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It seems like only yesterday that local school districts were wrestling with closing major financial gaps in the 2011-12 school year. Now, in the coming months, school districts will be taking a good hard look at how to tackle issues facing next year’s budget.
Speaking to the board of education Monday night, Wayland-Cohocton Superintendent Michael Wetherbee said he joined a number of other superintendents in Albany earlier this month who talked with members of the Senate Republican and Senate Finance councils, representatives from the Senate Education Committee, Division of Budget, Assembly Ways and Means and Assembly Education Committee regarding the budget issues facing rural school districts next year.
Wetherbee said superintendents have been much more aggressive at getting their points across earlier in the state budget process.
Much of what was discussed in Albany was the inequity of state aid and 2 percent tax cap problems.
“What we’re really hoping for is [that] the governor is going to address the equity issue within his executive proposal in January.”
Wetherbee added that he is not holding his breath on that, “but that’s where we’ve been putting our efforts, is to get to the governor ahead of time and his folks to get them to look at how state aid is divided up on our state.”
Wetherbee also met with State Senator Tom O’Mara (R-52) and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R-136) in Bath last week on the inequitability and tax cap issues.
“I think they’re supporters of education...not all of our senators are in this area,” he said, adding, “We’ll see, come January when rubber meets the road, where they stand.”
Board trustee Mark Perkins asked Wetherbee if state legislators discussed the issue of increased insurance costs, which Wetherbee replied that indeed the issue had been discussed.
Wetherbee said that a 2 percent tax cap would generate less than half of the district’s health insurance increases for next year.
He discussed the tax cap further, stating that in actuality there is a maximum allowable levy, not a 2 percent tax cap.
“We are one of the few schools in the state whose maximum allowable limit is actually a decrease. To follow the statute...we can’t raise a nickel more in taxes and be in compliance with the statute. Just to get to zero, we have to have a 60 percent super majority [vote].”
Wetherbee added, “we would do better if our budget gets voted down, than if we follow this formula.”
It seems like only yesterday that local school districts were wrestling with closing major financial gaps in the 2011-12 school year. Now, in the coming months, school districts will be taking a good hard look at how to tackle issues facing next year’s budget.
Speaking to the board of education Monday night, Wayland-Cohocton Superintendent Michael Wetherbee said he joined a number of other superintendents in Albany earlier this month who talked with members of the Senate Republican and Senate Finance councils, representatives from the Senate Education Committee, Division of Budget, Assembly Ways and Means and Assembly Education Committee regarding the budget issues facing rural school districts next year.
Wetherbee said superintendents have been much more aggressive at getting their points across earlier in the state budget process.
Much of what was discussed in Albany was the inequity of state aid and 2 percent tax cap problems.
“What we’re really hoping for is [that] the governor is going to address the equity issue within his executive proposal in January.”
Wetherbee added that he is not holding his breath on that, “but that’s where we’ve been putting our efforts, is to get to the governor ahead of time and his folks to get them to look at how state aid is divided up on our state.”
Wetherbee also met with State Senator Tom O’Mara (R-52) and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R-136) in Bath last week on the inequitability and tax cap issues.
“I think they’re supporters of education...not all of our senators are in this area,” he said, adding, “We’ll see, come January when rubber meets the road, where they stand.”
Board trustee Mark Perkins asked Wetherbee if state legislators discussed the issue of increased insurance costs, which Wetherbee replied that indeed the issue had been discussed.
Wetherbee said that a 2 percent tax cap would generate less than half of the district’s health insurance increases for next year.
He discussed the tax cap further, stating that in actuality there is a maximum allowable levy, not a 2 percent tax cap.
“We are one of the few schools in the state whose maximum allowable limit is actually a decrease. To follow the statute...we can’t raise a nickel more in taxes and be in compliance with the statute. Just to get to zero, we have to have a 60 percent super majority [vote].”
Wetherbee added, “we would do better if our budget gets voted down, than if we follow this formula.”
Wetherbee said he circulated this information across the state to get advocacy for the district, and to help prevent rural districts from going bankrupt. Wetherbee said current state formulas have Way-Co facing a structural deficit of about $1.3 million for next year.
Regarding advocacy, an advocacy toolkit for concerned citizens is online at wccsk12.org. The toolkit answers questions about who to contact, what your message should be, and how you should deliver your message to state lawmakers.
The toolkit can also be obtained by calling the Wayland-Cohocton School District at 728-2211.
The district’s first budget presentation will be at 7 p.m. during the Jan. 9 regular board meeting in the Large Group Instruction room.
Dansville has also been appealing to its district regarding sending letters to lawmakers. Holiday cards are available in the district office to send to lawmakers with a message attached to encouraging them to fight for equitable aid to school districts.
