By MATT LINDSEY

POTSDAM -- Norwood-Norfolk Central School will stay under the tax cap as they present a two percent tax increase to taxpayers and, with a 3.6 percent increase in state aid, will restore a music position and a soccer program.

The projected budget this year is $22,764,112, an increase of 2.9 percent or $648,812, according to NNCS Superintendent Jamie Cruikshank.

This year the tax cap was 3.48 percent at Norwood-Norfolk Central, but the Board of Education has been diligent in representing the concerns of the community and decided to continue to go with a below-cap increase, he said.

The proposed tax levy is $6,389,134, which is a two percent increase. The increase will raise an additional $125,277 for the district.

The school expects to receive $10,213,430 in state aid, up 3.6 percent from 2016-17, when they received $9,858,246.

NNCS will increase a half-time shared music position through BOCES to a full time position. The new teacher will serve elementary through high school students.

“We’ve had this as a half position for five years,” he said.

Cruikshank said that there was “not consistency” in the teaching position, noting that there had been six or seven teachers in that position in the last five years.

“This is a restoration from five years ago – our elementary class size has grown in recent years, so that means our middle and high school classes are growing too,” he said. “We need to be able to expand course and provide the right number of teachers for our students.”

He said the school did have other needs as well, but that other personnel would be reassigned and shuffled to provide coverage.

Cruikshank believes the full time music teacher would be a new hire, and that anyone has rights to the position.

Cruikshank said a lot of the state aid is associated with capital projects and coincided with expenses. “We have to spend money to get money,” he said.

A large portion of the budget increase will go toward special education. NNCS has a special education population around 14 to 15 percent, which Cruikshank says is about average for a district like his.

“We have to be able to accommodate their needs,” he said.

The public can listen to a budget presentation at the Board of Education meeting May 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the district conference room. A second budget info meeting will take place at the same place and time on May 9.

“We try to keep the public as informed as possible,” he said.

Cruikshank said the BOE was also able to reduce what they were putting into the budget from the fund balance.

A junior varsity soccer program for boys will be added.

The Flyers had only offered modified and varsity level soccer recently due to budget issues and a lack of student interest.

A coach will be paid a stipend of around $4,000, Cruikshank said.

“Adding the program will put our students in a better competitive situation,” he said. “It is tough going from modified to varsity.”