Lancaster 2019-20 School District Budget

[Lee Chowaniec]

Residents in the Lancaster district will vote on a $109.5 million budget (Proposition No. 1) for the 2019-20 school year. The budget reflects an increase of 1.90%, or $2 million, from the 2018-19 spending plan.

The tax levy — the estimated maximum allowable increase under the district’s tax cap — will exceed $54.4 million, an increase of 3.83%.

Since Lancaster’s first town-wide reassessment project since 2010 is under way, the district did not provide estimated tax rates for Lancaster, Cheektowaga and Elma residents.

That’s it folks. That is the extent of the Lancaster Bee’s report on the public hearing held this past Monday evening on the School Districts 2019-20 proposed budget. Nothing on how the district pared the budget down by over $2 million during its work sessions, nothing on the culture and valued education provided that should make this budget appealing to the public for a deserved budget approval vote, nada.

Then again there has been no information provided by either local news outlet to indicate there would be a budget public hearing – as was in evidence by the sparse crowd and with only one budget comment, and that was on transportation expenditure increase.

Equally perplexing is receiving the Lancaster Schools newsletter three days after the public hearing with information on the budget and what return the community was receiving from the district approved final budget – cart before the horse. (Listening to the district’s recording of the 30 minute budget presentation is recommended)

Equally perplexing is the claim (in the District newspaper and by the Bee) that ‘due to the reassessment project currently underway by the town and our growing community, an accurate estimate of tax rates and tax bill is not provided at this time’.

http://www.lancaster.oarsystem.com/P...8112011170.pdf

Use of new full value assessments are not scheduled for use until September 2020.

IMHO, the budget is deserving of being approved this coming Monday; no thanks regarding the manner information was forthcoming and considering the district’s extolling the 1.90% spending increase and comparison to budgets of the previous 10 years; but failure to mention that the tax levy increase (3.73%) is the second highest in the last 10 years. Strange how the district is able to estimate the tax levy increase but not the tax rate increase based on this year’s assessment roll, but waiting for the new 2020 assessment roll. Or, what am I missing?

[Neubs24]

Rather quiet on the board election front this year. Interesting to me that neither Sue Metz nor Bill Gallagher are seeking re-election. Both new candidates are un-opposed.

[Lee Chowaniec]

Residents in the Lancaster district will vote on a $109.5 million budget (Proposition No. 1) for the 2019-20 school year. The budget reflects an increase of 1.90%, or $2 million, from the 2018-19 spending plan.

The tax levy — the estimated maximum allowable increase under the district’s tax cap — will exceed $54.4 million, an increase of 3.83%.

Since Lancaster’s first town-wide reassessment project since 2010 is under way, the district did not provide estimated tax rates for Lancaster, Cheektowaga and Elma residents.

That’s it folks. That is the extent of the Lancaster Bee’s report on the public hearing held this past Monday evening on the School Districts 2019-20 proposed budget. Nothing on how the district pared the budget down by over $2 million during its work sessions, nothing on the culture and valued education provided that should make this budget appealing to the public for a deserved budget approval vote, nada.

Then again there has been no information provided by either local news outlet to indicate there would be a budget public hearing – as was in evidence by the sparse crowd and with only one budget comment, and that was on transportation expenditure increase.

Equally perplexing is receiving the Lancaster Schools newsletter three days after the public hearing with information on the budget and what return the community was receiving from the district approved final budget – cart before the horse. (Listening to the district’s recording of the 30 minute budget presentation is recommended)

Equally perplexing is the claim (in the District newspaper and by the Bee) that ‘due to the reassessment project currently underway by the town and our growing community, an accurate estimate of tax rates and tax bill is not provided at this time’.

http://www.lancaster.oarsystem.com/P...8112011170.pdf

Use of new full value assessments are not scheduled for use until September 2020.

IMHO, the budget is deserving of being approved this coming Monday; no thanks regarding the manner information was forthcoming and considering the district’s extolling the 1.90% spending increase and comparison to budgets of the previous 10 years; but failure to mention that the tax levy increase (3.73%) is the second highest in the last 10 years. Strange how the district is able to estimate the tax levy increase but not the tax rate increase based on this year’s assessment roll, but waiting for the new 2020 assessment roll. Or, what am I missing?

No, I am not missing anything. The school district will be using the town's 2019 final assessment roll to determine the tax rate increase - not on the 2020 reassessment role data. The district misspoke and should have been able to present an estimated tax rate increase as it has sine the 2010 reassessment program.

[Lee Chowaniec]

LCSD boasts of holding this year's spending increase to 1.90%

Of the 17 school districts seeking 2019-20 budget approvals, Lancaster had the 5th highest tax levy increases at 3.93%

And for the first time in recent history the district is unable to estimate the tax rate increase because it mistakenly assumed the assessment role was going to be based on the new reval - which does not go into effect until the summer of 2020.

[Lee Chowaniec]

The Lancaster Central School District budget passed 1,292 to 388.

Hopefully we will soon get some idea as to what that 3.93% increase in tax levy translates into tax rate % increase.

[shortstuff]

The Lancaster Central School District budget passed 1,292 to 388.

Hopefully we will soon get some idea as to what that 3.93% increase in tax levy translates into tax rate % increase.

1,680 residents voted. Wow, is that a historic low Lee? Is it prudent to say that we are seeing more voter apathy?

[Dan Roman]

1,680 residents voted. Wow, is that a historic low Lee? Is it prudent to say that we are seeing more voter apathy?

Most people figure why bother voting? If the budget doesn’t pass the first time it will be voted on again with the line item for shoe laces taken out for a savings of $3.49, make sure there is a play, sporting event and cook out for parents to attend and bam, budget passed

[WNYresident]

Dan speaks the truth. Let's have an art show the night of the vote..... or what ever.

[Neubs24]

With the board seats uncontested, I think most people probably found it pointless. I didn't see a single campaign sign this year.