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Post by gopybl on Apr 4, 2006 5:52:10 GMT -5
Did anyone attend last night's meeting? If so, can you please provide an update? I was unable to attend last night because of our Board Meeting.....Any insight you could share would be appreciative.
It's about the kid's, It's about Change, It's about time.... Breathe New life into this Board....Give it C_P_R_
Joey A
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Post by thewildrover on Apr 4, 2006 8:38:27 GMT -5
In a nutshell, (thats all I have time for)
10.32%
Reductions from Draft II:Summer School-$62K Technology-$112K BOE Training-$2.5K Comm. Newsletter-$3K Early Buses-$1.5K Monitors-$15K Renegotiated copier lease-$33K
Total cuts from Draft II- $229,405K
Additions to Draft II Elementary Drama Advisor's (3)-$6.4K Assistant Elementary Drama Advisor's (3)-$4K Student Council Co-Advisor (3)- $4K
Total Additions to Draft II: $14,452
Presuto and Raymond (of C-P-R fame) asked for clarification on specific line items and asked some hard questions and got some hard answers back.
A flyer was given out explaining the components of the estimated $738 tax increase and its impact on the average homeowner :
$738 - $119 additional State Aid - $139 Fund Balance Contribution of $1,000,000 =$480 Est. tax Increase on a average home assessed at $422K
The equivalent of $40 a month or $1.32 a day.
A lively and respectful discussion followed with the community (well attended, about 120 or so) voicing their concerns and the Board and Dr. Richman being receptive to hearing the parents pleas. (As opposed to last time when they got a spanking). No real decisions were made by the BOE at this time and they agreed to "digest" the answers to some of their questions, as well as, reflect on the communities input and pick up the discussion at tonights workshop.
It's about the kid's, It's about change, It's about time....
AND its about working together towards a common goal.
Cantatore Presuto Raymond
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Post by gopybl on Apr 4, 2006 10:22:53 GMT -5
Wild- Thanks for the synopsis. This is great progress for the future of Plainedge. I would be curious to know how much of that $40 / month are controlable costs. I am sure that the dollar amount that we are actually approving is significantly less than that. I am trying to get as many of my friends and neighbors to go to tonight and tomorrow night's budget meeting.
Let's speak up and have our voices heard.
It's about the kid's, It's about Change, It's about time.... Breathe New life into this Board....Give it C_P_R_
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Post by gopybl on Apr 5, 2006 6:09:18 GMT -5
I just wanted to share with you some interesting items brought to light at last night's budget workshop.
1) The BOE is continuing to utilize $1,000,000 dollars of our Fund Balance from last year’s budget to offset the tax increases to our community.
2) We have received additional state aid from Albany amounting to $953,887
3) Each tax payer will be sent a $300 STAR tax relief check directly to there home
4) Several MS Sports are still part of the proposed budget.
5) Estimated Tax Impact to the Community per average household
Factors outside of Plainedge’s Control $536 / year
General Operating Costs $176 / Year
Restoration of Programs 05/06 Budget $167 / Year
Estimated Impact of Fund Balance Contribution ($139 / Year)
Estimated Impact of Additional State Aid ($119 / Year)
STAR Refund Check paid directly to taxpayer ($300 / Year)
Estimated Average Tax Increase per Household $322 / Year
The estimated Average Tax increase of $322 / year is the equivalent of
1) $26.79 / Month
2) $0.88 / Day
SENIOR CITIZENS WILL BE RECEIVING AN ADDITIONAL STAR REFUND CHECK FROM THE ENHANCED STAR PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $228/ YEAR. This means that the Senior Citizens will only have to pay $94.00 more per year to pass this budget.
Final Meeting Date
April 5th , 2006 7 pm Board Room Budget Meeting
There are still a couple of items which are open for discussion. 1) Varsity Track & Field, 2) All Clubs in the district.
If any of you have children that participate in these programs and do not want these programs cut….I would recommend that you come to tomorrow nights meeting.
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Thanks so much. I think we can all say that most of us can invest a $0.88 / day (Seniors = $0.62 / day) to ensure the Plainedge Community Thrives. I think our community is worth $0.88 / day to ensure that our school district and property values stay at the levels we are accustomed to. Let me know your thoughts.
