The finance committee met and the Express-Times has a report that some knew was coming and others hopefully wished would in some way vanish (read it here).
The Committee is trying to figure out how to make the budget work for next year and with any luck position themselves to not have to have a $17 million deficit in 2013 (as is currently projected) - and they must approve it by June - leaving two regular meetings.
The article reports, "Board President Ken Butz said he favors a 4.17 mill hike, about 10.4 percent." And then quotes, "'It doesn't seem to be that big of a bite,' Butz said."
With exceptions from the state, the NASD can have a tax increase up to 16% without going to a voter referendum. The index is 5.4%.
Tom Maher recommended a hike plus cuts, Linda McDonald suggested a hard look at personnel, and Dr. Lesky said he would bring a list of programs to cut, according to the article.
One immediately noted was full day Kindergarten. This really isn't a cut since we don't yet have it.
It also appears that at least some on the board feel a hike won't hurt that bad because a portion will be off-set by the gambling revenue money. It is expected that the average for individuals whose primary place of residence is in Nazareth and who applied for the rebate will receive $218 off the tax bill.
The logic seems to be a hike of $400 to $500 is really only a hike of $200-$300, so it is okay.
So much for the tax relief. Now we face tax hikes and program cuts, the question will be which programs. Tradition indicates the list provided by Dr. Lesky will include many items with strong community support or vocal booster clubs(band, music, sports). When the cuts are proposed at meeting one, the groups will rally, and the tax hike will rise as the people have called to raise taxes to keep or add the program.
One also has to wonder given the large potential tax increase why meetings haven't been held on the budget and made public previously? If there is to be a discussion on cutting programs that will impact people's jobs or student offerings it seems there should have been more effort to examine this earlier. The fact that a list of programs to potentially cut, or personnel that could be cut, was only first discussed at this meeting seems a bit irresponsible.
6 comments:
Why are we hiring more administration (Director of Curriculum Elementary, Director of Curriculem Secondary)?
Before we cut programs, we need to cut the fat at the top!
I wish they would have held off building the pool until the school was finished and the cost overruns were known. If Lesky and the board are anything like Northampton County Council, the new school overruns will be in the million of dollars range.
I can think of several ways to cut spending....
STOP HIRING ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS!!! According to the recent board approvals and postings, there are now three vice principals at the high school, two Directors of Curriculum and Instruction for the district. All this and the recent addition of Assistant Superintendent for Educational Programs and Coordinator of Transportation and Central Registration. Call me stupid, but I think we might be a bit top heavy at NASD.
Another way to stop the spending…make the school board and administration FULLY disclose project plans; no more of this “Now we need a million dollar road between the new school and the high school.”
(We are not done hearing from the school board and administration about these “small” oops we forgot to included it or we should spend the money now, because it will be cheaper than doing it later).
Ken Butz should be ashamed of the comment he made publicly about the 10.4% tax increase, “It doesn't seem to be that big of a bite.” This is completely irresponsible and slap in the face to the taxpayers of this district. Ken if this is nothing to you, then please post your address online and I will be happy to forward my increased tax bill to you!
Mr. Butz, it 10.4% is not such a big bite, why don't YOU figure out how to cut that much from the budget. Maybe you can cut some of the bloated administration.
Maybe you can cut some of the expenses you are pouring into the new school, like maybe using less expensive materials.
Maybe you can go back to school and take an economics course and maybe learn a concept called FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. Maybe you can take the entire NASD administration with you to the class, lord knows they can all use it.
By raising taxes so much and for so many consecutive years, are you so blind that you don't see the effect you are having on the local housing market? How you are making it harder to draw new businesses to the area?
No, you don't because you are blind to the realities of what you are doing.
Yes, you will have your grand palace of a new school with all your names on a shiny sign in the entrance, but at what cost to current and future residents?
You seem to forget this is WE, the taxpayers that you ultimately work for. It is us that you are responsible to. It is our hard earned money that you seem to have no concern about wasting.
If this administration was in any business other than the school system, they would have all been fired long ago for gross incompetance.
Nothing will change until the people of the school district come together to work to make their concerns respected by the school board. It must be large numbers of people willing to spend many hours and much dedication to do much planning that will make an impact on the thinking of the school board. As of now they haven't seen or heard enough opposition. It is difficult to interest enough citizens to get involved in such an undertaking. It is easy to complain and critize but it is very hard to take significant action. Until someone takes the lead to start a movement to cause the board to be more accountable, nothing will change....sad but true
The board not only needs to halt spending but also stop rubber stamping administrative decisions that are hurting the district.
Post a Comment