the community to attend the meeting and ask questions about the budget.