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Post by patriot2415 on Apr 5, 2006 8:03:04 GMT -5
GO, great post. Just want to clarify something. All your figures are correct BUT they are not final until tonight. Depending on the outcome of Track and Field and clubs the amounts could change. Not drastically, but they can change.
I also want to add that being involved in the entire process this year and seeing what costs are mandatory, seeing the thought process behind the academic and extracurricular activities, I believe the budget that will be presented in a fair budget for everyone. I as well are everyone in the room the past 2 nights want to bring everything back, but the reality is we cannot. It is financially impossible. I just hope everyone understands this.
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Post by thewildrover on Apr 5, 2006 9:29:48 GMT -5
Outstanding reporting Gopybl!!
I fully concur with both posts.
The real hard work for us in the community comes after the final budget is adopted ........to get this budget passed and to remind everyone:
DON'T HURT THE KIDS.....VOTE YES!!!! MAY 16TH
Working together towards a common goal.
Cantatore Presuto Raymond
Breathing new life into Plainedge!!!!!
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Post by justfacts on Apr 5, 2006 9:35:41 GMT -5
A few thoughts from one of those who pay the School Tax Bill.
The meetings about any Budget should be focused on what the costs to do a job were last year and the impact of cost increases to do the same job this year. [/i]
On top of that, it would be nice if the Budget discussions then focused on what it would cost in the coming year to do a better job - i.e.; what it would cost to increase the service provided. To improve and/or invest in the future.
However, School Districts, not just Plainedge alone, have adjusted their style of Budget presentation to present an initial inflated estimate of what is wanted (not necessarily needed) for the coming year - and then present a "Sales Pitch" threat of what would be drastically "cut" from the children if that "wish list" is not complied with.
One needs to look only at the Third budget presentation by the Plainedge School District this year to verify that sales presentation technique. The entire first page deals with "Cuts & Restorations" from two prior wish list presentations of the budget. At least the following pages give, by Code number breakdown, the actual cost increases from the prior year of the coming year's budget.
However, it's unfortunate that very few words, if any, are used to tell us if that same level, or an improved level of service is provided by those cost increases.
Instead we are presented with more "analysis" of the bottom line costs in a "Sales pitch" manner, telling us just how little the cost increases are on a per day basis! That is troubling to me.
For I cannot "buy" these services on a per day basis! I must present to the Town Collector of taxes a check for - not just the increase - but for the whole amount of the tax bill. And I have no opportunity to opt out certain days that I can choose not to pay this several thousand dollar bill!
It's all or nothing - and not just the amount of the increase! (Wouldn't that be nice if that were that so!)[/i]
So this particular sales line, getting to be used so often, is shallow and false in its logic! It deserves to be put to rest - or used solely on ignorant persons who don't pay tax bills.
I'll make a deal with anyone that tries to "pitch me" about the School District Budget costs - I'll put the 88 cents a day in my mailbox each and every day for you - if you'll pay my total school tax bill! I'll even put a little something extra, like 88 cents more, in the box for you for your trouble of picking up the daily cost of the increase.
I know that most who promulgate the story that "It only costs $x per day for the increase" are well intended to achieve their objective of shilling for the passage of a Budget at a certain level of cost. They are trying to sell a position established by others because of their ferverent beliefs. A noble cause.
But some of us do have the experience of many years to guide us. We don't go into a grocery store and buy a loaf of bread because its only 1/2 a cent a slice - nor do we buy a car because its only 1/2 a buck a day. We have to commit ourselves for the total price of the car and its tax burden, before we can drive it off the showroom floor.
When it comes to Budget decisions we also realize that we have to give the Town a check for several thousand dollars and that check is growing, and growing by several hundreds of dollars each and every year. We are trying to balance those costs against our ability to pay them. If we don't do this job well - we will loose our home!
So please, in your enthusiasm to pitch a closing sales line - please find a better one than 88 cents a day for the just the increase! There has been such fine work done this year by some many in the District that they shouldn't leave themselves in a position to be easily dismissed by using such a weak sales pitch.
A closing line saying that this is a budget hammered and honed to its optimum by the community and the BOE, not a budget of the Administration as in years past, would buy a lot more YES votes than just its cost number alone.
