NORTH TONAWANDA
Draft school budget nudges tax higher
NORTH TONAWANDA — The Board of Education voted last week to adopt a proposed budget for the 2009-10 school year that anticipates a slight increase in the property tax levy.
The 0.90 percent increase accounts for a property tax levy totaling $25.2 million, a $233,777 increase from the 2008-09 levy.
After much discussion, the board voted 6-1 to adopt the budget of $64.3 million, an increase of nearly 1 percent compared with the current $63.7 million budget.
Board member Robert Arbeiter cast the lone no vote.
Various proposals put forth during the last few weeks included cuts of one full-time equivalent foreign language position, a halftime librarian position and a halftime athletic director position. These cuts have been reinstated, adding almost $174,000 to the tax levy. The proposed foreign language and librarian cuts were opposed by teachers and the public.
Paula Nurse, a foreign language teacher at North Tonawanda High School, spoke before the board to advocate against cutting the position. She suggested making changes to the program, like a foreign language lab or more remedial programs.
“This is a time now when maybe that can be looked upon,” she said.
Vincent Vecchiarella, superintendent of schools, said, “We’ve got to look at where we are, what we can do [and] what can be improved.”
Arbeiter said he voted against the budget because the district has seen a decline in enrollment, and with the challenging economy, he sees some cuts as necessary.
“There are so many people out of work,” he said. “You have to start cutting. . . . I think we should be thinking about the taxpayers right now. [The district] should give students the best education it can, at the least amount of cost to the taxpayer.”
The proposed budget is an increase from last year’s in part because of expenses like utilities, Vecchiarella said, while keeping the property tax levy at an increase of less than 1 percent.
“We believe it’s an excellent budget,” he said. “We’ve come in extremely low.”
District voters will consider the budget on May 19.
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