With the promise of reinstated funds from state legislators, the anticipated tax hike for property owners in the Brockport School District has been reduced from earlier projections.

Assistant Superintendent of Business James Wood said even with the proposed increases in state aid to the district, Brockport has still lost close to $1 million from what they received last year. "This is a good budget for the school, it's very moderate," he explained. "The district is holding the line in terms of living with a reduced staff."

Wood said the district has "tightened the belt" in several areas. "We've done it for the past three years," he said.

With the promise of a bit of an infusion of funds, the board has authorized the superintendent to hire up to five replacement positions. Wood explained that at the end of 2001, the district was down 37 positions, 23 of them were teaching positions, and they have been operating under that shortage. "The five positions have been built into the budget and they will address some needs in terms of class sizes and some curricular needs."

The district has responded appropriately to budget shortfalls and Wood says staff members understand what the driving forces are behind the budget. "Clearly health insurance, retirement and fuel costs are beyond our control when it comes to budgeting," Wood said. "We haven't added any programs, all we have done is keep existing programs alive with our reduced staff."

At the current levels taxpayers are looking at a 4.9 percent increase in the tax rate from last year's $21.08 per $1,000 to a projected $22.11 per $1,000 of assessed value under the 2003-04 budget, Wood said.

A public hearing is scheduled for May 20 on the revised budget. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the district offices. The budget will be put before Brockport School District taxpayers on June 3.

Also on the ballot will be candidates for the school board. Incumbents A. Gary Zimmer and Marjorie Vandenberg will be seeking reelection while newcomer Terry L. Wolfe will also be seeking one of the two five-year terms that are available.