Only hours after reports tied Governor Eliot Spitzer to a prostitution ring, Mohonasen officials held their final meeting of a public budget workshop to review the 2008-2009 proposed school budget on Monday, March 10.
The workshop was followed by a presentation by Assemblyman George Amedore, R-Amsterdam, to the school board discussing the proposed state budget.
While more than 30 volunteers and school officials discussed revenues and state aid in relation to the proposed $42 million budget, a pallor was cast over the proceedings by the uncertainty of the governor’s future. More specifically, officials were concerned about the future of the governor’s proposed education funding which would send approximately $19 million in total aid to the district.
I’m a little nervous at this time after today’s events, said Denise Swezey, assistant superintendent for business, `I don’t know where anything is going to take us.`
Swezey and the budget review committee have been working on the proposed budget since January.
Still, Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Spring said the district’s vote will move forward.
`We’ll have our vote,` said Dr. Spring. `And we’ll take a leap of faith.`
Dr. Spring called it a `historic day` and said that like many New Yorkers she was uncertain about the future of the state’s leadership and that she was concerned that the fallout from the Spitzer scandal could affect the state’s already arduous budget process.
`I would simply hope that what he’s already proposed remains stable,` she said.
The Board of Education expects to adopt the budget on April 21, which will then go before district voters on Tuesday, May 20.
Amedore sounds off
Amedore said Sate House and Senate will continue to work for the people to make sure the budget gets passed on time and to ensure educational opportunities for children in the Mohonasen school district in his presentation to the school board.
Unlike Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco, R-Schenectady, who called for Spitzer’s resignation on Monday, Amedore was less clear about what he thought the governor’s course of action should be.
`This is not about partisan politics,` said Amedore. `Our elected leader has fallen.`
Amedore, like many state leaders also reached out to the Spitzer family.
`I’m saddened greatly and feel for his family ` his three daughters and wife,` he said. `But the work for the people of New York will continue.`
Though Amedore had to leave the board meeting earlier than expected due to the day’s circumstances, his talk highlighted several items on the agenda of state Republicans including the possibility of a property tax cap, putting an end to `out of control spending` and restoring funds to the BOCES program, which were cut by Spitzer in his proposed budget.
`The BOCES programs are very successful because they teach kids to work with their hands, not only with a computer,` said Amedore.
Amedore’s discussion of a property tax cap raised some questions from board members.
Board member Nancy del Prado said she was concerned that an influx of unfunded mandates at the state level would lead to the elimination of certain school programs if a property tax cap were put in place.
School districts receive funding through property taxes.
She was also concerned that property taxes take the assessment of a person’s property into account but does not factor in a person’s wealth.
In response, Amedore said reimbursement programs were available for some unfunded mandates. He also said that wealth is taken into account indirectly through income taxes.
`The state aid you see is related to the amount of income tax paid,` he said.
Amedore said it was important for him to be at Mohonasen in light of the day’s events.
`Public school is an important part of the community and brings a lot of success for young people,` he said. `We need to make sure New York State gets the best return on its investment.“