A BOE Budget, worked on and responded to by listening to the community, carries much more trust and confidence to the average voter, and will be weighed more heavily by that factor than by a weak salesman's pitch.
Say that each line item has been questioned in the eyes of the community and each BOE member harried the cost info presented until they were satisfied. That has much more power in getting a YES vote than the passive acceptances of the past of the Administrator's budget.
Say YOU stand behind this budget - and I'll most likely vote for it.
Thanks.
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Post by thewildrover on Apr 5, 2006 11:25:44 GMT -5
Facts,
I hear you loud and clear, your points are more than valid.
I can tell you what I have observed throughout this whole budget process first hand:
I have seen the dynamics at the board meetings drastically change.
I have seen and heard Frank Presuto and Ralph Raymond ask very tough questions to the administration asking for line by line explanations of expenditures they thought were not accurate. I heard them demand answers. I saw them argue vehemently their positions. You would have been proud.
I have seen the community out in force, especially the last 2 nights, 120 people at least, asking, pleading demanding and I was surprisingly satisfied, based on the discussion evoked amongst board members, on how the BOE responded to those pleas. I truly believed that the community being present in such #'s,and the pressure that put on the BOE forced them to reflect on the decisions they were making much more than in past years when there were only the same 20 people in the room, and those people were held in contempt for most part. (I'm sure you can relate).
I saw the the budget process play out whereby the community presence and the P and the R of CPR together forced the thought process of cutting where the least amount of pain would be felt by the least amount of children. Some very painful and personal arguments were presented by all sides.
I can say I saw the BOE, under great pressure from many sources, make a honest effort to present a fair and reasonable budget to this community.
I can't say that "every BOE member harried the cost info presented until they were satisfied".
I can say that most did, under the pressure provided by the community and the P and the R.
I was part of the process, I gave input at every meeting attended, I was proud of the others that did. I asked, and demanded and pleaded.
And I truly believe that many, many clubs, programs and sports were saved from the knife due to the participation of all the other parents and residents that attended, that also spoke and demanded and pleaded. They were part of the process.....120 strong the last 2 nights, when it was time to put the pedal to the metal, this community responded.....................i can honestly say the BOE, thanks to Frank and Ralph,.. did to.
Based on all of that...........I stand behind this budget!
For all the rest that needs to be changed, we can wait till we get CPR and breathe new life into Plainedge.
For now, this is the battle cry:
DON'T HURT THE KIDS.....VOTE YES!!!! MAY 16TH
Working together towards a common goal.
Cantatore Presuto Raymond
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Post by patriot2415 on Apr 5, 2006 11:34:21 GMT -5
Just, do you attend the meetings? If so read no further.
If you do not, how do you know what we speak about there. How do you know what the people in that room are feeling? Do you understand that everything is NOT DOLLARS. It's a give and take, and we are trying to do the best for the kids. Don't sit home, write your posts and belittle what we say and the passion we have.
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Post by justfacts on Apr 5, 2006 13:41:08 GMT -5
Thewildrover ~ Good Post!You show that the present budget is a joint effort of the community and the community responsive members of the BOE. No longer is it a "hold-up note" from the Administration saying "Give me this money or else I'll punish your kids!" BUT - A word of caution - There is no need to optimize this budget down to the last Dollar! We know that with the changes which will continue that School Budgets, now and in the future, will be reflective of the needs of the children and the community's ability to pay for these needs. There will be financial controls. YES! -you must leave a little room in this budget! Leave a little"fat" Yes. that's right!, let there be a little "extra" and I'll still vote YES for it!Why?I know the new "Breath of New Life" BOE will need some extra money to close out a line item that is, as yet, unmentioned. What is that line item?
The buy out of a certain contract for services - thus ending the reign of his Imperial Machiavellian Highness - JR.It's worth the few extra bucks in the Budget to me to know that those dollars will buy peace in this District and a return of focus to budgets that benefit the children! So don't use as sharp a pencil as is available to pare down the Budget - leave room for the buy-out deal! I'll still vote YES![/i] Breathe new life into the BOE! C_P_R it! ;D The winning team ~ Cantatore_Persuto_Raymond! ;D Make sure the children get their fair share - First! Ed. P.S. Patriot - Still taking pot-shots at each other? I thought we're each in this venture together - each in our own way. For a few years I walked the path you're now walking, stumbled, got up and felt the hurts you now feel. Along the way I gave up our time together with my now deceased wife to attend meetings - and special meetings. So I know many, many feelings very well. The path I've now chosen to walk is more productive of what I have to offer and am capable of doing. Let me walk it without dodging pot-shots from a friend. Ed.
