BUDGET VOTE DAY IS Tuesday, May 15
Have a question or comments about the 2012-13 budget? Email: budget13@cohoes.org
2012-13 school budget approved by voters; two board members re-elected
The 2012-13 school budget has been approved by the voters of Cohoes by a margin of 565-358. Voters also re-elected two members to the board of education: Laurie Rizzo, who received 521 votes; and Matthew Nolin, who received 485 votes. They will serve full three-year terms. Challengers Colleen F. Mayo received 369 votes, and Adam Biggs received 212 votes. More>>
What will I be voting on?
On Tuesday, May 15, 2012, voters will decide on a proposed 2012-13 school year budget. They will also elect two members to the Board of Education. Candidates, as they will appear on the ballot, include: Adam Biggs, Matthew Nolin, Laurie Rizzo and Colleen F. Mayo.
2012-13 Budget Summary |
|
| Proposed Budget | $38,266,931 |
| Change in Budget | $57,925 |
| Tax Levy Increase | $358,948 |
Residents to vote on $38.2 million budget proposal; elect two Board of Education members
On May 15, voters of the Cohoes City School
District will go to the polls to decide on a $38.2 million budget
for the 2012-13 school year. The proposed budget increases spending
by $57,925 -- or 0.15 percent -- over the current year and, if
approved, would increase the property tax levy by 2.68 percent.
Voters will also elect two individuals to serve three-year terms on the Board of Education. On the ballot, in the order they will appear are: Adam Biggs, Matthew Nolin, Laurie Rizzo, and Colleen F. Mayo.
The 2012-13 budget newsletter will be mailed on May 7, 2012. Read a copy of the newsletter here>>
The proposed tax levy increase is within Cohoes' "tax levy limit" as defined by the state's new tax "cap" law, meaning that approval by a simple majority of voters is required for passage.
The board of education approved the proposed spending plan following a series of public budget workshops during which the board reviewed estimated revenues and anticipated expenses for next year. Significant changes in two key sources of current-year revenue forced the district to consider spending reductions.
In 2011-12, $511,000 in federal Education Jobs funds and the use of $833,000 in fund balance helped offset reductions in state aid. The absence of this revenue this year, combined with increased fixed and contractual costs and only partial restoration of state aid, resulted in a 2012-13 budget gap of $1.88 million.
To balance the 2012-13 budget, the board has proposed a spending plan that reduces 34 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, identifies $92,000 in new energy savings, and designates the use of $750,000 in debt service reserves and $175,000 from the fund balance.
"With a massive budget gap to fill, the board was challenged to craft a budget that keeps the focus where it belongs -- on our students," said Superintendent Robert K. Libby. "Continuing declines in state and federal aid and exploding fixed costs, in a time of new property tax expectations, means finding new ways to ensure our district's mission of 'learning by all.'
"Reshaping and paring our offerings, rather than wholesale elimination of programs, was the goal," added Superintendent Libby. "With input from community members, the budget makes cuts based on enrollment, reconfigures academic programs while keeping class sizes stable, and leverages technology and new collaborative efforts to enhance 21st century learning."
Budget realities in the Cohoes City School District
Below is a four-minute look at how budget decisions at the state level impact budget decisions made at the district level.
Annual budget hearing is Wednesday, May 2
The board of education will meet for the annual budget hearing on Wednesday, May 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the Cohoes Middle School library to review the proposed $38.2 million budget that will be presented for a public vote on May 15. The board will also take up a limited business agenda. A copy of the agenda can be found here>>
A copy of the presentation can be viewed or downloaded here>>
Voter registration begins May 1
The public vote on the 2012-13 school budget and Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. Voter registration is required in the Cohoes City School District. If you are not registered with the school district or the county, you must do so prior to the vote. read more>>
Board adopts 2012-13 proposed budget at April 18 meeting
April 19, 2012 — On Tuesday, May 15, voters of the Cohoes City School District will go to the polls to decide on a $38,266,931 budget for the 2012-2013 school year. The proposed budget was adopted April 18 by the board of education. The plan increases spending by $57,925 -- or 0.15 percent -- over the current year. It includes a property tax levy of $13,731,979, a 2.68 percent increase that is within the state's new tax levy cap.
The board of education crafted the proposed budget after a series of public budget workshops at which several working drafts were shared with community members. Open discussion followed, as the board and district staff grappled with another year of eroding state and federal aid and rising fixed costs. A proposal to eliminate JV sports was restored in the final budget and new energy savings of $92,000 were identified. View April 18 budget presentation>>
April 12 Budget Workshop
The Board of Education Budget Workshop on April 12, 2012 included an update on state aid revenues and adjusted expense figures. The board of education will meet at their monthly business meeting for final budget deliberations, at which time they will approve the budget amount for 2012-13. A copy of the materials presented at the April 12 Budget Workshop is available here>>
Action Alert: Send a letter of support for district's request for state "bullet aid"
On March 23, 2012, Superintendent Robert Libby sent letters to Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari and Senator Neil Breslin requesting an additional $177,000 in state aid to help close a portion of the school district's budget gap, currently projected at $1.9 million. Known as "bullet aid," the discretionary funding, which is explained in this Times Union article, is intended to help school districts and libraries address budget shortfalls.
