OV board OKs $11.1M budget
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Published: January 9, 2009
The Otter Valley Union High School Board adopted an $11,101,261 school budget for next year, complete with fewer course offerings in French and technology education and more than four full-time staff cuts.
The budget was reduced by $280,111, courtesy of staff reductions, program cuts and freezes in stipends for teachers and coaches, resulting in the overall budget figure being 1 percent more than last year's spending plan.
Under the plan, the homestead tax rate is an estimated $1.23 per $100 of property value — one penny below last year's rate.
Among the towns that send their children to the 615-student union school, Brandon residents will be taxed at an estimated 65 cent rate, Goshen residents will be taxed at a rate of 71 cents and residents of Leicester will be obligated to pay based on a rate of 76 cents on the dollar, based on statewide tax rate projections recently issued by state Tax Commissioner Tom Pelham. Pittsford residents will be taxed at a rate of 62 cents, Sudbury at a rate of 64 cents and Whiting at 55 cents.
Students in grades 7 through 12 will be offered two technology education courses next year as opposed to five this year and three French courses as opposed to five.
Major reductions in staff include the elimination of an English teaching position, a high school technology education teacher will be eliminated and a career development teacher will work part-time, as will the school's French instructor.
The budget will be put on the ballot for a public vote March 3.
— Staff reports
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