Wednesday, April 24, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
BY MATT LINDSEY North Country This Week NORWOOD — Norwood-Norfolk Central School’s $24.8M 2021-22 budget increases spending by 1.06% but includes no increase in the tax levy for the fourth …
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BY MATT LINDSEY
North Country This Week
NORWOOD — Norwood-Norfolk Central School’s $24.8M 2021-22 budget increases spending by 1.06% but includes no increase in the tax levy for the fourth consecutive year.
NNCS Superintendent Jamie Cruikshank said his district is slated to receive over a half million dollars more in state aid and hopes to restore several positions that were cut in past budgets.
The budget this year is projected to be $24,834,943, compared to $24,574,114 last year. The tax levy last year was $6,534,756, and this year it remains the same.
“This will be the fourth year in a row we are looking for a 0% increase,” Cruikshank said adding that tax levy has remained the same since the 2018-19 school year.
“For years the Norwood-Norfolk CSD was seriously underfunded by NYS,” the super said. “Their main aid stream is known as the Foundation Aid Formula. NNCS has been underfunded in this formula approximately $2,000,000 each year.”
With the approved state budget, Cruikshank said state officials dedicated themselves to properly funding this formula within three years. This resulted in over $500,000 of new aid coming into the district, with the projection of additional Foundation Aid in the next two years.
“This is a game-changer for NNCS and we appreciate the state providing this fiscal stability to our community,” Cruikshank said.
There are no plans to cut positions or programs.
There are plans to add back positions that have been eliminated in the last decade.
“Specifically, special education, math, social studies, and English,” he said. “We’re also increasing a half librarian position to full time and adding back two teacher aide positions.”
The school will also seek the approval of three student transportation vehicles, with costs not to exceed $306,000.
Additionally, there will be three openings for three-year terms on the school board. Incumbents seeking their seats include Rob Barlow, James Dillon, and Stephen Markum; along with newcomer Kurt Fetter.
Voting will be on Tuesday, May 18, between 12:30 and 8:30 p.m. in the NNCS district conference room.
