Bath school district looking at 2.9 percent increase in tax levy
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER ADVOCATE

BATH - In the wake of Eliot Spitzer's sudden departure from the New York governor's office, state lawmakers appear unlikely to reach a consensus on the 2008-09 state budget by the April 1 deadline.

But Roger Parulsky, business manager for the Bath school district, doesn't have the luxury of a late budget for the 2008-09 academic year. Parulsky has prepared a tentative budget of $30.4 million for Bath school board members to review, estimating the district will receive $21 million in state aid, a 7.2 percent increase over last year's state support.

The budget plan calls for a 2.95 percent increase in the general tax levy.

School budget planners across the state have been forced to calculate state aid - a major source of revenue - in the fog of Albany's troubled politics and economics. Not only did Spitzer's resignation earlier this month throw the budget process into confusion, the state's financial picture is cloudy under the impact of a deteriorating economy.

The State Budget Division this month forecast a $1.2 billion decline in state tax revenues after predicting a $986 million decline in February. "That could get worse next month," Parulsky said in an interview with The Courier last week, adding the state's uncertain financial picture makes calculating state education aid especially difficult. "I'm going by the seat of my pants," Parulsky said, noting his current state aid figure is based on preliminary data supplied by the governor's office when Spitzer ws still governor.

Equalization rates, used in determining the real market value of each town within a school district's boundaries, are another uncertainty. The state will not set those rates until late summer, at which point definitive school tax rates can be determined.

Parulsky declined to release his own estimates of those rates, saying he wanted to review them with school board members next week.

The tentative $30.4 million budget is 4.4 percent higher than last year's $29.1 million budget. Parulsky said contractural salaries, a major portion of the budget, are slated to rise by 8.9 percent. The district's health insurance, which it purchases through a self-funded group, is expected to rise by 5 percent.

Parulsky also noted four veteran teachers are expected to retire, The district, he said, plans to replace only two, at entry level salaries.