JPS Board Approves Budget Proposal
April 7, 2010
It is what it is. Jamestown Public Schools Board of Education members had little else to say before voting on a 2010-2011 budget Tuesday — with the five-word comment coming from Joseph DiMaio. The $76.6 million budget was approved in a 6-1 vote during an evening meeting at Jefferson Middle School. Thomas Pope cast the lone dissenting vote. The budget will go to the public May 18. Though $697,435 less than the current year’s budget, the 2010-2011 budget features a 5 percent local tax increase — equaling 85 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The $697,435 figure represents a .48 percent decrease from the 2009-2010 budget. Explaining the district’s budget situation, Daniel “Deke” Kathman, superintendent of schools, said the problem is one of decreased revenues — largely from loss of state funding.
No sir, it’s a loss of one time extra state funding, you as an educator are smarter than that and ought to quit playing word games and hoodwinking the taxpayers! At 76.6Million you’re spending 4.5Million more than 2 years ago, 12.2Million more than 3 years ago, and 18Million more than 5 years ago!
Well isn’t that great, still a tax hike, BUT the budget is $697k lower than last year. Sorry but that is nothing to gloat about. We repeat, over the past couple years you have received Millions in additional Fed and State Aid, for example 06-07 Fed aid UP $2.2M, 07-08 State aid UP $8.6M, and what have you done with it?
Oh the payroll, 08-09 total payroll went up approx $10M, yes 10 Million $. Now you’re whining and can’t do better, well ain’t that a shame. We’ve reviewed the payroll and although Kathman is working for less than Faschano was, Kathman still got a raise from his previous position, and everyone else has gotten raises too. Spending overall has gone up year after year and over the short term as described below, by huge percentages, and they come up with 1/2% decrease. Maybe you all need to forego any raises in pay or benefits, maybe even give some back, and definately you need to get the 100′s of people you’ve added to the payroll, off the payroll. If your people are doing their jobs and working so hard, you should not need all these extra aids and subs.
Enough’s enough, if JPS can’t do what it has to do to come up with a no tax increase budget, then the Voters should join the lone dissenter Mr Pope (and our praise to you sir) and vote down this budget, and as importantly, vote out everyone except Mr Pope!
