Newfield board of education tackles budget

The Newfield Central School District (CSD) Board of Education convened on April 11 to discuss numerous topics, including the preliminary budget. New York school districts have a mandated timeline for budget development and voter approval.

The absence of a state budget has placed Newfield CSD in a state of uncertainty regarding future financial planning. According to Perry Gorgen, the district’s business administrator, there are critical deadlines to be met concerning state reports, public notifications and the dissemination of information to voters.

By April 26, the district must dispatch military ballots, necessitating board approval of the final budget figures, remaining unaltered until the May 21 vote. State budget allocations, constituting a substantial portion of the district’s income, have yet to be determined, complicating the budgeting process.

“The state budget is a crucial part of setting these numbers because we have to present a balanced budget, meaning our planned expenditures can’t exceed our planned revenues,” said Gorgen. “Since state aid is a big part of every district’s revenue, not knowing what state aid you’re going to get is an issue.”

According to Gorgen, state aid comprises roughly two-thirds of Newfield’s revenue. The current discrepancy between the governor’s and the state legislature’s proposals for Foundation Aid, amounting to a $460,000 gap, poses a significant challenge for accurate budget forecasting.

“If the two proposals were very close, then districts could make a reasonable estimate even if the exact number was delayed,” said Gorgen. “But when it’s this far apart, it’s very hard to say where in the middle it will land.”

According to Gorgen, if the state budget is not released in time to meet the school’s fiscal deadlines, the district will be compelled to make conservative estimates regarding state aid. Such caution is necessary because the ramifications of overestimating and falling short in delivery could be severe and untenable.

“In our case, we would use the governor’s proposal as the estimate,” said Gorgen.

In other business, Newfield Public Library took the opportunity at the BOE meeting to present an increase in the funding they receive from taxpayers. While library funding is separate from school taxes, both are collected on the same tax bill.

The library’s mission includes offering a broad array of materials and services to fulfill the community’s informational and recreational requirements. Among other services, the library provides an afterschool program for middle schoolers, hosts a monthly meal at the food pantry, runs a summer reading initiative and collaborates with the Learning Academy.

Library Director Sue Chaffee said that Newfield Public Library received $155,350 in revenue and an additional $22,000 in grants. The town of Newfield contributes $25,000 annually, while the Newfield school tax accounts for $76,000. Furthermore, Tompkins County allocated $38,655 to the library in 2023.

“The funding that comes through school taxes and the town of Newfield is static; it doesn’t change. That’s what we get every year,” said Chaffee. “Tompkins County gives us a 2% increase each year, but that doesn’t cover the cost-of-living raise for our staff.”

The library seeks a $5,000 increase from $76,000 to $81,000, which is a 6.17% increase. According to Chafee, at the 2023 tax rate of $0.180116 per $1,000 of assessed value, the increase will be approximately $0.011 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Chafee noted that the proposed increase would result in $1.10 per year for a property valued at $100,000 and $3.30 for one valued at $300,000. The tax rate for 2024 is expected to be marginally lower, although property assessments may be higher. Individual tax impacts will, therefore, differ.

The requested funding boost is intended to facilitate health insurance reimbursement for the library director, addressing a persistent challenge in attracting and maintaining full-time staff. Approval of the measure would enable the library to consistently compensate the director for health insurance expenses going forward.

While the Board of Education does not have the authority to sanction the proposed tax increase, they can endorse and advocate for public approval of the additional funding for the library’s budget.

“The library has a big impact on the community,” said Board of Education President Christina Ward.

Newfield Notes appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Newfield CSD Board of Education meeting

The BOE will meet to discuss the budget on Wednesday, April 24, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Weaver Conference Room on the 2nd floor of the elementary school. 

Newfield Public Library movie night

The library will host a free movie night featuring the animated film “Migration” on April 19 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Popcorn will be provided.

Johnson Museum field trip

Join the library at the Johnson Museum of Arts on April 20 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. to explore Guadalupe Maravilla’s work in the show “Armonía de la Esfera (Harmony of the Sphere).” 

Participants are requested to bring a bag of small found objects to use in creating their own sculptures.

Registration is required. Sign up at https://forms.gle/pRdmNsrJKpNDEKUZ8.