Hammondsport school taxes to rise slightly
By MARY PERHAM THE LEADER

HAMMONDSPORT - More state aid means residents in the Hammondsport school district will barely notice a tax increase next year.

The district board recently adopted a $12 million budget for 2008-09, a $500,000 increase compared to the current budget of $11.5 million. The impact on the tax levy amounts to a 0.24 percent rise.

Low state aid has plagued the district for years, despite the school's high percentage of free and reduced lunches.

The district typically receives less aid than other schools in the area because a high number of vacation homes add a wealth factor to the aid formula.

District Superintendent Christopher Brown has battled the disparity for years, with the district joining the lobbying efforts of schools on Long Island.

"We kind of latched onto them," Brown said. "And got a new aid code."

An additional $90,000 from the state raised total state aid for next year to roughly $3.7 million, Brown said. Last year's aid was near $3.5 million, he said.

"Now, $72,000 is the equivalent of a percent," Brown said. "So that's more than 1 percent off the taxpayers."

Brown said staff will be reduced by seven positions because of retirements.

Budget restraints from other years are also keeping expenditures down to a minimum, he said.

"It's the adjusting-to-scale plan we've had for several years," Brown said. "Maximizing retirements and maximizing class sizes."

Brown said the district will also purchase three new buses, without expense to the taxpayers. The buses will be paid for out of reserves and state aid, he said.

Brown will step down at the end of the school year to take a similar position in the Syracuse area.

Hammondsport Elementary Principal Kyle Bower, who will become the school's new superintendent July 1, has been closely involved with developing this year's budget, according to Brown.