By MATT LINDSEY

PARISHVILLE -- Parishville-Hopkinton Central School will present taxpayers with a 3.15 percent tax increase this year, which would not require a supermajority vote for the first time in several years.

This is the first time in three years that PHCS will not need a supermajority vote for a tax levy increase, according to interim Superintendent Wayne Walbridge. The Board of Education (BOE) met Monday night at the school.

The tax increase will raise $113,530 toward the budget, he said.

“The Board of Education doesn't want to go over that – we’ve been paring back the budget over the last month,” he said.

The school will still face a $42,818 shortfall, but programs and personnel will not be impacted, Walbridge said. The district was able to cut about $320,000 while not eliminating programs of staff.

“The last two or three years we’ve had cutbacks – this year none are anticipated, so that is a plus,” Walbridge said.

Some savings were realized through recent staff retirements and declining district costs for the Teacher’s Retirement System (TRS). “There were significant savings there,” he said.

PHCS will look to purchase two large buses this year, which Walbridge says are much needed. “We will pay for one in cash and finance the other one – it is a need.”

The school has not purchased a new bus in a couple years.

“We could of adopted the budget last night but the board wants to have the final state budget figures before doing so,” he said. “We know our expenditures and the tax levy – so we are down to where we need to be.”

Walbridge said legislators have told educators that additional state aid is expected in the final budget, which has an April 1 deadline.

Should there be more funding than anticipated the school has discussed bringing back junior varsity sports programs and increasing technical support with the anticipation of the 1:1 Chromebooks rollout for students which could take place this fall.

Walbridge said he is optimistic the budget will include more aid and he doesn't forsee any issues with the budget noting that the district can “tweak revenues”

The BOE is expected to pass the budget during a special meeting April 3. The public will vote on the budget May 16 with a public meeting planned May 8.

The Board of Education meets for its regular meeting on April 25. They will vote on the BOCES budget and board candidates.