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Lew-Port School Board adopts 2004-05 budget District takes cautious approach to spending plan by Terry
Duffy
It may have taken longer than expected -- particularly in comparison to other area school districts -- but at Tuesday's four-plus hour long marathon session the Lewiston Porter School Board finally adopted a 2004-05 budget plan for district residents to consider at the annual school board/budget vote, set for Tuesday, May 18. The measure passed on a 5-2 vote with members Lou Palmeri and Ed Lilly voting 'no' to the plan. Pegged at $35,038,250, the district budget reflects over $2.4 million or a 7.45 percent increase in spending over 2003-04 levels. For the average district property owner in the towns of Lewiston and Porter, it brings a mixed bag of news. 2.46 Percent Tax Increase The adopted plan, which at this writing does not take into account any monies from a yet-to-be-approved 2004 state budget, STAR exemptions covering Lew-Port taxpayers as well as sliding exemptions availed to seniors, carries a 2.46 percent tax increase for both Lewiston and Porter property owners. As it stands the plan would mean an increase of .52 per thousand of assessed valuation for property owners. For town of Lewiston residents that translates to $21.87 per thousand of assessed valuation, while in Porter the cost is $22.40 per thousand of assessed valuation. However when comparing it to nearby school districts, Lew-Port taxpayers are facing far less of a tax bite than others. Property owners in Niagara Wheatfield and Grand Island for example, both larger school districts with higher enrollments and bigger budgets, are facing higher tax increases. Niagara Wheatfield's spending plan for its over 4,000 students totals $52.4 million and carries an increase in the tax rate of 4.9 percent. For Grand Island with its over 3,100 students, the budget totals $40.6 million and carries an increase in the tax rate of 8.8 percent. Still the Lew-Port budget -- like the others -- brings its share of pain for Lewiston Porter residents, instructors and students alike. Cautious Spending Plan "We looked very hard at our programs, at our population" and their needs, said Lew-Port Superintendent Dr. Whitney K. Vantine as he explained how the district and its administrators considered various elements of the '04-05 spending plan. Vantine related that the district was focused on three long-range issues in its planning -- technology curriculum, facilities improvements and professional development -- keeping in mind the various state and federal mandates the district needs to adhere to. As is the case with other school districts throughout New York state for 2004-05, the cost impact of the mandated budget items are severe and are resulting in cutbacks in programs or hefty increases in taxes -- some in the double digit range. Expense items affecting all districts include additional payments into retirement systems for teachers and employees, health insurance and workers compensation costs. Others also have contract negotiations with teachers or other district employee unions to consider. Vantine said Lew-Port is progressing slowly on making budget reductions. "I honestly believe that this is a maintenance budget in many ways," he said, pointing out how it still provides the district some maneuverability with regards to the aforementioned three long-range issues. Significant Cuts As it stands, the budget adopted by the board on Tuesday does not provide funding for Lew-Port's highly popular Continuing/Community Education offerings; eliminates funding for summer curriculum projects for instructors; eliminates four staff positions, namely two elementary teaching positions, one guidance counselor and one teaching assistant; cuts district equipment purchases by over $154,000; reduces spending on capital projects by over $256,000; and pulls over $89,000 geared for district legal expenses. Vantine, commenting that night that "Building budgets are not easy," stated that the aforementioned program cuts are not yet cast in stone -- however the numbers are. He indicated the district could be re-evaluating its planned target cuts and look into other areas to cut. Among those eyed are reducing appropriations for the district's technology spending -- which Vantine as well as other board members were not all that thrilled about doing. Vantine indicated that up to $400,000 in technology spending could be sacrificed to return some of the aforementioned cuts, but no action was taken in that area on Tuesday. It should be noted that the district's current contract with Lewiston Porter United Teachers -- other than its ongoing impact on district spending -- does not play a significant factor in the overall spending increase for '04-05. Reactions All members stressed -- as did Niagara-Orleans BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Clark Godshall who was in attendance that night -- on the need for the district to take a cautious approach with the budget, particularly considering the continued lack of direction from New York state with regards to school district revenue funding. Members Gretchen Baxter, Carol Rogers and Jack Burmeister all conveyed their concerns on the budget and the impact on district students and residents. Baxter said she was not comfortable with cuts to summer curriculum spending as well as Continuing/Community Education offerings, while both Burmeister and Rogers raised concerns on the esteem impact the program cuts would have on Lew-Port students. Palmeri said, "the bottom line is we have prioritize spending for the benefit of the students," while Lilly, stating he does not support a budget with any increase, said he felt there were several areas that the district should consider for cost cutting -- naming the LPUT teachers contract, the $1,250 teacher bonus approved by the board last June, retroactive pay and sick time issues as examples. Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services Don Rappold reported that year-to-year LPUT salary increases accounted for 39.32 percent of the Lew-Port budget. On related note he added that thanks to past board initiatives, the district is saving significant amounts with regards to its administrative salaries -- to the tune of $45,000 for '03-04 over previous years. Member Dr. R. Nils Olsen expressed strong reservations on the district attempting to modify the '04-05 plan with new or returned expenditures. No New Initiatives "This is not a year to be undertaking new initiatives," said school board member Dr. R. Nils Olsen Jr. of the '04-05 budget. "It would be inappropriate to go beyond this." Olsen went on to term the state's lack of direction "an extraordinarily upsetting year on budgets," noting that school districts across the state are being forced to address this issue. He stressed that any increases would be unwise for Lew-Port and that the district needed to establish a balance on its spending. On recent news which identified LPUT salary increases to yearly increases in property assessments for Lewiston and Porter, Olsen stressed that any changes in property re-assessments (now in the works by assessors in the towns of Lewiston and Porter) would not affect the '04-05 Lew-Port budget. "There is absolutely no effect (from re-assessments) on teacher salary increases," Olsen said. Lew-Port district residents will have opportunity to review the budget and discuss it in coming weeks. At the Tuesday session, plans were being finalized for the district to post the entire '04-05 budget plan on its web site, in addition to the plan being availed at area libraries. And the district will be holding a public forum Tuesday May 4, coinciding with its regular May school board meeting to allow residents to offer their opinions on the district spending plan. As noted, the district elections for approving the budget plan and electing two board members will occur on Tuesday, May 18. Much more on this as well as other news
from Tuesday's elongated session, to come in future issues
of the Sentinel. |
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