The Board of Education approved a $8,109,420 budget for the Town of Webb Union Free School District for the 2014–15 school year, subject to voter approval on Tuesday, May 20, 2014.
The Board passed the budget at its meeting on April 1 at the Webb school.
The state’s allowable tax cap, as prescribed by New York State, was 2.06 percent. But the board managed to stay below that with a 2.03 percent increase over last year’s budget.
Town of Webb Superintendent of Schools, Rex Germer, said he is pleased that the board was able to do that while preserving all existing programs.
The actual effect on tax rates has yet to be determined, according to Germer, who said tax rates at this point are merely projections. Actual tax rates won’t be determined until August of this year.
“The way the numbers sit right now, the proposal is showing potential for a six cent increase per thousand [of assessed value] in the Town of Webb, and seven cents in Forestport,” Germer said.
Because the budget is growing at an increase of less than 2.06 percent, the Town of Webb only needs to pass it by a simple majority—more than fifty percent voter approval, Germer said.
“Otherwise it would require approval of a super majority,” he said.
A super majority means 60 percent approval.
The Board of Education will be presenting a proposal to voters to establish a capital reserve fund.
“We’re looking for approval on a fund that would allow a maximum yearly sum of $200,000, up to a million dollars,” Germer said.
“That reserve fund sets us up with some funding as we look at capital projects for the building and the grounds,” he said.
“We’re to the point with maintenance and repairs and things that need to be replaced, that the district’s general budget can no longer handle those things. So we need to be looking at a larger scale project,” Germer said.
The last project that took place regarding building infrastructure was 14 years ago, according to Germer.
Even there, the time is approaching where a new roof will be needed soon.
“We’re four years out of warranty,” Germer said.
There are other bigger ticket costs sure to follow, he said.
“We’ve got an architect looking at the scope of work necessary in the building right now. So to be fiscally responsible, we’re looking at possibly having some money at the end of this year that we could put in that reserve to help in future payments of that project,” Germer said.
That would need voter approval, according to Germer. Both to create the reserve fund and to withdraw from it for spending on a project.
“The voters would have control over that money and how it is to be spent,” he said.
“But really it’s about using what we have now to try to preserve the tax rate as we move forward—to hold the tax rate as steady as we can,” he said.
This is important, Germer said, due to a lack of state aid, even regarding capital projects.
“The local share [of the cost] is very large for any project that we undertake,” he said.
“So this is a way to try and help us undertake that project and minimize the impact to the taxpayers in the long run.”
Overall, Germer said he is pleased with the fiscal management of the board during his tenure.
“We’ve manage for the past three years that the [two percent] tax cap has been in existence, to stay under the cap.”
As for producing budgets that hold the line on spending, even while costs keep going up, Germer conceded that it is a challenge.
“It’s never simple,” he said. “With our tax rate, the two percent allowable for increase doesn’t go far.”
Germer said that contractual obligations, health insurance, and all the standard costs the board has no control over, which this year includes a rise in heating fuel costs…
“[As a board] you’re predicting what things are going to be, and trying to preserve the programs we have, while trying to stay under the cap. And we’ve managed to do that,” he said.
So it’s always a challenge—analyzing the numbers, forecasting the trends, making adjustments, Germer said.
Coordination is necessary with other school districts, he added. Brainstorming in hopes of tackling similar circumstances.
“Jen Dunn, as a business official here [at Town of Webb], is always going to meetings and always collaborating with others to see what’s happening in other places. We are unique to an extent, compared to a lot of our neighbors, so we have our own challenges. Part of that is the fact that we’re supported mainly by taxpayer revenue. We’re not supported by state aid.”
Even so, Webb did see an aid increase of about $50,000 in the state’s final budget, for which Germer is thankful. It all helps, he said.
The district will now take its proposed budget to the taxpayers.
Information is available on the school district website, and three informational hearings will be held in the coming weeks.
A hearing will be held in Big Moose on Monday, May 5, followed by a Wednesday, May 7 hearing in Woodgate. A final hearing will be held in Old Forge on Tuesday, May 13.
Voters will decide the budget on Tuesday, May 20. The polls will be open from 2 to 9 p.m.
Also on the ballot will be two board seats. One for the seat currently held by Kathy Nahor, a five-year term.
A second vote will decide who fills the remainder of Maryellen Denio’s term.
Superintendent Germer said he urges anyone interested in serving on the school board to contact the school for information.
Candidate applications are due by April 21, he said.