SCARE TACTICS.
Wednesday, May 2, 2018, the Cortland
Standard published "Board still split on school options."
"The options the Cortland City Board of
Education is considering to save $2 million a year:
◘ "Keep the five elementary schools as they
are, requiring a 14 percent tax levy increase and laying off 26 employees."
STOP!
The other options are about closing schools
but we need to focus on this first option before we consider the others. Does
any knowledgeable person believe that a 14 percent tax increase and massive
layoff of teachers is a realistic option?
We have a used bridge to sell to those who
do believe it.
A few years ago the Cortland Contrarian
found that state aid was underestimated by $600,000 in the proposed 2015-16
school budget, and the school district sidestepped a critical review by a state
examiner working for the state comptroller.
That $600,000 was assigned to a reserve
fund later. Thus taxpayers were overtaxed to build another reserve fund.
The Cortland School District proposes a 2018-19
budget without increasing total expenditures above the current year. The school district is the recipient of record revenues from
the state. If there were a foreboding budget squeeze, it would be apparent in
this budget.
Where is the documentation and proof to support “saving
$2 million a year?”
As for the other school closing options
suggested by the Cortland School District, beyond the threat
contained in the first option, we prefer healthy skepticism of the school district push to close
neighborhood schools.
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