Penn Yan looks at 4.2 percent hike

PENN YAN--Superintendent Howard Dennis and Assistant Superintendent of Business Cathy Milliman gave the Penn Yan school board an update on the current 2015-16 budget situation, saying the proposed tax levy increase currently stands at 4.24 percent. This is down from 6.41 percent reported by Milliman last month. Milliman said this is not a final budget, adding it is still subject to changes following more funding details from the state, along with any possible modifications made by the school board.
Milliman said the current projections indicate a $497,904 (1.51 percent) budget-to-budget increase, adding these current projections indicate if state aid remains flat for next year. She said hopefully the district will be able to get the tax levy increase down to around the 2 percent area.
Milliman highlighted other areas for which the district will see increases the coming year. These areas included a $105,031 (2.8 percent) increase in special education for a psychologist intern, additional PY students in the DRIVE program, more summer days for counseling and a deaf interpreter. The instruction side will see a $12,019 (0.14 percent) increase for teachers, teacher assistants, guidance and social workers, and tech supports.
Dennis said many things are still undetermined at the state level, adding at first the district heard if Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plans are not met, schools will not get any increase in funding for the next two years. Dennis said now some interpretations say it will be a 1.7 percent increase. Dennis said the school's budget estimates are conservative until more information becomes available.
"We are still flying pretty blind as far as the revenue section goes," Dennis said. "That is why we left it flat to be safe."