JAMESTOWN – As first reported Wednesday, the Jamestown School board has approved a $75,350,000 budget for next school year that includes no increase to the district tax levy and calls for no layoffs of current teachers. However, the budget does include cutting some positions, although all are or will become vacated through attrition. In addition, the district is holding off on some much-needed material and equipment purchases in order to keep spending down for next year.
Jamestown School Board President Joe DiMaio said that while the board was not forced to go with any more layoffs in the district, he also said he was disappointed that yet again, the district is not able to add any new hires.
“We’re not cutting anybody that’s got a job or people that aren’t retiring, but it would be really nice to fill those jobs (being removed through attrition). I keep thinking of the people that stay on the bottom of the list. It would be nice for them to look at one time and say, ‘Finally I’ve got somebody under me.’ But Like I said, we’ll deal with what we have to deal with.”
DiMaio also said that because this budget does not include an increase to the tax levy, he’s not anticipating a huge turnout during the public hearing on the budget next month….
“That’s been the typical thing but I certainly would encourage people to come that have questions. We’d love to see people but I think it’s a lot of the old adage where unless it’s affecting them there probably not (as concerned). On a positive note I think they would look at that and they say that we’ve done the job that they’ve asked us to do.”
In addition to discussing the 2013-2014 spending plan, the public hearing will also include details on an upcoming referendum for the district to lease to own several new student transportation vehicles, at a cost not to exceed $795,000.
A public hearing on the budget will be May 14 at Persell School and the vote will be May 21.
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