District News

Voters approve 2011-12 Canajoharie budget

 

May, 2011

 

Canajoharie Central School District residents voted in support of the district’s 2011-12 school budget Tuesday by a vote of 306 to 156. The approved $18,823,340 plan calls for a $70,800 spending decrease from 2010-11 and a tax levy increase of no more than four percent.

“I’d like to thank all of our residents who came to the polls today,” said Superintendent Richard Rose. “Canajoharie has a history of strong support from the community and the continued support of our residents is evident in the voters' approval of the 2011-12 budget.”

Eight teaching positions – six full-time and two part-time – are eliminated in the budget. Because of declining enrollment, class sizes will not significantly increase. If certain eligible teachers choose to retire at the end of the school years, some of these cuts will not result in layoffs.

Like many rural school districts, Canajoharie is heavily dependent on the state for revenue, and for the 2011-12 fiscal year, the district will receive $661,201 less in state aid than the current year. Over two years, the district’s state aid decreased by $1,090,535.

To offset the loss of state aid, the district used an additional $367,392 in fund balance along with $265,000 from the federal education jobs funds. The district could not fully offset the loss of state aid by using reserves and therefore had to make cuts to staff and programs.

Board of Education Election

Dr. Carol A. Balfe was re-elected to a five-year term on the Canajoharie Board of Education with 375 votes. She ran unopposed.