By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-898011.mp3
Schenectady, NY – School Districts around New York have had to make cuts and changes to their 2010-2011 budgets in the face of fiscal uncertainty tied to Governor Paterson's drastic cuts to the state budget. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas takes a closer look at how Albany has impacted the spending plans of two area school districts.
The Glens Falls School District found itself facing a $2.1-million reduction in state aid. This week, despite $600-thousand dollars in spending cuts, The Glens Falls city school board adopted a $38.2 million budget that calls a for a five percent hike to the property tax levy. Thomas McGowan, superintendent of schools, says it was an exceptionally difficult budget season. Positions were eliminated to avoid a double-digit tax hike. The board asked unions to take one-year pay freezes. McGowan is hopeful the district will receive some federal funding.
To the south, in the larger Schenectady School District, the board there approved a 2010-2011 by a 4-2 vote. Board of Education Member Jeff Janiszewski points out that Schenectady's plan includes painful cuts: to basketball, foreign language and music programs. Jobs and programs will be eliminated. Perhaps most painful: closing Blodgett Elementary school. The Schenectady budget totals $161-point-6 Million dollars, which will increase the tax rate by about 1 per cent. Officials in both districts stress that the final tax levy increases could vary depending on the amount of financial aid state lawmakers give to school districts when a state budget is ultimately passed.
The public will vote on the budgets May 18.