In Schenectady, the turnout appeared to be higher than last year. For example, Zoller Elementary usually gets a total of 90 voters. By 6 p.m., more than 160 people had marked their ballots on the new optical scanning machines. The high school, typically the largest polling place, turned away about 100 people who showed up at the wrong site. A poll worker surmised these voters' confusion stemmed from the fact that they had not voted in earlier school elections and simply assumed the high school was the place to vote. Another sign of the large turnout was the dozen people waiting in line around 5 p.m. just to get their ballots.
On May 18, 2010, Schenectady voters defeated the $161,605,468 million 2010-2011 budget proposal:
1,601 yes votes | 1,822 no votes
Next Steps:
The Board of Education can:
* put the same budget up for another vote
* put a modified budget proposal up for a vote
* move directly to a contingency budget.
If the board decides to present the budget (revised or not), for another vote and it is defeated a second time, the board must adopt a contingency budget.
The contingency cap is $160,708,288. The estimated tax levy under contingency is $54,354,980 which is $2,201,950 or 4.22% increase over the current tax levy.
No easy 'Yes' in Schenectady Fresh off a budget defeat and with new faces on the school board, the city grapples for answers
By LAUREN STANFORTH, Staff writer First published in print: Thursday, May 20, 2010
SCHENECTADY -- When a school budget fails, a superintendent and Board of Education are often left to read voters' minds about what would make the spending plan more palatable a second time around.
But in Schenectady's case, there might be nothing that would appease some residents in the wake of the Steven Raucci scandal and other troubles plaguing the urban district. The Board of Education at its meeting Wednesday night had divergent opinions about what would get a "yes" from the public if a second vote on the 2010-11 budget were held.
Board President Maxine Brisport, who was voted off the board Tuesday and will leave June 30, and Vice President Diane Herrmann, want to bring the $161.6 million budget below contingency, a state cap on spending that would still carry a 4.25 percent tax levy increase. Board member Jeff Janiszewski said he would never support such a measure, which would mean cutting more than $890,000 out of the budget. The failed budget carried a nearly 6 percent tax levy hike. "I think the damage would be devastating," he said...............>>>>..........>>>>...........Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=932887#ixzz0oSt0swyh
So, they'll leave us with another contingency budget, their last ditch efforts to screw the residents/taxpayers, on their way out the door and out of town.
That's exactly what Ely/Jiffy Jeffy wanted to do. Sock it to the sheeple again. They were stopped by the new majority who demand that over $1 Million be cut. Like every other district has already done.
This dysfunctional district refused to cut any overpaid administrators. Thankfully, Andy Chestnut was immediately seated and can begin getting this budget in line with new realities.
Newly elected board members Andrew Chestnut and Ronald Lindsay were sworn in to office at the Schenectady City School District's Board of Education meeting last night. Chestnut is serving the remainder of Joyce Wachala's term which expires 2012. Lindsay is completing Jim Casino's term through 2011.
Among the meeting agenda items was the defeated budget and how the board will move forward. The Board of Education has the option of putting the same budget up for another vote, putting a modified budget proposal up for a vote or moving directly to a contingency budget.
Board members did not make a decision at the meeting on how they will move forward. They have requested additional budget information from Superintendent Eric Ely to review at upcoming meetings.
The board will continue discussions on Monday, May 24 at 7 p.m. in the Schenectady High School Commons. They are also scheduled to meet on Wednesday at 8 pm and Thursday at 7 pm.
If the Board of Education decides to put the same budget or another budget out for a revote, the budget hearing will be held between June 1-8. The vote would be held on June 15.
So, they'll leave us with another contingency budget, their last ditch efforts to screw the residents/taxpayers, on their way out the door and out of town.
The contingency budget isn't arbitrary, it's prescribed. So the voters left themselves with a contingency budget.
The contingency budget isn't arbitrary, it's prescribed. So the voters left themselves with a contingency budget.
Prescribed only if the board refuses to come up with a budget that's palatable to the taxpayer/residents. Historically, they don't. Like last year, when they proposed one, it was rejected, so they proposed a similar increase and said "either take this one or a bigger increase under the contingency plan" - ie. shoved down our throats
Schenectady schools budget up for revote A slightly smaller budget to be put before voters
By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer First published in print: Thursday, May 27, 2010
SCHENECTADY -- The Board of Education has decided to put a slightly smaller spending plan back into the hands of voters, according to Board President Maxine Brisport.
Earlier this month, city residents rejected a $161.6 million budget by about 200 votes. Brisport said the revised budget will be about $161.3 million. The date of the re-vote will be June 15. Most board members leaned toward cutting the budget to a contingency level, the dollar amount the state allows so a district does not have to go out for a re-vote. But by putting the budget out to vote a second time, the board avoids the restrictions placed on contingency budgets, such as making outside groups pay for use of school facilities.
At its first budget meeting Monday night, Superintendent Eric Ely said he found a provision to pre-pay a state loan early, saving the district another $630,000..........>>>>...........>>>>...........Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/AspS.....7/2010#ixzz0p7qlZ9Et
With Jiffy Jeffy/Elys still running things look for minor cuts and another vote-which will also be defeated.
Exactly what they did. Unbelievable. Then at the end Superintendent Elys stated that next years school budget will be between $12 MILLION and $20 MILLION in the red. What does he care? This level of spending is unsustainable given diminished State and Federal revenues.
We must vote NO! again on June 15th so that they will finally make delayed cuts.
Logged
They should make serious cuts and move directly to the contingency budget. 
Exactly what they did. Unbelievable. Then at the end Superintendent Elys stated that next years school budget will be between $12 MILLION and $20 MILLION in the red. What does he care? This level of spending is unsustainable given diminished State and Federal revenues.
