Horseheads School District holds budget meeting
HORSEHEADS, N.Y. (WETM) – The Horseheads School District Board of Education held a special meeting on April 17 ahead of April 18’s budget vote.
“It’s the community that will ultimately decide,” said Superintendent Dr. Thomas Douglas.
Among the topics discussed were knocking down the cut jobs from 49 to 4 and decreasing the deficit.
“Our new gap is around that target of the million dollars. We’re a $1,077,790 still short. utilizing all the tools you see on the screen.”
The four positions are two administrative and two nurses. Board members also discussed the direct impacts of inflation and a late state budget.
“Unfortunately, our wonderful governor announced the budget on Monday and unfortunately, she didn’t really have the authority to do that as the governor because the three people in the room did not agree,” said Douglas.
“If you still have nine bills to print, print the school aid bill first and get it passed so that school aid can at least be sent out when school aid runs before a vast majority of their budgets are approved.”
“Unfortunately, the rate of inflation is going to hit our district consistently over the next couple of years as well as every other district.”
Of the tax cap challenge options, many board members agreed with Scenario D, which would include a tax increase.
“We wanted to try to be people strong, student focused and program rich still. This budget will do it if you do that Scenario D or give us that levity to try to build that if we need a little more in debt service or a little bit more fund balance. We will bring you the best possible option for tomorrow night.”
The public also had the opportunity to weigh in.
“We are taxpayer driven and I think every contract, every expenditure for personnel should be listed on the web page,” said Horseheads Resident George Kastenhuber.
The Board of Education will hold a public hearing on May 9 before community members will vote on the budget on May 21.
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