Brockport school budget to reflect an increase

On May 21 voters in the Brockport Central School District will be asked to ratify a $52.9 million budget. The figure reflects a one (1) percent increase over the current year’s budget.

The district has faced a challenging budget year, Allan Berry, director of personnel and school community relations, said. "Decreasing state aid, a slight decline in enrollment and a 23 percent increase in health insurance costs all figure in to the increase," he said. "Those are the key issues facing the district."

If the budget is ratified, taxpayers will see an increase in their tax rate to $2.11 per $1,000 of assessed value. The approximate bill, on a home assessed at $100,000, after the STAR tax relief credit would be $1,478. The figure is an increase of 5.1 percent over the present year’s tax rate.

The district, Berry said, is very dependent on state aid. "With recent recalculations by the state on state aid packages and the way they are paying their share of authorized capital projects, we are at a disadvantage."

District officials anticipate a slight increase in state aid from the current year’s $25.1 million allotment. They are looking at a $25.8 million state aid package. Even with the money received from the state, the district was faced with a $2.2 million decrease in what they had anticipated which left them with the task of cutting positions. Berry will be retiring at the end of the school year and his position will not be filled. His duties will be distributed to existing school personnel, officials said.

The district began cost cutting last August through attrition and are anticipating that more teachers will take advantage of the state’s retirement incentive packages. Of the 30 or more teachers who may retire, the district said only nine or 10 of the positions would likely be filled.