Board adopts $40.39 million budget, taxes to increase 1.5 percent
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

The Amherst Central School Board of Education adopted $40.39 million budget for the 2007-08 school year at its April 17 business meeting.

The budget is a $1.6 million increase from the 2006-07 school year. The board also projected property tax levy increase of 1.53 percent.

This year's initial budget projections weren't great. The first draft saw a $2.2 million increase and a 7.04 percent increase in property taxes.

Mark Whyle, the district's director of administrative services, was able to devise a series of reductions, including $792,000 in health insurance as a result of the district adopting a self-insurance program and a host of items totaling $170,000.

One item, $60,000 for the music department, was deferred until the 2008-09 school year. Whyle said the money was reallocated toward an additional $100,000 for the technology department. Whyle said the music department was scheduled to enter the fifth of a five-year plan to upgrade the district's musical instruments.

Board member Michele Scirto Flirt cautioned the group that the technology number for future budgets is not going to lower much because of additions such as Windows Vista systems, data transmissions and backup storage.

Board Vice President David Stocking agreed.

"We don't want to get behind on technology," said Stocking. "If we're a year behind, we could build ourselves a hole."

Another way Whyle lowered the budget was by utilizing $750,000 of appropriated surplus and reserving the remainder to cover the self-insurance coverage. Whyle said the district is projecting a total surplus of $1.8 million at the end of the year.

"Having a healthy (surplus) allows us to use (surplus) to offset what would otherwise be in the levy and now we have a number below inflation," Whyle said.

The budget vote is scheduled for Tuesday, May 15. Also on the ballot is a $16.8 million capital construction project, which includes a 38,000-square-foot addition to the kitchen at Windermere Boulevard Elementary School.

Whyle said the capital bond issue should have no impact on the 2007-08 budget. It would have increased the property tax levy 1 percent in 2008-09, but a 25 percent increase in reorganization incentive aid from the state means the bond issue will not affect the tax rate, Whyle said.

The board's May 1 meeting will start at 8 p.m. in the district office boardroom in the rear of Amherst Middle School, 55 Kings Hwy., following a presentation on the proposed capital project at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium.

In other matters, the board was updated on the status of Amherst Middle School's Advantage After School program, which runs every school day from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. It offers students academic support and other activities that enhance social, emotional and physical development. The program is in its third year of a five-year grant totaling $153,000. It is a collaborative effort of the staff from the middle school, Amherst Youth Board and Amherst Youth Foundation.

"We really feel it's a partnership among the school, community, family, and other groups to protect our kids and help them grow," said Mary-Diana Pouli, senior program coordinator of the Amherst Youth Board.

Janet Zapfel, youth center director for the Amherst Youth Board, said 48 percent of the students have attended the program for more than one year, and 100 percent of the parents polled have said it was beneficial.

Wendy Tremblett, program director at the middle school, was also a presenter.

The district's Meet the Candidates Night is scheduled for p.m. Monday, May 7 in room 122 of Amherst Middle School. Incumbent school board member Laura Meyers-Rogerson and newcomers Illana Lane and Jo Ette P. Mosey-Zaccagnino are vying for two seats.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com