Residents to vote on 2017/18 proposed budget May 16

Southern Cayuga Central School District residents will vote on a $17,295,862 budget proposal for the 2017-18 school year on Tuesday, May 16, from 7 am to 9 pm in the District Office.  Voters will also select from among four candidates for two open seats on the SCCS Board of Education and consider four additional propositions:  two propositions for the purchase of school buses, a capital project, and taxpayer support for the Aurora Free Library and the Hazard Library.
 
The SCCS Board of Education has worked throughout the winter analyzing projected expenditures and anticipated revenues.  Cost increases are attributed to contractual salary increases and additional students taking advantage of career and technology training at our local BOCES.  Fortunately, most of these cost increases are offset by district savings in benefits and debt service.  As a result, the proposed budget calls for a projected tax levy increase of a half (.5) percent, which is the lowest proposed increase in more than 25 years.  Next year, this would mean an estimated $10 increase in the school tax bill for a property assessed at $100,000.
 
District voters will also be asked to approve the continuation of the district bus replacement plan.  Each year the district maximizes state aid and trade-in value and replaces three or four buses.  The process allows the district to maintain a neutral debt load, minimize year-to-year fluctuations in the budget, and ensure a safe and reliable fleet.  The challenge for the current year will be the anticipated replacement of five buses.  To mitigate the impact on the budget, two buses will be purchased by utilizing current year savings, while the remaining three buses will be purchased through the bus replacement program.  In the end, the district will be able to maintain a neutral debt load and a stable transportation budget.  Two propositions for bus purchases will appear on this year’s ballot as the funding source for each proposition differs.
 
The district will also seek voter approval to replace the roof on the elementary wing of our building on the main campus.  The district will utilize the capital reserve and state building aid to fund the $1.25 million project.  As a result, overall local debt service will remain steady and we even anticipate a slight drop in debt service payments.