Friday, April 26, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
Updated at 5:30 a.m. April 11 to better reflect when the BOE approved funding for a home/school counselor. By MATT LINDSEY POTSDAM -- Potsdam Central School will stay under the tax cap for the …
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Updated at 5:30 a.m. April 11 to better reflect when the BOE approved funding for a home/school counselor.
By MATT LINDSEY
POTSDAM -- Potsdam Central School will stay under the tax cap for the 2017-18 school year and restore several positions thanks to a 2.5 percent increase in state aid.
The projected budget this year is $32,441,420, an increase of 2.3 percent or $737,714, according to Laura Hart, PCS business manager.
The proposed tax levy is $12,828,980, which would be an increase of .4 percent from $12,776,55, during the 2016-17 school year. The .4 percent increase will raise $52,463 for the school.
The school expects to receive $17,212,440 in state aid, which is up $390,628 from the 2016-17 school year.
PCS Superintendent Joann Chambers says the Board of Education expects to stay within the state-imposed tax cap, which is 2 percent.
The school will look to restore a high school math teacher position and a clerical position.
“Both positions were reduced during the recession,” Chambers said.
The high school has seen a dip in class size in recent years, but that is about to change as class sizes are expected to increase.
“Class sizes will be bigger -- adding this position back will be nice,” she said.
During the hardest budget times PCS reduced seven clerical positions. A clerical position will be shared between the Transportation and Buildings and Grounds Departments.
Chambers says the district will also increase their psychology services at the high school.
Currently, the school has 2.6 psychologists, as they share a position through BOCES. The extra state funding will allow the school to hire a full time psychologist, with one in each building.
The BOE approved also funding a home/school counselor in 2016-17 to better support their students.
The state has proposed $1.2 million in transportation funding and $1.6 million in BOCES funding, Hart said.
The BOE is expected to pass the budget tonight.
“They have been kept informed along the way and I do expect them to pass it,” she said.
Taxpayers will vote on the budget Tuesday, May 16.
