Residents tell Gloversville school board about 'desperate times'

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GLOVERSVILLE — The Gloversville Enlarged School District’s proposed $50.7 million budget elicited a mixed reaction at a hearing on Tuesday as some residents criticized planned cuts and others asked for more.

The proposed budget, up about 8 percent in spending, would raise the tax levy 6.9 percent to $12 million. With a property revaluation taking effect in Gloversville, school Business Administrator Steven Schloicka said an analysis of tax rates cannot yet be conducted. The current rate in the city of Gloversville is $22.42 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

But, Superintendent Robert DeLilli stressed after the hearing, no decision has been made on what to do with the $200,000 in extra state aid awarded last week. He and school board President Katherine Hillock said the board and administration will continue to evaluate possible additional cuts before tax rates are adopted in August.

If the proposal is defeated in the May 20 election, DeLilli said the board will have to decide whether to conduct a second vote or to adopt a contingency budget that is about $4,000 less than the current proposal. DeLilli said state regulations would allow the district to adopt a contingency budget of more than $52 million with a tax levy increase of about 19 percent. He said board members have rejected a contingency budget of that size.

Though resident Julia Smullen expressed concern about plans to cut three elementary library positions, she questioned statements by board members that they prefer to use the $200,000 in extra aid to increase the depleted surplus.

“Do you realize what you’re doing to the older citizens?” she asked.

The board is applying $500,000 of the existing surplus to reduce the tax levy in the proposal. But Schloicka argued that move will leave as little as $750,000 in that account. What sum remains on June 30 will depend on escalating fuel prices, Schloicka argued. The unappropriated surplus serves as a district’s savings account.

The decision last year to offer no tax increase, Schloicka told residents, depleted the surplus, which he said “has taken a big hit.”

Peck Lake resident Richard Carlson, who has monitored school finances in recent years, told the board that applying the extra aid to the surplus “is a good move strategically.” But he suggested there remain places to cut the budget.

“Take another look,” he said.

Arthur Simonds, a member of the city zoning board, suggested that cuts could be made in the district’s staff of aides.

Retired Mayfield High School Principal Carm Serge said the district does not need an assistant principal at Boulevard Elementary School and should replace the assistant superintendent’s position with a less expensive curriculum coordinator.

“Desperate times bring out desperate measures,” said Serge.

Taxpayer activist Jack Kinzie did not attend the hearing but submitted a statement Tuesday. Kinzie said he understands the financial pressures facing the district, but said a 6.9 percent tax levy increase is too high.

Kinzie reminded residents that initial budget proposals were defeated in the district the past two years resulting in significantly lower tax levy increases. Two years ago, he said, the second budget proposal presented cut an initially proposed increase by 3.3 percent to 3.6 percent, and last year voter rejection resulted in an initially proposed 2 percent increase being eliminated.

Kinzie urged all residents to vote whether or not they agree with him.

comments

May 15, 2008 8:52 p.m. [ Suggest removal ]

ShereePatteson ( no real name given ) says... I agree that these are certainly desperate times. Keep your eyes open as a team for ways to make "trims." The teacher's and administrators can contribute most by being out there on the front line. It would be dangerous though to cut your aides. Perhaps you can lay it all out and re-evaluate everything and every area. Designate committees to each area with an a time frame to come up with acceptable trims in each area they represent. Put it in the hands of the people that will be most affected. As far as the principals and vice principals in elementary schools... Amsterdam's Elementary School Principals do an excellent job without assistants or curriculum coordinators. How about cutting the cost of ink used to print the millions of letters to parents... post online. Ask teachers to post their news online and have mass emailings.It would also create an open communication tool b/n parents and teachers. Ink and paper can cost $1000's monthly. I'm sure if you empower the teachers they will pleasantly surprise you. I spoke with so many people recently while collecting signatures in Amsterdam and it was the teachers that had very insightful ideas. Tap your resources that are right under your nose.