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| 5/20/2009 12:48:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Jessica Maher / Recorder staff
Helen Gavry, right, signs in Tuesday at McNulty Academy, for the annual budget vote and board of education elections for the Greater Amsterdam School District. |
| | Museum referendum voted down | The future of the Walter Elwood Museum is uncertain, said Executive Director Ann Peconie, due to the defeat of a proposition on the ballot Tuesday to support the museum with an additional tax.
Voters defeated the proposition, which was an annual tax levy of $25,000, 1029 to 531.
The tax would have been used for operating expenses of the museum, including utilities and upkeep.
"If this community does not step up and support this museum, this museum will close," Peconie said on Sunday.
Though the tax levy would have amounted to an average of just over $2 per household, John Adamkoski voted no on the proposition.
"Why should a taxpayer pay for that?" he said. "It's an extra expense."
After residing in district-owned 300 Guy Park Ave. for over 40 years, WEM will move to Guy Park Manor in the coming months. Peconie said the museum's success will now depend on grants, as well as individual donations.
DeRossi, who opposed the tax levy, encouraged people to make tax-deductible donations to the WEM.
"I'm just glad the votes came out and showed they did not like the new tax," said DeRossi.
Peconie said she was pleased with the over 500 people who did support the museum, and understands those who voted no.
"I think we live in a county that's heavily taxed ... people kind of voted on principal and don't want more taxes ... as a property owner, I feel their pain," she said.
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Contact Jessica Maher at jessica.maher@recordernews.com.
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GASD budget narrowly defeated
Jessica Maher
Reporter
After what some school officials called one of the most challenging years to construct a budget, taxpayers turned out around the region Tuesday to cast their votes for the 2009-10 budget, school board elections and propositions.
In the Greater Amsterdam School District, the proposed budget was unofficially defeated by only 32 votes.
"The vote being so close is excellent because ... it shows an enormous amount of support for the school district and staff," said Superintendent Thomas Perillo.
The voted down budget was a 4.54 percent increase over last year's and approximately $200,000 over contingency.
Perillo said the board will discuss whether to submit the budget for another vote or go to contingency at tonight's board of education meeting.
Voters also chose between four candidates for two open board of education seats. Current President Gina DeRossi ran against Ann Peconie, Raymond Crosby and Laurie Motyl. Board member James Walrath opted not to seek a fourth term.
DeRossi overwhelmingly won her second term on the board and Crosby, an assistant lacrosse coach in the district and longtime volunteer with various GASD clubs, organizations and sports teams, won the second seat.
"[Crosby] has a real connection in the community and I think he'll be a real asset to the board," said Perillo.
Crosby, who has two daughters in the GASD, said he's looking forward to serving the board.
"We have a lot of great people here from maintenance to people who volunteer to teachers," he said. "They really care."
This year's budget process was not without controversy, as pay increases for 20 members of non-bargaining staff including administration were initially paired with several cuts to staff, including four custodians. In early April, the board of education approved the proposed $55,353,987 budget that restored the custodial eliminations.
Fearing that a contingency budget would mean the restoration of the original cuts, Amsterdam High School head custodian and president of the Custodial, Maintenance and Bus Driver's Unit Robert Minkler embarked on a campaign to educate taxpayers about the impact custodial staff cuts would have on the health and safety of the district's schools.
On Tuesday, custodial staff had a heavy presence at the district's polling places.
"We're naturally disappointed," said Minkler. "We gave it our best shot."
Voters also defeated a proposition to purchase two Suburban vehicles and a proposition to support the Walter Elwood Museum with a $25,000 annual tax levy. Despite every proposition being defeated, Perillo said the 1,678 people who came out to vote was positive for the district.
"I'm so proud of Amsterdam and I'm proud of the district because they came to vote today," he said.
DeRossi called this year's budget process one of the most difficult due to a statewide fiscal crisis and delay in knowing how much the state would give in education aid. Going to contingency or submitting a revised budget will depend on the outcome of the board's discussion, she said.
"The board obviously has a lot to look into," said DeRossi. "I'm sure it will be a lively debate again."
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Contact Jessica Maher at jessica.maher@recordernews.com.
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