Voters in many Central New York school districts will decide on school budgets next week. Central Square Schools’ Superintendent wants to clarify some things about challenges the district faces and what it means for the community.
(This story includes corrections on tax and salary information we previously reported.)
Residents of the Central Square School District, like those in other small districts, will be voting on school budgets that deal with shifting state aid and other uncertainties. Superintendent Tom Colabufo notes his assistance from Albany will dip by $2 million dollars. Residents will make up some of that, if the budget is approved, in a tax increase estimated at about $184 for a $200,000 home. But he wants to put that tax hike in perspective.
“For a school district, over 4 years, their taxes only went up 4%. Other places went up 20%," he said. "So that’s something that, yes we’re going out at the limit right now but that’s only because we need that money right now because the state cut our legs off with state aid this year”
The budget proposal includes raises of 4% for many employees. Colabufo says that budget lines for certain categories of employees show larger increases - or decreases - but those are due to staff changes, hirings and promotions.
(Details of the budget and voting locations here)
He explained to voters how some decisions were made in that $104 million dollar proposal.
“So, the hardest thing to say in this budget is to say, ‘we don’t want to impact students.’ We don’t want to say, ‘we’re going to cut programming for BOCES.’ I had to do that 9 years ago when I took this job. I had to say to kids, “I know that you want to be an electrician, your father’s an electrician. … But we don’t have any spots available.’ We don’t want to do that,” he said.
Colabufo also points out for voters that the budget supports employees.
"We're the largest employer in all of Oswego County. So, salary is one (important) thing. When you look at a $103 million budget, almost $80 million is salary and benefits."
The district has a graduation rate above 90%.
Central Square residents will also be deciding referendums on library spending and purchasing school buses.
Voters in all school districts - outside of the big 5 city districts - vote on school budgets May 20th.
