The Clymer Central School Board of Education approved a nine percent tax levy increase for the school budget revote to be held on June 18. P-J photo by Jordan W. Patterson

CLYMER – The Clymer Central School District will again need a supermajority approval of 60 percent at the upcoming school budget revote.

After being defeated May 21, the Clymer School Board of Education approved a nine percent tax levy increase for the proposed 2019-20 school budget, exceeding the state allowed tax cap of four percent again.

At Wednesday’s meeting, much discussion was had about how the school district should proceed. The board heard various viewpoints from community members in the audience, even those openly opposed to the current board and the previous budget proposals that exceeded the tax cap.

The proposed 2019-20 school budget, which needed a 60 percent supermajority approval, saw the community deny the $11,495,924 2019-20 school budget by a vote of 580 to 459, short of the desired rating last week. The budget carried a 13.29 percent tax levy increase.

At the meeting, board members were asked their position on a potential tax levy increase. Initially, Ed Mulkearn, vice president, was the sole member who opposed proposing a nine-percent increase, instead favoring a four-percent increase within the state tax cap.

Louann Bahgat, Clymer business official, presented potential scenarios of different tax levy increases. Nine percent, four percent and 0 percent tax levy increases were considered. If the district were to deny the second budget forcing the use of a contingent one, the district would not be able to raise the tax levy.

With nine percent, the board stated no educational programming would be cut and it would allow the district time to consider other options for the school going forward.

At nine percent, Bahgat said there would still be an estimated $185,000 in cuts, but it allows the district to refrain from using all of its fund balance offsetting the budget.

The board heard public comment at the beginning of the meeting. One community member Dale Willink read a statement asking for the support of the next budget at the revote and proposed the board consider another merger with a neighboring district.

The board went into executive session to discuss potential personnel cuts. At that time, those gathered in the Clymer school library began debating how the district should proceed. One member in opposition to the previously proposed budget said the down vote was about “sending a message.” Many of those engaging in dialogue agreed that a merger or the tuitioning of students to another school district would be necessary in the future regardless of a tax levy increase.

In Willink’s public comment, he referenced a community group opposed to the budget known as VIBE, or Vision for Better Education. Mike Schenck, board president, also referenced the group later in the meeting.

Andrew Travis, who was in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting, admitted to being a member of the opposition group and was vocal about not supporting a potential nine-percent increase. While the public comment period was over, the meeting transformed into an open discussion among the board, administrators and community members.

Travis and others in opposition told the board that a nine-percent tax levy increase would be a “tough sell” to the remainder of the community, specifically those who voted “no” at the last vote.

However, those at the meeting agreed, including the board and administrators, that if a potential petition garnering enough signatures supporting a merger was developed, a merger should be considered.

Much of the almost two-hour meeting was spent airing out the concerns of the opposition group.

Ed Bailey, Clymer superintendent, was quick to dispel any blame as to which community within the district was responsible for the failed vote.

“We can’t blame this on any one specific group,” he said.

Mulkearn engaged those at the meeting who were in opposition, inquiring about what it would take to get them, and others who opposed the budget, to support a nine-percent increase. Travis said much of the dissent was rooted in the lack of confidence in the board, among other reasons.

The board again explained that the nine-percent increase would be used to keep the school district stable while other options are considered over the next two years.

Later, the board was again asked what percentage tax levy increase they would recommend. All Clymer board members remained steady at a nine-percent proposal. Mulkearn spoke last, staring at the front of the audience, “I think we’re in at nine too.”

“I think everybody in this room in their hearts are at nine so I’m going in at nine too,” Mulkearn said.

The board was then polled and the nine-percent increase was approved to be included in the proposed budget for the June 18 revote. A budget hearing will be held on June 10 at the school to discuss the impending budget proposal.