Published: May 07, 2008 02:01 am            

NEWFANE: Residents got a look at proposed 2008-09 school budget

NEWFANE — Newfane residents got to see the proposed budget for the 2008-09 school year, and hear a little about a complaint filed with the state education department by one of the school board members against two other members.

Christine Tibbetts, who served as acting superintendent during the budget process for Newfane, gave a presentation Tuesday night informing the public about the $31,949,691 budget that will be up for a vote on May 20. The proposal represents a spending increase of 3.58 percent. Revenues for the budget include $18,494,719 in state aid and $1,041,000 from an appropriated fund balance, which is like a savings account for a school district. The tax levy, the total amount of taxes needed to fund the district, will account for $12,038,611, an increase of 2.44 percent.

The levy, which according to Tibbetts’ presentation is the lowest increase Newfane has had in 11 years, will increase the tax rate by 0.51 percent. That translates to about a 14-cent increase per $1,000 of assessed land value, bringing the tax rate to an estimated $27.08 per $1,000. The district is also receiving $375,361 from other revenue sources.

Tibbetts said the budget was created keeping in mind fiscal responsibility and maintaining a safe, clean environment for students.

“We really do need to maintain a balance,” she said. “I think this budget we are presenting tonight does all of those things.”

A few residents, such as Tom Callahan, commended Tibbetts on the budget, as well as the transparency of the district during the process. But then he blasted the district for not being transparent with the complaint filed with the state education department by board member Carl Stieffenhofer against board president Donna Pieszala and Vice President Gretchen DeWitt. Callahan filed a Freedom of Information request about the complaint almost two weeks ago that hasn’t been answered.

“I’m unnerved by the fact that transparency and openness apparently has gone out the window,” Callahan said.

Superintendent Gary Pogorzelski said the complaint was made only by Stieffenhofer, although other board members are named in it. He said an attorney was looking at the complaint, which he said he was not releasing because it contains some information discussed in executive session.

“Hopefully we’ll work out the differences,” Pogorzelski said.

The Newfane board will hold another budget presentation at 7 p.m. May 15 in the middle school auditorium.

A couple of other school districts held their budget hearings Monday as well. Starpoint presented its proposed budget of $41,883,820 to district residents. The budget is an increase of 3.86 percent from the current school year and represents a 3.7 percent tax levy increase.

The Wilson School District presented its $23,254,894 budget, which is a 3.53 percent increase from the current year’s budget. The tax levy will increase 2.63 percent, and if towns in the Wilson district are assessed at full value, the tax rate would increase from $23.11 to $23.32 per $1,000 of assessed value, an increase of 0.9 percent.

All school district budgets will be voted on by the public May 20.

        

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