The Marcellus Board of Education on April 22 adopted a proposed 2019-20 budget for the school district that carries a 4.71% tax levy increase, roughly half of which will go to loan payments for the capital improvement project now nearing completion at the high school.
The $37,620,342 budget calls for a 5.96% increase in spending over 2018-19. The proposal maintains existing programs; includes a reduction of one administrator, one elementary teacher (due to declining enrollment) and two teaching assistants; and continues to appropriate fund balance to offset any additional increase in the property tax levy.
As prescribed by the New York state tax levy limit law, the proposed levy increase is the maximum allowed for the spending plan to pass with a simple majority, or approval by more than 50% of voters. School district residents will vote on the budget Tuesday, May 21.
When district officials began budget development earlier this year, they projected a budget gap of $640,899.
“We knew this year would be especially difficult, as aid from New York state is being funneled to poorer school districts,” Marcellus Business Administrator Anthony Sonnacchio said. “We were fortunate to be able to reduce personnel costs without affecting our instructional programs.”
School officials are keenly aware of the larger-than-normal increase in the budget and tax levy, a substantial portion of which stem from costs for renovations to Marcellus High School and K. C. Heffernan Elementary that voters approved in 2015. At that time, district leaders estimated the capital project would result in a $33 tax increase for a $100,000 home. That figure is now expected to be $30, due to use of conservative interest rate estimates for the initial projection.
Residents also will elect three members to the board of education and decide on a proposition to replace four school buses and one passenger van at a cost no greater than $425,395. A third proposition asks voters to consider a levy increase for the Marcellus Free Library.
