They say that people only show up to public meetings when they are unhappy.  By that measure Lansing was ecstatic Monday when only one member of the public showed up for the Lansing Central School District's 2015-2016 Budget hearing.  Even so, Superintendent Chris Pettograsso made a full presentation for those voters who may watch the hearing on the Internet.  District voters will approve or reject the proposed $28.37 million budget Tuesday.

"Some involved community members mentioned how in the past our budget hearings have been really long and detailed in the last couple of years and didn't leave a lot of time for community input," Pettograsso said.  "Part of the reason is that we haven't had a lot of community input in this one day.  We have a lot of community input throughout the process.  That's part of why we may not have people showing up at this one hearing."

Voters will be asked to approve the budget, up to $310,000 in bus purchases, and to elect two Board Of Education Members.  Current board members Aziza Benson and Julie Boles are running unopposed for their two seats.

School Business Administrator Mary June King explained that busses are purchased as debt 'rolls over'.  In other words the bus purchase will not cost the district more in additional taxes because the money not owed any more will be used to purchase the new vehicles.  The district rotates bus purchases so that about two and a half busses are purchased each year to keep the 25-bus fleet up to date.  State aid to the tune of 62% contributes to reduce the district's cost for each 77-passenger bus from about $58,000 to $22,000 per year.

Most years the cost of maintaining existing programs goes up.  This year the Board Of Education included program additions in the new budget.  King says the district will get $290,000 of instructional program growth for less than $50,000 because of reductions, some of which are related to retirement breakage.  Additions the Board approved are:

• 1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher
• .5 FTE Social Worker
• .5 FTE Special Education Teacher
• Teaching Assistant shifting to a Teacher Position at ES
• Teacher on Special Assignment (AD/ Dean of Students)

A teacher currently serving as Athletic Director will be moved to an administrative position in which he will serve as Assistant High School Principal as well as maintaining his athletic director responsibilities.

Even with these additions the budget will increase 1.98%.  The tax levy will be .04% below the state mandated tax cap, making school property taxpayers eligible for a rebate from the state for the second year in a row.  The tax rate is expected to rise by 2.73%.

School Board members noted that Lansing puts most of its money into educational programs.  The district has low administrative costs, amounting to 9.22% of the entire budget this year.  Despite the new position that number is expected to decline in the 2015-2016 budget to 8.87% ($2,515,751 for the salaries and benefits of the superintendent, business administrator, administrator and central office employees, school board members and central services, public information and printing).  74.37% ($21,097,592) will go to educational programs, with the remainder paying for debt service, bus purchases, and facility operation and maintenance.

The polls will open Tuesday, May 19th at 7am in the Teacher's Center in the Lansing Elementary School, and remain open until 9pm.

v11i19