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With the Herkimer, Ilion and Mohawk school communities focused on a possible merger, business officials in each of the three Herkimer County districts have been busy putting together their district’s projected expenses and revenues for the 2012-2013 school year.
Ilion Superintendent of Schools Cosimo Tangorra, Jr. said last week he will “buckle down to create a solid budget that keeps the needs of students and taxpayers in balance. We cannot lose our focus — we are here to educate our community’s children.” He added district Business Manager Ken Long has been at work on a draft budget for 2012-2013, one Tangorra will present to the board of education.
“We want our residents to have a clear picture. Ilion Central School is not receiving a giant windfall next year. We will receive more aid in some categories and less in others. The net result is that we will get more under this plan, but not enough to change our financial picture,” he said in response to news Ilion Central School would receive $604,882 more in aid than it did last year under Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed executive budget. Of that aid, $279,183 would be in foundation aid, while $325,699 would be in expense-driven aid, such as reimbursements for transportation and BOCES.
Mohawk Superintendent of Schools Joyce Caputo said last week she will work with district Business Administrator Joe Barretta to develop a budget that will incorporate a small increase in state aid.
“At this time of the year we have to develop a budget that balances a good academic program for our students with the realities of the state aid picture for our district,” she said.
Caputo previously stated her district would roughly receive $70,000 in additional aid next year.
Interim Herkimer Superintendent of Schools Gary Tutty said last week while the governor’s proposal to increase educational aid was a step in the right direction, he believed the additional aid his district is in line to receive should Cuomo’s budget be adopted would not make much of a difference.
“Even with an increase of aid, the district will be looking at a $700,000 gap next year,” he said.
In St. Johnsville, where school officials continue to support a merger with Oppenheim-Ephratah despite the proposal’s defeat by Oppenheim-Ephratah voters in December, interim Superintendent of Schools Ralph Acquaro said last week the district will likely use $600,000 in reserves next year.
“And that is the maximum amount that can be used if the district is to stay on its five year plan,” he said, adding the board of education will most likely have to close a $350,000 funding gap.
Acquaro said the district will look to shared services and other areas to make up the difference.
“Obviously, a merger would make all the difference in the world,” he said.
With the Herkimer, Ilion and Mohawk school communities focused on a possible merger, business officials in each of the three Herkimer County districts have been busy putting together their district’s projected expenses and revenues for the 2012-2013 school year.
Ilion Superintendent of Schools Cosimo Tangorra, Jr. said last week he will “buckle down to create a solid budget that keeps the needs of students and taxpayers in balance. We cannot lose our focus — we are here to educate our community’s children.” He added district Business Manager Ken Long has been at work on a draft budget for 2012-2013, one Tangorra will present to the board of education.
“We want our residents to have a clear picture. Ilion Central School is not receiving a giant windfall next year. We will receive more aid in some categories and less in others. The net result is that we will get more under this plan, but not enough to change our financial picture,” he said in response to news Ilion Central School would receive $604,882 more in aid than it did last year under Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed executive budget. Of that aid, $279,183 would be in foundation aid, while $325,699 would be in expense-driven aid, such as reimbursements for transportation and BOCES.
Mohawk Superintendent of Schools Joyce Caputo said last week she will work with district Business Administrator Joe Barretta to develop a budget that will incorporate a small increase in state aid.
“At this time of the year we have to develop a budget that balances a good academic program for our students with the realities of the state aid picture for our district,” she said.
Caputo previously stated her district would roughly receive $70,000 in additional aid next year.
Interim Herkimer Superintendent of Schools Gary Tutty said last week while the governor’s proposal to increase educational aid was a step in the right direction, he believed the additional aid his district is in line to receive should Cuomo’s budget be adopted would not make much of a difference.
“Even with an increase of aid, the district will be looking at a $700,000 gap next year,” he said.
In St. Johnsville, where school officials continue to support a merger with Oppenheim-Ephratah despite the proposal’s defeat by Oppenheim-Ephratah voters in December, interim Superintendent of Schools Ralph Acquaro said last week the district will likely use $600,000 in reserves next year.
“And that is the maximum amount that can be used if the district is to stay on its five year plan,” he said, adding the board of education will most likely have to close a $350,000 funding gap.
Acquaro said the district will look to shared services and other areas to make up the difference.
“Obviously, a merger would make all the difference in the world,” he said.
