The Webster Board of Education adopted a $139.7 million budget for 2010-11, making cuts in athletics, staff layoffs and increasing the tax levy nearly 4 percent.
The budget is a 1.1 percent increase from the 2009-10 budget.
Superintendent Adele Bovard explained the budget process was especially difficult this year, with a $4 million state aid decrease, caused by Gov. David Paterson’s deficit reduction plan.
The cut reflects an overall 9 percent reduction in state aid for the school’s budget. Subsequently, property taxes will be raised with the proposed plan. The levy — the amount of the budget funded by local property taxes — will rise 3.97 percent, bringing the total levy to more than $85 million.
Estimated tax rates for the town of Webster will increase 2.19 percent, also. Homeowners with a $150,000 home assessment will see a $72 per year increase in property taxes in order to support the proposed spending plan.
The school district will be using “reserves as revenue,” transferring $1.8 million from reserves.
“This is a comprehensive, ‘needs-based’ budget,” Bovard said. “This is a time where we have extraordinary financial situations. The decisions we make are not made lightly or without heart.”
Among the district’s schools, 18 full-time equivalent staffing positions will also be cut, as well as the gymnastics team.
Modified lacrosse and soccer teams also were reduced, with the schools having two teams rather than three.
As in other area schools, the BOCES alternative education program faced reduction. More than $850,000 would be saved in Webster’s budget by eliminating the program, and offering in-house alternative education instead.
A public budget hearing will be held Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m. in the Spry Middle School auditorium.
The district-wide budget vote will be Tuesday, May 18.
