School budget approved by board


 

PINE PLAINS — Wednesday, April 16, the Board of Education unaminously adopted the 2008-09 school district budget of $25,888,000.

While the district estimates that the budget is a 5.47-percent increase from last year’s budget, the 2008-09 budget tentatively projects a 10.76-percent tax levy increase for district residents.

District Superintendent Linda Kaumeyer said the figure is an estimate that has not been finalized.

"I can certainly sympathize with the economic concerns of the community," Kaumeyer said in an interview after the meeting. "Also, with the concerns about the economic picture and the struggles we face to cover necessary expenses, with increases ballooning over the past year. We have worked on this budget since January and we’ve worked very hard to try to reduce expenses wherever we could, all while maintaining programs."

Kaumeyer said that Pine Plains is one of two Dutchess County districts that has received fewer state aid dollars for the next budget year.

In a previous interview, Pine Plains Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Michael Goldbeck said the district will receive a total of $7,011,082 in state aid. However, the amount is about $88,000 less than the district projected to get this year in aid, and it is at least $133,000 less than last year.

"Over 42 percent of the budget-to-budget increase is due to rising fuel costs, employee and retiree health benefit increases and the cost of borrowing for essential capital improvements," Kaumeyer said. "I just think that its a very difficult time for everyone. Our job as a school district is to present the most cost-effective budget as we can. We urge everyone to come out and vote."

A public hearing on the budget will be held Wednesday, May 7, at 7 p.m. at Stissing Mountain High School.

The vote on the budget is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20.

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