Tuesday, May 18, 2010

BCS Budget - Time to CONSIDER MERGER

Today the polls are open for the school budget vote…. It is coming to the point where the District will have to consider the increasing costs of running our own school district. This year BROOKFIELD ranked as the #6 MOST EXPENSIVE SCHOOL (out of 45) in Central NY. Below is a breakdown of the 2010-11 budgets being proposed by other Madison Co. School Districts. BROOKFIELD's budget increase of 6.7% far exceeded the budget increases (and decreases) of neighboring districts by FAR! Many of the districts with the highest costs per students in the region are the smaller districts, according to state Education Department. Simply put, they have fewer students to spread the costs over. Regardless of size, all districts have to provide certain services mandated by the state. They also face the similar fixed costs, such as the salaries of a superintendent and business manager, as a larger district. While it would make sense in some cases to merge smaller districts that’s a challenge because local school boards, like BCS's, are very protective of their small school districts. See the article and check Deb Grooms article at http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2010/05/smaller_school_districts_spend.html

BROOKFIELD
Budget Increase 6.70%
Cost Per Student $ 22,665
TOTAL BUDGET $ 5,689,033
# Students 251

Saturday, May 15, 2010

MADISON COUNTY - $750,000 USDA Loan to Madison County IDA

Our Congressman, Bill Owens, announced that the US Department of Agriculture will loan the Madison County Industrial Development Agency $750,000. The Madison Co. IDA, in turn re-lends these funds to local business and community development groups to start new businesses, expand existing ones, and create or retain jobs. The $750,000 loan is anticipated by the USDA to create 25 jobs and save seven jobs from being cut. In conjunction with the IDA, the County has been pursuing the opportunity to develop a livestock processing facility. See Full article: http://www.oneidadispatch.com/articles/2010/05/14/business/doc4bee0cb88e17a743062065.txt

LENOX - Town Audit Problems & Lessons

A NYS Comptroller’s audit of the Town of Lenox found unapproved pay raises and overtime for highway department employees, improper purchasing of goods, prohibited payments to private organizations, mismanagement of fuel supplies and other problems. Lenox Town Supervisor Rocco DiVeronica said the errors were unintentional and the town is already working to fix the problems. DiVeronica is the former Chairman of the Madison County Board of Supervisors. INTERESTING LESSON from their audit: The NYS Constitution prohibits towns from donating money or property to private organizations, even non-profit groups. See full article at the Oneida Dispatch http://www.oneidadispatch.com/articles/2010/05/14/news/doc4bee0e38dd9b1132282024.txt

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

BROOKFIELD TOWN BOARD - Regular Meeting - Monday, MAY 10, 2010

BROOKFIELD TOWN BOARD
Regular Meeting – May 10, 2010

Another “quiet” meeting….here are a few HIGHLIGHTS : DOG LICENSING- Beginning in DECEMBER, responsibility for handling Dog Licensing will now fall to our Town Board/Clerk: ordering tags, sending notices, census, setting deadlines, ….and setting LICENSING FEES! Yes, it will now be up to the Town Board to set licensing fees! TWO NEW TRUCKS? Are being considered for a total of approximately $350,000 with $50,000 down and financing the $300,000 balance at approximately 4.4% over a seven year term; for an annual debt service of approximately $58,000. The prices are at “state bid” and include warranties. One truck will include attachments; the second can be fitted with attachments (plows, etc.) from an older truck. Considerations: the debt payments on the New Berlin truck will have ended; trade-off between pay-down on an asset vs maintenance costs. Discussed using funds from the un-appropriated fund balance (“surplus” balance $114,000). SALES TAX REVENUES – are down, but not as badly as originally expected. PLANNING BOARD OPENING – for “ALTERNATE” : replacement needed for “alternate” Bob Stone. Contact John Salka or Don McCoach. The Brookfield Comprehensive Planning Committee will now report to the Planning Board rather than the Town Board. Karen Nowak will replace Honna Bowen, who resigned from the BCPC.
SUBDIVISION SURVEY REQUIREMENTS – were questioned… and will be researched. At issue: if you’re subdividing a smaller parcel ( 5 acres) of a larger parcel (100 acres), do you have to have the larger 100 acre parcel surveyed or is just the smaller 5-acre parcel? ......the cost to survey 100 acres vs. 5 acres. Codes Officer, Bob Piersma, has checked with the County & State and finds no such requirement. McCoach (Planning Board Chairman) believes the requirement dates back to a 2005 subdivision ordinance. The Town Board is to research the Subdivision requirement and report back. JUNK YARDS – Inspections coming up and preliminary interest in starting a new yard on/near Rt. 8. Piersma to make the rounds with Head and Cowen. REVALUATION – The Assessor, Rhonda Weigand, will have hours this week …Saturday last day…check the TOWN WEBSITE for hours. NEXT “June” Regular MEETING: LEONARDSVILLE – Monday, June 14 - 7PM…always a nice meeting – cookies, coffee! ! Stay tuned to the DOOR and SIGN for SPECIAL MEETINGS. Present: Board- Salka, Head, Mayne, Cowen, Owen; Clerk – Kabana; Highway Supt. – Jennison; Bob Piersma – Codes.

Monday, May 3, 2010

BROOKFIELD- One of the MOST EXPENSIVE School Districts in CENTRAL NEW YORK !

Small schools such as Brookfield, continue to lead the state in education costs per student. An article from today's Post Standard illustrates the disparate costs to education students throughtout the state and Central NY. Brookfield ranked as the #6 MOST EXPENSIVE school district in Central New York (out of 45). Using figures for 2007-08, Brookfield spent $17,836 per year, per student while 2009 per student costs have risen to approximately $20,000 per student. Many of the districts with the highest costs per students in the region are the smaller districts, according to state Education Department. Simply put, they have fewer students to spread the costs over. Regardless of size, all districts have to provide certain services mandated by the state. They also face the similar fixed costs, such as the salaries of a superintendent and business manager, as a larger district. While it would make sense in some cases to merge smaller districts that’s a challenge because local school boards, like BCS's, are very protective of their small school districts. See the article and check Deb Grooms article at http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2010/05/smaller_school_districts_spend.html