Published: November 25, 2009 12:00 am      

CCS to start budget planning

By MICHELLE MILLER
Staff Writer

It’s that time of year again, time for school districts to start thinking about planning for the 2010-11 school year budget. However, administrators are waiting to hear about the governor’s proposed mid-year reductions in state aid before getting too far into the budget planning process.

Whatever happens this school year will have a big impact on budget planning, says Cooperstown Central School Business and Building Administrator Amy Kukenberger.

The governor has proposed a mid-year reduction in current state aid for all school districts in the state and no decision on whether or not the cuts will take place has been finalized.

Kukenberger says CCS has a plan on how to handle the estimated $398,875 reduction the district will see if the plan is enacted. CCS is in limbo with the state so we have asked the principals and department heads to look at areas we can cut on spending if need be, says Kukenberger.

Currently the district is ``just beginning’’ to start planning for 2010-11, according to Kukenberger. We have to handle the possible reduction before knowing what to expect in the future, she said.

``The sooner Albany makes a decision the better off we all will be because this limbo is untenable,’’ said Superintendent Mary Jo McPhail during last week’s board of education meeting.

CCS Board of Education Vice President Mary Leonard says she is optimistic the Governor’s proposal will not go through, but says the district must plan for the worst.

``Albany is taking a very long time and we have to be ready for some very dramatic cuts,’’ she says.

Leonard says board members will not be making any rash decisions about the 2010-11 budget without getting public input. She says the board of education will hold a series of forums so community members can come share their concerns and express their priorities to where their tax dollars are being spent. Rather than giving presentations we will be there to listen, says Leonard. We will have materials there to help answer questions, but we are hoping community members will come with their own thoughts and ideas, she added.

According to Leonard, the board plans to host these ``You Have Our Ear’’ informal public meetings bimonthly. The first will be held at 7 p.m. in the middle/ high school cafeteria on Wednesday, Dec. 2. The following meetings will be advertised on the district’s website, cooperstowncs.org, and in the local papers, Leonard says.

Leonard says the board has hosted budget forums in the past with success. She says a fair number of people showed up to express their feelings. Some of the most important areas members of the public have been interested in protecting in past years include maintaining the athletic programs and keeping class sizes where they are currently, especially at the elementary level, according to Leonard.

The ultimate goal is to get people’s suggestions, says Leonard. We want to make sure board members are available to the public and that members of the community are comfortable talking to us.