UPDATE.
The
Office of the State Comptroller reviewed the Cortland School District’s
proposed 2015-16 budget and published a review on April 15, 2015. http://www.cortlandschools.org/tfiles/folder766/Cortland%20City%20SD_BR.pdf
Cortland
School District responded on May 13, 2015. http://www.cortlandschools.org/tfiles/folder766/OSC%20Response%20Web.pdf
In
reference to the above, the Cortland Contrarian has obtained email
correspondence between Mr. H. Todd Eames, Chief Examiner, Office of the State
Comptroller, and Cortland School Board Member Donald Colongeli. Mr. Eames’ May
13 email is self-explanatory.
Mr.
Colongeli:
Thank you for your email expressing your concerns and frustrations with your School Board and Administration's reaction to our recently completed review of the Cortland City School District's 2015-16 budget. Based on the information posted on the District's website, it appears the total estimated use of reserves was reduced by $500,000 and substituted with an increase in non-real property tax revenues. Otherwise, the appropriations remain the same at $49,576,887; the same amount we reported in our letter that was likely overestimated by $3.2 million.
We perform services such as budget reviews in order to, in part, provide independent insight, for both the District officials and its taxpayers, into the financial operations of local governments and school districts. We have no authority to compel any changes in district operations. The final decisions regarding the budget estimates presented to the public will always ultimately rest with the elected and appointed officials. It is unfortunate that your district officials choose to go forward with appropriations that are overestimated by an amount that is nearly 19% of your district's planned real property tax levy. Ill-prepared budget estimates only serve to diminish the effectiveness of the District's budget as a tool to aid in the management of District finances, and as a transparent view into the District's finances. Our office will continue to monitor the financial results of your District.
Again, I appreciate your concerns presented. Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Sincerely,
Todd
H. Todd Eames, Chief Examiner
Office of the State Comptroller
Binghamton Regional Office
44 Hawley Street - Rm 1702
Binghamton, NY 13901-4417
ph. 607-721-8306
fax. 607-721-8313
Thank you for your email expressing your concerns and frustrations with your School Board and Administration's reaction to our recently completed review of the Cortland City School District's 2015-16 budget. Based on the information posted on the District's website, it appears the total estimated use of reserves was reduced by $500,000 and substituted with an increase in non-real property tax revenues. Otherwise, the appropriations remain the same at $49,576,887; the same amount we reported in our letter that was likely overestimated by $3.2 million.
We perform services such as budget reviews in order to, in part, provide independent insight, for both the District officials and its taxpayers, into the financial operations of local governments and school districts. We have no authority to compel any changes in district operations. The final decisions regarding the budget estimates presented to the public will always ultimately rest with the elected and appointed officials. It is unfortunate that your district officials choose to go forward with appropriations that are overestimated by an amount that is nearly 19% of your district's planned real property tax levy. Ill-prepared budget estimates only serve to diminish the effectiveness of the District's budget as a tool to aid in the management of District finances, and as a transparent view into the District's finances. Our office will continue to monitor the financial results of your District.
Again, I appreciate your concerns presented. Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Sincerely,
Todd
H. Todd Eames, Chief Examiner
Office of the State Comptroller
Binghamton Regional Office
44 Hawley Street - Rm 1702
Binghamton, NY 13901-4417
ph. 607-721-8306
fax. 607-721-8313
CC
notes Mr. Todd’s targeted comments:
1."Based
on the information posted on the District's website, it appears the total
estimated use of reserves was reduced by $500,000 and substituted with an
increase in non-real property tax revenues. Otherwise, the appropriations
remain the same at $49,576,887; the same amount we reported in our letter that
was likely overestimated by $3.2 million."
2. "It
is unfortunate that your district officials choose to go forward with
appropriations that are overestimated by an amount that is nearly 19% of your
district's planned real property tax levy."
This
inaction by the school district is difficult to understand.
In
summary, after a review by the state comptroller’s office and following a
public hearing, Cortland School District’s 2.26 percent average tax levy
increase and total expenditure of $49,576,887 proposed in the 2015-16 budget
were not changed.
CC
was informed recently that total state aid was underestimated by $600,000 in
the proposed 2015-16 school budget.
Using
Cortland School District estimates in the proposed 2015-16 budget, state aid will increase 6.2
percent to $25,810,917. Using Senator Seward’s estimates, state aid to the Cortland
School District will increase 8.7 percent to $26.4 million.
The Cortland
School District proposes a tax levy of $375,540, which is a 2.26 percent
increase. Budget vote, Tuesday, May 19.
2015-16
proposed budget—pages 6,7, and 8 corrected: http://www.cortlandschools.org/tfiles/folder766/Cortland%20Budget%205-7-15%20corrected.pdf
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