WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. March 23, 2004: The School Budget for 2004-05 was presented in its first Public Hearing Monday evening at Education House before 18 persons, most of home were School Administration personnel. No citizens asked any questions on the budget which calls for spending $143,809,184 in '04-'05., a $9,176,552 increase over this year's budget.

SUPERINTENDENT SHOWS MANDATED EXPENSES DRIVING INCREASE. Maria Valentin, School Board member looks on as Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors holds up the Proposed 2004-05 budget Monday night at Education House. Photo by WPCNR News.

Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors said that approximately half ($4,087,398) of the $9.2 Million increase was mandated increases in District contributions to the Retirement Funds for NYS Teachers and NYS employees to replace pension fund losses. The next impact on the budget increase was the net loss of $2.4 Million in assessibles, resulting in a 2.3 of the 7.53% Tax Rate increase, plus $4.1Million in Salary Increases, (included in that $4.1 Million in salary increases is $850,000 to finance All-Day Kindergarten in all the elementary schools.) The increase year to year in the budget is 6.82%, the School Tax Increase is 7.53%, or about $30 per thousand dollars of accessed value.

The next public hearing on the budget is Monday March 29, at 7:30 P.M. at Education House. The Budget Vote is Scheduled for May 18.