BC News

Voters approve 2009-10 budget
Release Date: May 19, 2009

 

Bethlehem Central residents approved the district’s proposed $87.56 million budget for 2009-10 on Tuesday, May 19, by a tally of 2,410 yes votes to 1,215 no votes.

Results were announced at Bethlehem Central High School shortly after the polls closed at 9 p.m. The unofficial results show 66.5 percent of the total 3,625 voters supported the budget.

Voters also approved the bus replacement referendum on the ballot by a measure of 2,109 to 1,492.

Incumbent Lynne Lenhardt was re-elected to another three year term on the Board of Education, and newcomer Charmaine Wijeyesinghe was selected by voters for her first term on the Board. Five candidates sought the two seats up for election. Unofficial vote totals for the five candidates are as follows:

• Lynne Lenhardt: 1,965

• Charmaine Wijeyesinghe: 1,361

• Patrick Greene: 1,234

• Peter Shawhan: 831

• Rudy Arias: 370

 

Board President James Lytle did not seek re-election this year.

The proposed budget represented the lowest spending increase in the district in 26 years, and called for a tax rate increase of 1.76 percent. Throughout its deliberations, the Board of Education identified more than $2 million in budget reductions and savings throughout the budget process, and focused on preserving the core academic program and class sizes.

“In such difficult economic times, I think this positive show of support speaks a great deal about the community of Bethlehem and its commitment to education,” Board President James Lytle said. “While we are grateful for this affirmation of our work, we really do see the budget as a community document that has been shaped over the previous months through community forums and the Board’s budget meetings. We would not have reached this point without the support and participation of all district stakeholders.”

“BC residents should also know,” Mr. Lytle added, “that while we are pleased with this outcome —approval of a budget that was able to restrain spending and maintain an excellent educational program—the work of the new Board and the district to control spending while maintaining a high quality school system continues.”

The 2009-10 budget is the result of a comprehensive review process that took place against the backdrop of the global economic crisis and the potential loss of more than $2 million in state aid, which was later restored through the federal economic recovery package. The budget process included departmental budget presentations beginning in September 2008, four community budget forums, a well-attended student budget forum in March and six Board of Education budget work sessions.

The Board focused on spreading the impact of budget reductions across the district, making those cuts that would do the least harm to the educational program, and identifying programs and services that could be maintained by offering them in different, more cost effective ways.

The district will set its final tax rates for the 2009-10 school year in August, based on final assessment figures and equalization rates for each town as provided by the state Office of Real Property Services.

 

 

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