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Public Hearing on Garrison Budget Plays to Audience of One
School field safety fence returns to committee for further study
by Margaret Sternberg
Perhaps the fact that there was only one person present, aside from the regular audience, for the May 7, 2008 public hearing for the proposed Garrison School District 2008-9 budget meant that taxpayers were comfortable with the possible 3.97 percent tax rate increase.
In any event, the tax rate increase translates to a tax rate increase for each $1,000 of assessed value of $17.98 in Philipstown, rising $0.69 from $17.29, and $7.78 in Putnam Valley, rising $0.30 from $7.48 to $7.78.
Recapping her earlier budget presentations, Superintendent Gloria Colucci reviewed district goals and then moved to board committee recommendations, many of which are in the process of being implemented and will continue to be followed through, as well as those recommendations that will help guide the school in the future.
Among committee recommendations are the introduction of foreign language into the third, fourth and fifth grades, further integration of performing arts into the curriculum, continuing use of Smart Boards for the classrooms, upgrading of the network infrastructure and the replacement of outdated computers, professional maintenance of the meadow in the School Forest, and the utilization of the capital fund to complete replacement of the leaking roof, replacement of the windows in the original stone building, bathroom improvements in the original stone building, installation of the maintenance shed and completion of necessary paving work and tile replacement for the cafeteria floor.
The $8,897,128 2008-9 budget is reflective of $217,305 in reductions to various non-instructional areas within the school and $632,800 in increases, most of which are either mandated or contractual. The budget will rise from $8,474,094 to $8,897,128. Instructional expenditures make up 55 percent of the increase and employee benefits contribute 15 percent.
The district also appropriated $100,000 from its fund balance to add to district revenue in an effort to lower the tax rates.
Among the reductions is a $5,850 cut in the budget for the superintendent's office and a $12,900 cut in copier rentals, mailing and supplies. The district is also saving $72,108 in debt service, $12,750 in contract transportation for trips, $9,000 in transportation insurance and other expenses, and $8,802 in the business office. Because the Math textbooks purchase was completed this year, the district will save $38,650. There is a $20,000 saving in tuition for occupational education, and the district will save $21,775 in the area of plant operations and maintenance.
Expected increases include $187,595 for salary step increases, $78,227 for employee benefits and $114,015 for Special Education tuition for two additional students. (As the PNC&R goes to press, the district has not settled its negotiations with its unions.) Regular education tuition will increase $71,338. By contract, BOCES Special Education Services rise $49,635 for one additional student going out of the district.
Special Education bus runs increase $42,000, and the regular transportation contract cost will increase $17,000. The prices of heating oil, and diesel fuel and gasoline account for, respectively, $12,200 and $11,000 in increases. The addition of a Technology Assistant for the Technology teacher will add $25,000 and $14,790 in increases is anticipated because of raises in rates and the levels of service provided by Special Education service providers such as Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapists.
In other business, the Board followed up on previous discussions regarding the athletic field and various improvements that were being contemplated. Among the improvements was a fence to be erected to prevent children from running into the street.
Superintendent Colucci said that costs for the fence ranged from $1,000 for chain link to about $11,000 for a more aesthetically pleasing type of fence. Maintenance Director Dick Timmons raised concerns with Superintendent Colucci that any repairs to the more expensive fencing could, over time, be costly to the district, which she noted.
An issue raised by Trustee Jim Cannon was the impact of fence placement on parking areas for cars and buses and whether that place would be an area in which cars could legally park since certain parking restrictions had been imposed because of the location of Governor Pataki's house.
Although the Board seemed to want to move quickly on the installation of the fence, because of the concerns raised about its placement and the impact on parking, the issue was returned to the Facilities Committee for further study.
Also at its last board meeting, the Board had debated whether the school or St. Philip's Church would be responsible for the removal of some dead trees that threatened the children's safety. A survey of the district did not clear up the ownership issue, but the district will have the trees in question, as well as other dead trees known to be on school property, removed and is awaiting cost estimates.
Funding for a wildlife garden has been provided through a $5,000 grant from the Easter Foundation and $1,500 from the Garrison PTA.
The Board announced that a trial week of teaching Social Studies through a BOCES program that is web-based had been extremely successful according to the teachers who used the program. The program encompasses Grades 1-5. Thirty-four districts in New York currently use the program, and Garrison will now consider whether it wishes to adopt the program going forward.
In news about the 100th year anniversary of the school building, Board President Anita Prentice announced that the weekend of September 26-28 would be the first major event of the celebrations, with children's activities scheduled for Friday and adult activities scheduled for over the weekend, with some activities intersecting. Trustee Fran DiSarro suggested that the activities be taped and perhaps an oral history done, a suggestion that met with unanimous approval.
The budget vote will take place Tuesday, May 20, from 6am to 9pm. In addition to the budget vote, two seats on the Board of Education are available and will be voted on. The incumbents, Diana Swinburne and James Cannon, are running unopposed.
The next meeting of the Garrison Board of Education will be Wednesday, May 28, at 7pm.
Providing local news, information and opinions from
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