FULTON, NY – Fulton school district officials held a public presentation of the budget and numerous other propositions on this year’s ballot set for vote on Tuesday, May 17.
Superintendent of Schools, William Lynch and Business Administrator, Kathy Nichols presented the material to a handful of public audience in the auditorium at the district’s Education Center on Wednesday.
They used this opportunity to give some history of the budget process throughout recent years, dating back to when FCSD experienced fiscal crisis in the year 2008.
This year, the $70,336,500 budget brings forth a 2.47% spending increase from the current year budget with a tax levy increase of 0.43% and is categorized as a “status quo budget” meaning that all current staffing and educational services, programs and opportunities for students will be maintained.
Aside from not needing to make any cuts, the district was able to fill the current year’s retirement positions for the budget that the Board of Education officially passed at their April 12 regular meeting, all pleased with the district’s fiscal standing.
The 2016-2017 budget prepared for public vote is a far cry from the previous budget proposals the school has faced in recent years aimed solely at financial recovery, largely in part of significantly increased foundation aid.
With a $2.38 million increase in state aid and the removal of the Gap Elimination Adjustment that has been taking funding away from the FCSD since the 2010-2011 school year, the Board of Education feels the district is in good fiscal standing with a budget that they are confident in proposing to voters.
For property owners within the district, the tax levy increase is one area of the budget the BOE felt better about presenting than in previous years.
Increasing $88,451 the tax levy will increase 0.43% if the budget is approved by voters.
In terms of value, a house assessed at $70,000 will see an increase of $8.33 in taxes next year whereas a house valued at $100,000 will see an increase of approximately $12.
This proposed tax levy increase is the smallest as seen in many years. Most recent budgets have seen increases ranging from $196,198 as the lowest to $368,098 as the highest since the 2012 school year.
“This is the smallest increase proposed in my 11 years as superintendent,” said Lynch.
However, the district remains categorized as a district in moderate fiscal distress as assessed by the office of the State Comptroller and also identifies as a focus district with G. Ray Bodley High School as a designated focus school.
“We are well under way with planning initiatives to address those issues, making sure our students in those (focus district) subgroups are improving,” said Lynch, in regards to addressing the status of a focus district.
Despite these two categories of identification, FCSD is very prideful of the educational services and opportunities provided to students including a caring and efficient staff, course offerings including three languages other than English, advanced placement, and college dual enrollment, alternative education, support services for students, school based mental health, strong community agency collaborations, project and problem based learning models, STEM initiatives and well maintained buildings and facilities, among many others as noted at the presentation.
Similarly, district officials take pride in their ability to provide these numerous effective services and opportunities while also identifying as a low spending district.
For the 2013-2014 school year, FCSD spent $9,311 per general education pupil compared to $11,148 per pupil in similar districts and $11,739 for all schools throughout NYS.
Similar outcomes occurred for expenditures per pupil in special education where FCSD spent $27,046 per pupil compared to similar districts and all schools throughout NYS spending $29,820 and $31,502 respectively.
The proposed budget includes funding for P-Tech for the first time.
P-Tech, Pathways in Technology Early College High School is a consortium between all Oswego County school districts and CiTi and local industries including Huhtamaki, the Fulton Companies, Novelis and Onondaga Community College.
The budget also includes the capital project outlay project which entails up to $100,000 worth of improvements throughout the district that can be made in the 2016-2017 school year following State Education Department approval to receive anywhere from 90-98% in aid in the 2017-2018 school year.
Nichols explained that currently a portion of the funding is expected to complete site work at the district’s Education Center, however the money would potentially be able to serve as a form of emergency fund for any issues that should arise throughout the school year.
Of the budget’s $1,695,439 increase from the current year, $1,097,072 is found in the capital portion of the three part budget.
Combined with the $472,033 increase in the program portion and the $126,334 increase in the administrative portion, the budget reaches its overall 2.47% increase.
The capital component incorporates operation of buildings, maintenance of plant, debt service and employee benefits.
Lynch explained that over half of the total increase to the budget ($885,026) is due to an increase in debt services from capital projects from the 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2014 years, and because of that building aid increased as well.
The debt service cost increase is all offset by aid, and increase in expenditure almost matching aid. Taking that away, the budget increase would be even half of what it is now.
“It’s a good budget on the spending side, we are staying within our means and we can continue to stay solid where we are. Even more so, we are lowering how reliant we have been on fund balance… which helps keep the district in good fiscal health going forward,” Lynch added.
The presentation then addressed the other propositions that will be presented on the ballot.
Two seats are available on the Board of Education to fill terms expiring for current board members, David Carvey and Christine Plath.
While Plath has not sought reelection, Paula Hayden, Lynn Lyons and Carvey will appear on the ballot in this order.
Voters will also consider two additional school related propositions including the purchase of two transportation vans at a total cost not to exceed $56,000 and the sale of a wooded parcel of land located on Granby Elementary School property that is no longer used for school purposes to a resident with adjoining property at a cost of $500 plus expenses.
Finally, voters will consider the FCSD Public Library Proposition to increase the Public Library Tax Levy $17,867; an increase that would cost a $1.75 tax increase next year for a home owner whose house assessed at $70,000.
Also, the Library Board of Trustees will present two candidates for two available seats, one to serve a full five year term and one to fill a resignation for three years.
The candidates include Dennis Casey and Ellen Himes and the term served will be based on the highest receipt of votes, with the candidate receiving the most votes to serve the full five-year term.
Vice President of the Library Board of Trustees, Patricia Kush spoke to the audience on behalf of the library.
Kush clarified that while the library is incorporated with the school district, it is in fact, its own entity.
“As for the tax levy increase at the library, it’s really a small one. The library provides such great services, you can come in any time but especially in the summer with programs for children or adults utilizing our computers for affordable job searching, the library really feels a need in our community and for that, we really need a yes vote on our budget,” she said.
Registered voters can utilize the polls from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 17.
For the first time, there will be only two polling locations allowing all voters residing on the west side of the city, as defined as west of the Oswego River, and the town of Granby to vote at CiTi/Oswego County BOCES Offices located at 806 W. Broadway.
All voters residing on the east side of the city, defined as east of the Oswego River, and the town of Volney will vote at the CCC Campus at 11 River Glenn Plaza off Route 481.
The presentation was video taped to be aired on the school’s website where additional information can be found.
One audience member, Bob Weston took the opportunity to address the Board of Education and school administration.
While he had wished more people would attend the presentation, he continued to point out his gratitude for the FCSD working tirelessly to present a budget that is beneficial to the students.
Thanking Lynch, the school board and administration for their ability to continue providing a quality educational experience as well as extra curricular opportunities such as music and athletics.
“I mention athletics because of the situation in Oswego. To take away sports from these young kids, it’s saddening. Sports are very important to some of these kids, and to the community. It’s important for pride that resonates throughout the school,” he said.
He continued to thank the dedicated teachers of the district and specifically thanking Superintendent Lynch for his many years of service to the Fulton City School District as he prepares for his upcoming retirement.
“This has been a great community to work for, truly a great new home,” said Lynch.
missing or outdated ad config
2.5% budget increase and it remains status quo? Not to mention a 1/2% levy increase? Energy prices are down, home assessments are up slightly, and FCSD decides it will deliver nothing new for 2.5% more against the taxpayer this year. This is why Fulton continues circling downward In the toilet bowl toward bankruptcy.