Penn Yan school budget has 2.49 percent increase

PENN YAN—Using additional reserves, the preliminary Penn Yan school budget now contains a tax levy increase of 2.49 percent. The Penn Yan school board reviewed the budget changes during their regular meeting March 5. Penn Yan Superintendent David Hamilton said he feels confident in the proposed budget after making additional changes based on feedback and comments.
“Any budget is about finding that balance,” Hamilton said. “The balance of keeping programs and staffing levels at where they are for student success while not putting an unhealthy burden on the taxpayer.” Hamilton added the current staffing and programming levels will remain the same as they are in the current year.
In addition to the changes, the board also looked at the three propositions that will be on the ballot in the coming school district election.
The first proposition would approve the total school budget of $33,071,307, a 1.29 percent increase from the current school year. Hamilton said the increase is below the U.S. inflation rate of 1.72 percent and below the 1.5 percent consumer price index and cost of living adjustment rates. He said the budget would allow the district to “maintain or in some cases expand our current student programs.”
The second proposition is for the purchase of four, 65 passenger school buses to replace buses with high miles. Hamilton said transportation aid is returned to the district in a five year period so the district plans to bond the approximately $480,000 cost “to take advantage of low interest rates and minimize costs to the district.” He said the district covers more than 174 square miles, with the fleet of buses traveling more than 4,000 miles each day.
“We have continued to reduce our overall fleet from 44 in 2012, to 41 in 2013, and a projected 39 for the start of the 2014-15 school year,” Hamilton said. “These purchases will also lower the average mileage of our fleet by approximately 10,000 miles which gives us better fuel economy and lower maintenance costs.”
The third proposition is allows the district to use the money in the student technology reserve fund. Hamilton said the technology reserve was established by a public vote in 2006 to purchase computers for students and classrooms. He said current market prices could allow as many as 1,000 new tablets, laptops and chrome books to be added to classrooms in the next two years. Hamilton said the technology can be purchased at no cost to the voters because the $424,000 reserve is fully funded, which would allow the district to use the annual technology budget to cover infrastructure, repair and replacement costs.
“We feel confident that these propositions represent a balance between fiscal responsibility to the community and our shared goal of expanding opportunities and programs for our students,” Hamilton said.