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May
04
2006
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Few Attend School Budget Meeting |
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by Dan Veaner
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Thursday, 04 May 2006 |
Not many residents showed up to learn about the 2006-2007 Lansing School District budget in a public meeting last night (05/04) in the Middle School Cafeteria. The purpose was to introduce the public to the budget, the two candidates for Board of Education seats plus two budget resolutions. Additionally Superintendent Mark Lewis, who started here last January, presented his first annual report.
 There were many empty seats at the budget hearing
The new budget is set at $21,007,661, a 7.7% increase, or $1,546,018 more than the current school year's budget. Business Administrator Larry Driscoll explained that increases are largely due to increases in fuel and utility costs, salaries, benefits and the beginning of the period in which the debt service must be paid for phase one of the recently completed capital project.
The largest chunk of the increase, $627,671 goes to the "undistributed" category that includes health insurance, retirement and debt service. Driscoll explained that health benefits will be 10.5 higher next year. The next largest part is $577,888 which is accounted for by teachers' automatic raises and new positions. About half of the Director of Curriculum position is a rise from this year, because the position has only been filled since January. Next year will be the first full year the position is filled.
| 2006-2007 Budget in a Nutshell
- 2006-2007 Budget $21,553,679
- 2005-2006 Budget $20,007,661
- Tax Rate 2005-2006 $18.379
- Tax Rate 2006-2007 $19.314
- 2005-2006 Tax on a House Assessed at $100,000 $1837.90
- 2006-2007 Tax on a House Assessed at $100,000 $1931.40
- Amount Proposition #2 (busses) adds to Tax Rate: $0.03
- Amount Proposition #3 (fitness equipment) adds to Tax Rate: $3.07
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The General Support category will be going up $218,417 largely due to the rise in utility costs. The fourth category, Transportation, is rising $122,042 because of more expensive fuel and rises in the cost of parts such as tires, as well as contracted repair work. There was some confusion over $251,873 that will be taken from the debt service reserve fund. Because State aid kicks in a year after the debt payment must begin, the reserve fund is used to begin paying the money back. Dick Thaler and Glen Cobb asked Driscoll to explain how the amount is portrayed in the budget. Terrisue Krogh, who has been quite vocal in past School Board meetings about a retiring Elementary School teacher not being replaced made a last plea to keep the position.
The May 16 vote will include three resolutions and the Board of Education (BOE) election. Resolution #1 will be to approve the budget itself. Resolution #2 will authorize the District to borrow up to $245,000 to buy two 66-passenger school busses, one 22-passenger bus and two 6-passenger vans. Driscoll explained that busses are on a rotating schedule for replacement due to wear and tear, rust and so on. He said that State aid pays 57% of the cost. Resolution #3 authorizes the district to bowwow up to $130,000 for fitness equipment for the High School. Driscoll said the equipment would allow a new physical education unit to be added to the curriculum, and would also be used for sports team players to limber up. He added that the intention is to open the use of the equipment to Lansing residents as well.
Anne Drake and Sandi Dhimitri are running uncontested for their third and second terms respectively. Both will be present at a "Meet the Candidates" night in the High School Cafeteria at 7:00pm on May 9th. (Read our exclusive interview with Sandi Dhimitri in this week's Star, and look for an in-depth interview with Anne Drake in next week's issue.)
Lewis' annual report focussed on three issues: the budget, the proposed Phase II Capital Project, and the long term planning process that is currently under way. "My initial half year in Lansing has been rife with challenges," he said, "but never dull, and ultimately immensely professionally fulfilling. Lansing's reputation for quality in all facets of its educational program has been well known for decades. There is much work to be done, however, both near and long term should we succeed in achieving our schools' mission."
He also proudly pointed to an Ithaca Journal article that shows that Lansing has the highest percentage of High School graduates in Tompkins County, 92% last year. Lansing had the highest graduation rate the previous year as well.
A breakdown of the budget and the resolutions that will appear on the ballot have been distributed in a special bulletin to district residents. Voting will be on May 16 at the Middle School between noon and 9:00pm.
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