Lyndonville school district cuts taxes

LYNDONVILLE – The school district is proposing a budget that will reduce taxes by 3.4 percent, continuing a downward trend in the tax burden.The district is proposing a budget that seeks a tax levy of $4,266,578, which is down from $4,416,578 in 2015-16. The previous year, 2014-15, the district’s tax levy was $4,666,578. Lyndonville has reduced the tax levy by $400,000 in two years, a drop of 8.6 percent.

The district’s $13,254,000 budget is nearly the same in expenditures as in 2015-16. The 2016-17 budget is $108 more than the $13,253,892 in 2015-16.

Lyndonville was able to reduce taxes partly due to a $260,000 increase in state aid. The district also reduced spending by $65,000 for utilities, $45,000 to BOCES, $40,000 in retirement contributions, $40,000 for a building condition survey, $40,000 for Social Security costs, and $25,000 less for unemployment.

District leaders have set aside $100,000 for capital projects, including an estimated $65,000 to $75,000 to remove an underground diesel tank and install above-ground unit, and an estimated $25,000 to $35,000 for LED stage lighting.

Voting on the budget will be Tuesday from noon to 8 p.m. at the Stroyan Auditorium forum.

Other propositions include:

Three incumbents on the Board of Education are all running unopposed for three-year terms. They include Harold Suhr, Terry Stinson and Rick Mufford.

$91,589 for Yates Community Library (up from $90,653).

Establish 2016 Transportation Reserve Fund to fund bus and vehicle purchases, not to exceed $720,000 over 8 years.

Authorization to purchase one 66-passenger school bus at a maximum estimated cost of $110,000.

School officials say the bus proposition and Transportation Reserve Fund will not have an impact on the tax levy.