Health insurance, fuel, raises impact Saranac School budget

Press-Republican (Plattsburgh, NY)

May 16-- May 16--SARANAC -- Saranac Central School intends to make full payment for its share of a capital project for Champlain Valley Education Services in the coming school year.

That contribution represents 7.75 percent of the total 9.98 percent hike in the proposed budget over this year's spending plan.

But taking that approach, Superintendent Jonathan Parks explained in a school newsletter, will save the district about $1.2 million in finance costs over the next two decades.

And because the School Board opted to use fund balance to make that payment of $889,041, taxpayers won't see a penny of it in their tax bills.

Saranac Central's full share of that project is $2,478,083, but the district qualifies for $1,589,042 in BOCES aid to cover part of it.

OTHER INCREASES

The 2019-20 budget comes in at $36,466,476, accompanied by a tax-levy of $13,472,926, or increase of 2.9 percent, over the current spending plan.

It falls below the state-mandated levy-increase cap for Saranac.

Other factors contributing to the almost 10 percent budget increase include a 13.5 percent jump in health insurance premium rates, translating to about $800,000; a jump in the price of diesel fuel and gasoline; and contractual employee salary increases.

FUND BALANCE

All programs will be maintained if the budget passes, Parks said, though "significant reductions in budgeted spending" have been made to balance out the increased expenditures.

"Along with minor reductions in several areas, over $50,000 has been cut from the building maintenance budget," Parks said.

And the district will use about $900,000 in fund balance to bridge the gap between expenditures and anticipated revenues, he explained.

The tax bill for a property assessed at $100,000 would go up about $58 next school year, according to district calculations.

BUS PROPOSITION

The vote is set for noon and 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, at Morrisonville Elementary School on Sand Road.

No one stepped up to run for two open seats on the Saranac Central School Board, so voters will invited to write in candidates.

The two School Board seats are for five-year terms expiring June 30, 2024.

Robert Brooks and Michael Rascoe chose not to run for re-election.

And voters will weigh in on the purchase of school buses for a sum not to exceed $127,530 that would come from a capital reserve account for that purpose.

Email Suzanne Moore:

[email protected]

Twitter: @editorSuzanne

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