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Post by gopybl on Apr 5, 2006 16:16:26 GMT -5
Wild - I'm right there with ya baby.
Patriot - Thanks for having my back.
Facts - I consider you to be an absolute genius with the numbers. Not everyone is at your level of expertise with these budgetary numbers. That is why I break them down as such. I also wanted to point out that with the Seniors of the neighborhood, they will also be getting an ENCHANTED STAR REFUND check which will bring your daily cost for the budgetary increase to around $0.25 / day. I am sure you donated more than that last year to Save Our Sports.
I also have attended these meetings and have voiced some of my own concerns and ask my own questions. I also am supporting this budget 100% and I am glad you are with us in agreement. I also agree with your theory regarding the fat in the budget. Thanks again and pass the word to VOTE YES on May 16th.
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Post by patriot2415 on Apr 6, 2006 5:43:28 GMT -5
ED, I don't take pot shots. I just speak my mind. There is a different atmosphere this year in the district and at the BOE/budget meetings. This community is unified, this community has one goal in mind and that is to get this budget passed. Saying that I will defend to my last breath the people in this community. The people who I have come to know, the friendships that have developed, the TEAM that has evolved. I agree with GO, you are the FACTS man, but sometimes facts aren't the whole picture. There is that little element called the human heart that comes into play. You may have been at past meetings, but I believe you have never seen the shear desire that I have seen over the past 10 months from the PPAC, the PTRA, our children, the community at large and yes this BOE. I am thrilled that you have joined us in the crusade. We make a formidable team standing behind this budget. We are in the 11th hour, and now more then ever over the past 10 months, this community needs to come together, to shout at the top of the mountain...... THIS BUDGET CANNOT FAIL !
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Post by devilsrus on Apr 6, 2006 7:41:53 GMT -5
I'd like to thank the BOE for all the blood sweat and tears that they have poured into this year's budget. I'd also like to congratulate the community for such a large turnout and realistic attitude about the situation in our district. This was the people and their representatives working thru tough choices and hard certainities. The BOE responded to the community with a fair and reasonable budget. Everyone lost something but no one lost everything. There is still full day kindergarten, there is still a music teacher. There are still some middle school sports. This is the first year of what will probably be a three year process. The BOE will still be well served with CPR. But it is becoming clear that the beginnings of a vision of what the future of the District will look like are forming. There is the beginning of planning for the future. The discussions should continue regarding what sports we should pursue and what we no longer can afford. Of what clubs actually flesh out a college application and those that are for show only. These are the discussions for after the current budget is passed. Just Facts was looking for a partneship of the BOE and the community. In the last three nights that spirit of cooperation was evident for all to see We all pay taxes. We all have to allocate our budgets to that which we need as oppossed to that which we want. We need strong schools to produce strong people in an increasingly competitive global economy. And we need the conscience of Just Facts and the passion of the Rover and the Patriot. The time to come together is now. This budget must pass. It must pass for every elementary student, every middle school student and every high school freshman. It must pass for the future of the district and for the future of everyhome in the district. It is not only an investment in the "now" it is an investment in the future.
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Post by patriot2415 on Apr 6, 2006 8:44:33 GMT -5
devilsrus, excellent post.. nothing more to say !!!!
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Post by justfacts on Apr 6, 2006 10:04:30 GMT -5
Some vote with their heart, Some vote with their head, Let's hope that many more vote with both!
Then on to the real task at hand - Away from this temporary insanity and the divisionary methods used by one person to control this District - and on to a better future where all of Plainedge is fervently active in ensuring a better education for our children!
As "devilsrus" indicated, the children of Plainedge can be better served if we prepare them to live in their upcoming more competitive world. Their future for employment is much tougher than ours has been.
Let's work together for the next few years as hard as we did on the budget process, to give them the best education that's available! Even better than the best! Let's set a new standard for others to follow!
We can do it. I'm willing - are you?
Ed.
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