FULTON – The Fulton City School District Board of Education met last night, Tuesday, April 19. At the meeting, the board approved the tentative 2022-2023 district budget.
Representing the Fulton Public Library, Director Caroline Chatterton presented to the school board on the library’s 2022-2023 budget proposal.
To sustain programming and staffing, the public library is seeking $22,657 in additional funding from the current levy. The new total is $470,041.
“As costs continue to rise and with no other guaranteed revenue sources flowing in, the library is requesting the public’s support for its proposed tax levy increase,” Chatterton said. “The Fulton Public Library relies on our talented staff to meet the needs of our community… The proposed increase will be used to help provide competitive wages and benefits that we need to recruit and retain personnel with 21st century skills.”
Chatterton gave an overview of the programs the public library offers to community members of all ages. Between July 2020 and June 2021, the library provided 23,400 library visits, 480 computer sessions, 2,224 wireless sessions, 720 grab-and-go craft kits, and circulated 21,326 physical items, including non-traditional library items such as WiFi hotspots, Google Chromebooks, Kindle Fire tablets, and passes to access the Fulton YMCA, Onondaga Parks and CMOO in Oswego.
“We exist to provide an environment where life-long habits of learning, self-improvement and expression are encouraged, and our patrons can meet their educational, informational and recreational needs,” Chatterton said.
Superintendent Brian Pulvino then moved on to discussing the 2022-2023 district budget, presenting the final proposal. He went over the budget parameters, explaining how the district’s strategic coherence plan guided them in making decisions for the budget.
He shared that the district received an increase in its Foundation Aid, totaling $2,226,716. Universal Pre-K aid was increased to $952,177. BOCES aid is still based on a $30,000 salary, so he said the board will continue advocating for more. He also said the district’s unassigned fund balance is still at 4%.
He then explained the difference between a tax levy and a tax rate. A tax levy is the total amount of revenue that is raised through taxation from all property owners in the school district to fund the school budget. A tax rate is the amount an individual will pay to contribute to the total levied amount. When the board discusses taxes in relation to the school, they are referring to a tax levy.
Breaking down the budget’s revenue, Pulvino said with a 0% tax levy increase and $0 from the reserves or federal stimulus funds, the district would have a total estimated revenue of $78,587,852. The proposed budget totals $79,129,000. This creates a gap of $541,148.
The budget for 2022-2023 is projected to have a 3.8% increase from the 2021-2022 budget, which is an additional $2,899,000. The program aspect of the budget is set to increase by $2,000,445. Capital will increase by $756,812 and administration will increase by $141,743.
Pulvino said one of the reasons for the increased need has to do with the inflation rate and how much more things like food or gas cost. The district has also added a few needed positions and is committed to maintaining its current programs and supports. He said the option of reducing programs to cut costs is not on the table.
To close the gap between revenue and budget costs, Pulvino proposed a 2% increase in the tax levy, which is an extra $432,266 than if there were a 0% increase. Additionally, he proposed the remaining $108,882 to be funded with the assigned fund balance.
The proposed tax levy will make up 27.9% of the district’s revenue.
The board later voted on the tentative budget and unanimously approved it. The community will vote on the budget in May.
Also on the May ballot will be two propositions. The first is to authorize the purchase of two wheelchair buses not to exceed the amount of $145,000. The second proposition is the proposed annual tax for the Fulton Public Library totaling $470,041.
Next on the agenda, the board reviewed the 2022-2023 property tax report card and the March financial summary.
The board then moved on to approving all items on the agenda. To view the full video of the meeting, see here.
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THIS School system has always been all about the money.Does it ever stop?