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PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
May 18, 2006
Robert E. Biggerstaff, Esq. Over 89% of Small City School Districts passed their school budgets on 'Super Tuesday" ... but some by the skin of their teeth. Rome CSD, for example, passed its budget by one vote, on a vote of 1,140 to 1,139. Peekskill CSD's budget passed by 8 votes, 417 to 409. Of the six out of 57 small city districts that suffered budget defeats, several were extremely tight votes, with the Albany CSD budget losing by fewer than 100 votes out of more than 5000 votes cast. Despite these close calls, the small city district performance was virtually identical to the state average of just under 89%. Small City School District Association Executive Director Robert Biggerstaff stated emphatically, "Small City School Boards should be commended for careful budgeting and for keeping budget and tax levy increases reasonable despite enormous budgetary pressures from fixed cost increases such as retirement system contributions, health insurance and utility charges over which they had little control." On average, small city districts increased their budgets by 6.75%, under the 7% increase in state aid, and increased their tax levies by even less, 5.91%. Below find the preliminary Budget Vote Report-2006, updated as of 12:00 pm 5/18/06. .
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