CLYMER – The Clymer Central School Board will soon present to the community which avenue they have chosen to take the 2019-20 school budget, and essentially the school itself.

The impending budget has remained an unknown to the community that has been looming since last year’s initial budget proposal was voted down. However, Superintendent Ed Bailey has been vocal that another proposed tax levy increase over the state allowed cap, which last year’s failed budget featured, is likely.

The district knew going into the current school year it would have to save money, better educate the community about the budget and potentially propose another unfavorable tax levy increase.

“We have to decide what is the best option for the district as far as raising the tax levy and being financially stable in the future,” Bailey said.

Last year, the initial 2018-19 school budget carried a 13 percent tax increase exceeding the state allowed tax cap. The community voted 238 to 237, not meeting the 60-percent super majority approval in May. The proposed increase was an attempt to avoid cutting positions and programs and depleting the fund balance.

A second vote and proposed budget with a tax levy increase within the tax cap was approved in June.

Bailey previously described the district avoiding a significant tax increase last year was simply “kicking the can down the road.”

In the 2018-19 school year however, Bailey said the district is estimating “unprecedented savings” in the current school year. The superintendent said the district saved an estimated $700,000 from vacant positions and additional cuts.

If the estimate is accurate, Bailey said he anticipates the district using at least $300,000 of it to balance the budget. The remaining savings could potentially be used to build up the district’s fund balance. The current fund balance was depleted after the district did not raise the tax levy above the state allowed tax cap last year. Bailey said going into the 2018-19 school year the fund balance was around $80,000.

Much of the potential savings are generated from positions that were not filled for the current year. The maintenance staff and cafeteria staff were both reduced by one employee this year.

“The savings were much more than we projected,” Bailey said.

Now a month away from the vote and less than a week removed from an official budget proposal, the board of education is preparing a final budget workshop before Monday’s meeting where Bailey believes the board will come to a consensus.

The district recently received input from a financial focus group created to better educate the community and create a five-year outlook at Clymer’s financial situation. The board received their report at a March 11 meeting.

The community is also holding town hall meetings at various locations within the district regarding the upcoming budget. A meeting was held on Thursday in Findley Lake while another meeting will be held in Dutch Village on Saturday at 9 a.m. A final town hall meeting will be held at the school on April 18. The community events are being held separate from the school district to discuss the upcoming budget.

Bailey said the business manager will provide the board with several feasible options the district could pursue during the work session next week. The possible options will include different scenarios with the fund balance and tax levy.

“That’s what the board is going to be deciding,” Bailey said of the possible budget proposals.