On December 16, 2008, Governor Paterson released his Executive Budget. Although it is subject to legislative action, the State Aid amount he has indicated for the Lansingburgh Central School District is the assumption used in building the 2009-2010 Budget. His proposal would keep our Foundation Aid, or basic aid, at $16,275,924, which is the same amount received in the 2008-2009 school year. However, there would be a Deficit Reduction Assessment of $915,656, meaning that the district would receive $915,656 less in basic aid next school year than it is receiving this school year. This will create a very difficult challenge in creating the 2009-2010 Budget. The district would receive increases in some categorical aids and decreases in others, with a net loss in aid, compared to the current year, of $780,531, which is a 3.61% decrease. However, in several cases categorical aids can be used only for specific purposes, such as textbooks, computer hardware and software, or library materials. The district will be receiving an additional $819,232 in building aid for capital projects, but our debt service for 2009-2010, which is the amount we must pay out, is $3,252,366, an increase of $1,105,409 from the 2008-2009 school year.
The net result is there will be a substantial decrease in revenue for the 2009-2010 school year, and therefore expenditures must decrease. It would be unrealistic to propose a budget to the voters that makes up for the difference between revenue and costs of current program by an unreasonable increase in the local tax levy. The Board of Education will be discussing various budget options as we work to develop a budget that will retain program to the extent possible and is sensitive to the financial difficulties facing our community. The fiscal challenges are unprecedented. However, I am confident that we will meet this challenge and continue to provide programs and services to our students consistent with the mission and beliefs of the Lansingburgh Central School District. Please contact me if you have questions or comments at 233-6850, Ext. 3400 or at ggoodwin@lansingburgh.
George Goodwin
Superintendent of Schools
For more information contact:
Lansingburgh Central School District
518.233.6850