Lisbon Central Proposes 3.74 Percent Tax Hike

LISBON - Lisbon Central School's board of education unveiled a 3.74 percent proposed tax increase in the district's preliminary 2010-2011 budget Wednesday evening.

The approximate $10.6 million dollar spending plan, according to Superintendent Erin E. Woods, was "difficult to say the least" to put together, because of the uncertainty of state aid cuts.

Estimated revenues on the proposed budget total about $6.5 million, which factors in the expected $333,377 state aid cut, leaving approximately $2.8 million to be raised in taxes.

"Typically during this time of the calendar year, we hear optimism about additional state aid," Mrs. Wood said. "This year, we're receiving word that the runs are coming in even worse than previously proposed."

Despite all the gloom and doom, according to Mrs. Woods, Lisbon Central is "relatively better off than other local districts" at this time.

The looming retirements of Janet Moore, a Title I reading instructor, and Diane Stromgren, a universal pre-kindergarten teacher, have helped the diostrict cut costs in the proposed budget.

By absorbing the two departures through attrition, Mrs. Woods said, the district will save over $65,000 in salaries within the 2010-2011 budget. Replacing the positions, the superintendent said, would raise the projected levy to 5.93 percent.

However, keeping the levy down will come at the expense of the programs that Lisbon has to offer. Developmental kindergarten will be lost, as well as the summer school program.

Mrs. Woods said that if additional monies do become available, developmental kindergarten would be a priority.

"DK has made a really positive impact on the long-term success of this targeted group of children. It will be a priority to maintain this program if at all possible," she said.

There is also a proposed loss of an elementary teaching position.

Balancing the tax levy while keeping a $1.2 million fund balance was a goal of the board in dealing with the budget, according to Mrs. Woods.

"It is always our goal to maintain the highest level of student services and nobody wants to see program cuts," she said. "This budget season is likely to be followed by several more difficult years."