Send a letter of support for this request:
Sample letter to Assembly Majority Leader Canestrari>>
Sample letter to Senator Breslin>>
April 3 Budget Workshop
The Board of Education Budget Workshop on April 3, 2012 included an update on state aid revenues and adjusted expense figures. The meeting also included further discussion of sports participation levels and proposed restoration of some extracurriculars at the high school and middle school. The next meeting will take place on Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at Cohoes Middle School. A copy of the materials presented at the April 3 Budget Workshop is available here>>
March
28 Budget Workshop
The Board of Education Budget Workshop on March 28, 2012 included further discussion of proposed Tier 3 reductions being considered to help closed a school district budget gap of approximately $2.1 million. The meeting also included a detailed look at extracurriculars and sports. A copy of the materials presented at the March 28 Budget Workshop is available here>>
Next Budget Workshop set for March 28
The tentatively scheduled Board of Education Budget Workshop has been confirmed for Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cohoes Middle School library. A copy of the materials presented at the March 21 Budget Workshop is available here>>
A "Message of Necessity" from the Cohoes City School District
The Governor can use what's called a "Message of Necessity" to move important pieces of legislation. Faced with a $2.1 million budget gap, the Cohoes City School District has a Message of Necessity of its own. The following video has been posted to the school district's Facebook page. Please "like" our Facebook page and share the link to this video with everyone as we try to get the attention of our State Legislators and leaders before they finalize the State Budget!
March 14 Budget Workshop POSTPONED
The Board of Education Budget Workshop scheduled for tonight, March 14, 2012 has been postponed due to illness. The presentation will be included as part of regular Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Cohoes Middle School library located at 7 Bevan Street.
Board of Education budget workshops to continue on Wednesday, March 14
The
Cohoes City School District Board of Education will continue its
series of budget workshops on Wednesday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m. in
the Cohoes Middle School library. The workshop will include: a brief
review of budget development, an in-depth look at proposed staffing
and program gap-closing measures, and advocacy efforts at the state
level. The workshop will also include an open discussion of other
potential reductions or gap-closing adjustments.
Click here for a copy of materials from the March 7, 2012 Board of Education budget workshop>>
District continues discussion of $2.1 million budget gap at March 7 Budget Workshop
March 5, 2012 —Members of the public are invited to an open discussion of potential gap closure measures this week at a Cohoes Board of Education Budget Workshop. The workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cohoes Middle School library, located at 7 Bevan Street in the city. The district is continuing its series of workshops aimed at gathering public input in the 2012-13 budget development process. read more>>
2012-13 BUDGET WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:
| Date | Location | Issues for Discussion |
| Thursday, March 1, 2012 6:30 p.m. | Cohoes Middle School
- 3rd Fl. Conference Room 7 Bevan Street, Cohoes |
Instructional mandates and class size. |
| Wednesday, March 7, 2012 6:30 p.m. | Cohoes Middle School
- 3rd Fl. Conference Room 7 Bevan Street, Cohoes |
Review of potential reductions. |
| Wednesday,
March 14, 2012 6:30 p.m. POSTPONED UNTIL March 21, 2012 |
Cohoes Middle School
- CMS Library, 3rd Floor, 7 Bevan Street, Cohoes |
Review of potential reductions. |
| Wednesday, March 28, 2012 6:30 p.m. | Cohoes Middle School
- Library 7 Bevan Street, Cohoes |
Review of potential reductions. |
| Tuesday,
April 3, 2012 6:30 p.m. |
Cohoes Middle School
- Library 7 Bevan Street, Cohoes |
Topic deliberations. |
| Thursday, April 12, 2012 | Cohoes Middle School
- Library 7 Bevan Street, Cohoes |
Topic deliberations. |
Students and parents call for aid increase, funding equity in visits to State Capitol
More than 20 Cohoes students, parents, teachers and administrators turned citizen advocates this week as they took to the hallways of the State Capitol to call on state legislators to increase classroom aid to Cohoes and similar school districts in need. read more>>
ACTION ALERT: Demand a fair share of school aid from Albany!
The 2012-13 Cohoes City School District budget season is underway and the latest estimates show a potential budget gap of nearly $2.1 million for the coming school year. As a high-needs, low-wealth district, Cohoes relies heavily on aid it receives from Albany. Unfortunately, Albany has not kept its promise to adequately fund our schools. Your HELP is needed NOW to get our message to state leaders that education is at risk in Cohoes! Learn how>>
Understanding New York's Tax Levy Cap
When Cohoes voters head to the polls on May 15 to decide the 2012-13 school budget, they will cast votes for a budget plan shaped in part by a new law known to many as the Property Tax Cap. Approved by the State Legislature last June, this complex new law is intended to provide much needed property tax relief. While some provisions of the law and its impact remains unclear, the new law will change the way school budgets are decided. Learn more>>
2011-12 School Budget News and Information Archives
News and information related to the 2011-12 School Budget can be found by visiting the 2011-12 archives. 2011-12 Budget archives>>
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