|
|
Last year's $146.1 million budget passed by just 311 votes with more than 4,900 residents casting ballots.
Next year's budget eliminates 46 positions. Some are already vacant and others will remain so after retirements. The district expects it will be forced to cut about 12 staff members if the budget is approved.
In addition to deciding whether to accept or reject the budget proposal voters also will be asked to elect three candidates to the school board. A separate proposition on the ballot gives residents a chance to vote on a bus replacement proposal. Voting takes place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 19 in the Gowana Middle School gym.
If approved, next year's budget will increase the total tax levy needed to run the district by 2.79 percent or $2.65 million. The Shen School District is made up of all or parts of six municipalities.
Assuming the equalization rates from the 2008-2009 school year remain the same district officials estimate the average tax rate will increase 1.78 percent. A resident with a home in Clifton Park with a full market value of $100,000 will pay approximately $1,547 in school taxes next year.
A Halfmoon resident with a similar home also valued at $100,000 will pay about the same.
In addition to financial matters there are also three seats on the school board that must be filled. The race for school board drew just three candidates, two incumbent board members and one newcomer.
Two of the board seats carry three year terms. The two candidates with the largest number of votes will be given these seats.
Due to the recent resignation of Bill Casey one board seat carries just a one year term. The candidate with the fewest number of votes will complete Casey's final year on the board.
School President Janet Grey and Board Vice President Sharon Bowles are running to retain their seats. They are joined by Rexford resident William Acker who is seeking his first term on the board.
Grey, of Clifton Park, is seeking a third term on the board. She is a graduate of the State University of Oswego with a degree in psychology and sociology. After a number of years working in the human resource management field she is now a stay at home mom. She and her husband have two children in Shen schools.
Bowles is seeking her second full term after being appointed to fill the one year term of a former board member.
She is an attorney with the New York State Office of Court Administration. Her previous employment was as an attorney with the State Education Eepartment. She is a graduate of Princeton University and Columbia University School of Law. She and her husband live in Clifton Park and have two children in Shen schools.
Acker is an RPI physics graduate and holds a doctorate in applied physics and engineering from Yale University. He is employed by Taconic Energy. He and his wife live in Rexford and have two children in Shen schools.
District voters will also have the chance to approve spending $822,412 on 11 new school buses.
The bond will buy five 20-passenger vans, three 66-passenger buses, and three 72-passenger buses. New York State will reimburse the district 65.5 percent of the cost of the buses.
