Brockport school district adopts spending plan

Brockport school board officials were determined to keep the tax increase for the budget under five percent and with the $57.3 million proposal that is presented to voters May 18, they met that goal. The $57.3 budget brings with it a 3.29 percent increase.

"Given the circumstances that we have, the budget is a balanced one and will allow us to maintain our programs," Assistant Superintendent of Business James Wood said. "In spite of state aid reductions and escalating health care costs, we wanted to maintain the programs for our students."

Under the proposed spending plan is the loss of about 10 jobs, which the district hopes will be handled by attrition. State retirement incentives could spur the attrition.

Also under consideration is the purchase of 13 school buses. Woods said the district has a policy of replacing 10 to 12 percent of its bus fleet each year. "We have done this for about the past 20 years," he said. The district receives up to 89.6 percent in incentives from the state toward the replacement of buses. A new bus costs approximately $76,000 but after financial incentives from the state and the money the district receives from selling the buses, the cost to the district and its taxpayers is about $7,000.

"I feel good about this budget and can support it," Wood said. "These aren't the best of times when you look at the economy at large, but on the other hand, our budget is carefully prepared and carefully managed and with those ingredients you are able to achieve a workable budget."

In addition to voting on the budget, residents will be asked to vote on the proposition for the purchase of the buses and will be asked to choose two board of education members from a slate of four. Voting will take place Tuesday, May 18 at the A.D. Oliver Middle School, the high school and Barclay Elementary School.