BARKER SCHOOLS: Tax levy increase is 2.9 percent in proposed budget

Barker

April 21, 2009

By Joe Olenick<br><a href="mailto:joe.olenick@lockportjournal.com">E-mail Joe</a> The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Tue Apr 21, 2009, 02:31 AM EDT

BARKER — Residents in the Barker School District will be deciding on a proposed budget that calls for a 2.9 percent increase in the tax levy.

The Board of Education on Monday approved the $20,202,631 spending plan for the 2009-10 school year. The budget includes a 1.71 percent increase in spending from the current school year’s budget of just under $19.9 million.

Superintendent Roger Klatt said the budget process was affected by the declining student enrollment. It allowed the district to cut positions without affecting students.

“This budget was enrollment-driven, especially at the elementary level,” Klatt said. “We were able to reduce staff.”

Right now, the proposed budget would increase property tax rates about 55 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in the Town of Somerset. The other locations in the Barker district — Hartland, Yates, Newfane and Ridgeway — would all see an increase anywhere from 44 cents to 49 cents per thousand.

Barker Business Administrator Scott Hoot said the district received some much-needed help in the form of stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Passed by Congress, the act gives money to the state to distribute. Gov. David Paterson’s proposed state budget called for cutting $585,000 in state aid for Barker.

“It restored some of the cuts proposed by the governor,” Hoot said, “all but about $50,000. We would’ve had to cut nearly $600,000, had the governor’s proposal had been adopted.”

Klatt said Barker is also making a reduction in transportation to help cut costs. Currently, the district transports students with 11 buses; but next year, Barker will go with 10 buses. Another $35,000 will be saved by combining a public relations salary with other positions. The district will also cut costs by working with the Orleans/Niagara Board of Cooperative Educational Services.

Klatt said the district is also looking to add full-day kindergarten.

District residents will vote on the budget and the open school board seats May 19.

Contact reporter Joe Olenick at 439-9222, ext. 6241.

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