|
|
|
Gov. Andrew Cuomo released his draft budget for New York state last week, which for local school districts, didn’t come with much better news than last year.
The state aid increase for Wayland-Cohocton is proposed for $265,000, barely reducing its structural deficit, now estimated at about $1 million.
Dansville is proposed to be allotted an increase of about $321,000 in state aid, also resulting in about a $1 million gap.
As pointed out by both districts, employee benefit costs alone — health insurance, workers comp, retirement, etc. — will exceed the proposed state aid increase.
For Wayland-Cohocton, its employee benefit costs will rise $631,490. For Dansville, employee benefits will increase almost $1 million for next school year.
The help from the state, “is better than continued losses we’ve been getting for the past few years, but it does nothing to eliminate the financial crisis that rural America is in within the public education sector,” Wayland-Cohocton Superintendent Michael Wetherbee said.
“The government’s package is inadequate,” Dansville Superintendent Paul Alioto commented. “And we need help from the government in mitigating health insurance increases. Something’s got to change ... it’s a 17 percent increase in health insurance. It’s unsustainable.”
The ineffectiveness of the state’s increase is exacerbated by both districts losing more than $500,000 in federal aid next year.
Other costs are expected to rise for Dansville next year such as utilities, BOCES services, curriculum development, equipment and supplies, and salaries.
Both districts are still working on their budget proposal numbers, and will be conducting budget information sessions during regular board meetings in coming months. The public is encouraged to attend.
The next Wayland-Cohocton board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 6 in the LGI. The budget topic will be on operations and maintenance. Dansville’s next budget meeting will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 14 in the primary school cafeteria.
Dansville will also be hosting an open community forum this Monday in the high school cafeteria at 7 p.m. The purpose of the forum is to hear what the public regards to be the most valuable school programs in the event programs need to be cut.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo released his draft budget for New York state last week, which for local school districts, didn’t come with much better news than last year.
The state aid increase for Wayland-Cohocton is proposed for $265,000, barely reducing its structural deficit, now estimated at about $1 million.
Dansville is proposed to be allotted an increase of about $321,000 in state aid, also resulting in about a $1 million gap.
As pointed out by both districts, employee benefit costs alone — health insurance, workers comp, retirement, etc. — will exceed the proposed state aid increase.
For Wayland-Cohocton, its employee benefit costs will rise $631,490. For Dansville, employee benefits will increase almost $1 million for next school year.
The help from the state, “is better than continued losses we’ve been getting for the past few years, but it does nothing to eliminate the financial crisis that rural America is in within the public education sector,” Wayland-Cohocton Superintendent Michael Wetherbee said.
“The government’s package is inadequate,” Dansville Superintendent Paul Alioto commented. “And we need help from the government in mitigating health insurance increases. Something’s got to change ... it’s a 17 percent increase in health insurance. It’s unsustainable.”
The ineffectiveness of the state’s increase is exacerbated by both districts losing more than $500,000 in federal aid next year.
Other costs are expected to rise for Dansville next year such as utilities, BOCES services, curriculum development, equipment and supplies, and salaries.
Both districts are still working on their budget proposal numbers, and will be conducting budget information sessions during regular board meetings in coming months. The public is encouraged to attend.
The next Wayland-Cohocton board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 6 in the LGI. The budget topic will be on operations and maintenance. Dansville’s next budget meeting will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 14 in the primary school cafeteria.
Dansville will also be hosting an open community forum this Monday in the high school cafeteria at 7 p.m. The purpose of the forum is to hear what the public regards to be the most valuable school programs in the event programs need to be cut.
