Oswego School Board Approves 2017-18 Budget

by Steve Yablonski | April 21, 2017 10:32 am

OSWEGO, NY – Now it’s up to the voters.

At a relatively brief school board meeting Friday, the Oswego City School District’s 2017-18 budget was approved 6-0-1. Board member Brian Haessig was excused.

Board president Lynda Sereno took part in the meeting via telephone. The district clerk will check to see if Sereno’s “yes” vote is legal.

Superintendent Dr. Dean Goewey said he is confident the voters will approve the spending plan next month.

Recently, the board reduced the tax rate increase in the $82,839,101 budget down to 2.47 percent.

“2.47 is far below our cap. We didn’t vote for the cap just to generate revenue. We are trying to be responsible to the taxpayers; and we brought back a lot of stuff,” the superintendent said. “Hopefully, they will understand that. I think we’re going to be in good shape.”

Dr. Goewey noted that last year’s budget, which contained many cuts and reductions, was approved.

The 2017-18 budget has a lower tax rate and it restores much of what was cut previously, so it should appeal to those who want lower taxes and those who wanted things restored, he added.

Some clubs at the high school and middle school will be restored. Which ones are yet to be determined.

The board OK’d only half of the funding the schools were asking for. The principals will prioritize, by participation and other factors, which clubs could be reinstated.

The superintendent described the budget as an exceptional program that is strong and also sensitive to the taxpayer.

“Because we were smart financially, we were able to bring back a lot of stuff. It’s actually smaller than last year’s. I think we’re going in the right direction,” Dr. Goewey said. “We tightened our belt last year and it’s still tight.”

The public vote is set for May 16 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/oswego/oswego-school-board-approves-2017-18-budget/

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