Date Posted:Monday, April 18, 06:55:54am Author: Alesia Subject: Budget
I see that NH+ is again not being entirely accurate. There is an item there about the tax increase, and quotes me as saying "I don't think we need to make any changes". What she neglects to do is also state my reasons, which were given immediately after that statement.
First, the Town budget section came in at a zero increase. They complied with our request. In fact, we did also cut their capital budget by $25,000.00, for a total capital spend of 250,000.00. Last year, Town capital was 277,500.00.
Second, the local BOE was also asked for a zero increase, which they complied with except for one Special needs student that moved into New Hartford this past March. The additional net cost after state reimbursement will be approximately 70,000.00. Their captial budget was also cut back from a high request of 375,000.00 to 85,000.00. Last year's capital was 150,000.00. Given that this is the last year of the 6%+ teachers raises, hopefully next year, this increase can be absorbed.
Third, the R7 budget I do not agree with (which was stated). I felt that they could have cut more given their surplus, but we have less control over R7 as a board. We have asked twice for a zero increase from them and they have not complied with that request. The little bit that they did cut was due to two things, one-a student that was currently outplaced came back in-house, and two - a math error of 45,000.00 in their original budget surplus line that I caught. So they really did not do anything to comply with our request at all. Personally, I will be voting for the the Town/local BOE budget but will vote against the R7 budget, because they had room to cut, given their $423,000.00 underexpenditure from the 09/10 budget year. The total surplus for that year was 783,000.00, plenty of room to find at least 100,000.00 in cuts.
