The East Syracuse Minoa Board of Education adopted the proposed budget for the 2015-16 school year, totaling at $74.6 million, at its April 20 meeting. The budget brings a tax levy increase of 1.57 percent, which is below the district’s tax cap of 4.32 percent.
Donna DeSiato, ESM district superintendent, made a summary presentation of the budget at the meeting, and said that all educational programs and financial stewardship to taxpayers will be maintained in this budget as a result of long-range financial planning.
In the 2014-15 year, the adopted budget totaled $71.8 million and had a tax levy increase of 2.59 percent and an increase of $43.94 per $100,000 home assessed value.
The 2015-16 budget, with a 1.57 percent tax levy, will result in a smaller annual increase of $27.19 per $100,000 home assessed value for Basic STAR homes. For senior citizens with Enhanced STAR, the overall tax bill will actually decrease $14.22 per $100,000 for 2015-16.
According to DeSiato, the district had to address certain factors when creating the budget for 2015-16, such as increases in health insurance and an increase in the state-wide minimum wage. Cost reductions were made possible by reductions in retirement rate contributions, a three-tier prescription program that all employees at the district participate in and reductions in the energy performance contract.
“The other part of this budget, which is really the essential reason why it exists, is to support and provide the resources needed for student learning,” said DeSiato.
Aligning educational resources with the school’s Strategic Plan was a key factor in the proposed budget, said DeSiato. The strategic plan was adopted in 2013 and established a vision for the ESM school community, focusing on three priority areas: teaching and learning to engage students minds, building capacity and sustaining relationships to increase student learning and building safe, healthy and innovative cultures to maximize student learning.
“This is the sixth year we have aligned our budget with our strategic plan, that’s very intentional so that the actions that we take follow the actions the district is developing,” DeSiato said.
A public hearing to learn more about the budget will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 11, at ESM Central High School. The hearing will include a budget overview and highlights of student accomplishments along with Strategic Plan initiatives for achieving goals of the district.
ESM residents can vote on May 20 from noon to 9 p.m. at ESM Central High School in a new location at the small/new gym.
Hayleigh Gowans is a reporter for the Eagle Bulletin. She can be reached at [email protected].
