Spencerport School officials adopt budget,
tax rate increases less than one percent
Roof replacement project to have no impact on tax rates

Officials in the Spencerport School District say they were able to hold the line on expenses and approved a budget with a less than one percent increase.

"Despite rising fuel costs, health insurance increases and contributions to retirement, we really tried to be fiscally responsible and presented a budget with a tax rate increase of .85 percent - less than 1 percent," Superintendent of Schools Mary Anne Kermis said. "We went through every line item and looked for ways to economize. There is no fluff or extras but we maintained all of our programs."

The board unanimously adopted the $60.6 million budget on April 11. The projected budget-to-budget increase of 4.26 percent is less than a percentage point above the cost of living inflation rate. The estimated property tax rate per $1,000 of real value will be $24.80. The homeowner with a house valued at $100,000 can expect to pay an additional $15 total (after the STAR reduction).

"We know our families face the same financial challenges as the district does when it comes to the higher cost of fuel to heat the buildings and operate the buses," Kermis said. "The budget also responds to student interest in several new courses at the high school including two second language courses, advanced placement math and social studies course."

The April approval of the budget came after meetings begun in January with a Budget Advisory Committee who reviewed budget requests and prioritized lists of special request for funding. The board made the final decision on spending.

Capital project
Kermis said the district is asking taxpayers to vote on a proposition for approval of a close to $15 million capital project. "The state will reimburse the district for most of the cost of the project. The local share is approximately 25 percent and district revenue funds will cover the local share of the project," she said. "There will be no impact on taxes because of this project."

The project includes roof replacement at Bernabi, Munn and Taylor schools, partial roof replacement at Cosgrove and pool replacement at the high school. Other renovations will be undertaken in the buildings including: locker and floor replacement, expansion of a driveway and parking lot, paved pedestrian walkways and gas shutoffs in the science rooms.

"We have saved the local share into a capital reserve project account and are asking the voters to authorize us to spend the funds for these much-needed repairs," Kermis said. "Homeowners certainly understand the need for roof replacements and upgrades."

Kermis said she wanted to stress that the project will have no impact on taxes.

The budget will go before voters on May 16 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Taylor, Munn and the Administration Building.

School board members on ballot
Incumbents Todd Dunn and Jim Oberlin will be on the ballot to retain their school board seats. They are unopposed.

April 23, 2006