July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
School budget protested (07/01/08)
By By STEVE GARBACZ-
The Jay School Corporation's budget was on the hot seat this morning.
In a hearing hosted by the Department of Local Government Finance, petitioners had their chance to contest the school system's 2008 budget. Viewpoints on why the school shouldn't receive final state approval for the general fund budget of $24,069,651 were heard.
Jim Sanders, Portland, spoke first and expressed concern that with a larger budget, the school system will continue to increase its debt, which he said is hovering around $54 million. Sanders said at this point, each Jay County resident accounts for about $2,500 of debt.
"We need to cut this budget severely," Sanders said, "and see how good of managers (the school officials) are."
Sanders drew upon Gov. Mitch Daniels own words, stating that the county, state and nation are experiencing a stagnant economy, and said the school board needs to be more responsible with its spending.
"The money being spent for frivolous items is ridiculous," Sander said. "We didn't need air conditioned buses. We didn't need Taj Mahal buildings."
Paula Confer, Dunkirk, spoke next. She was less adamant about stopping all new spending projects but did echo concern about the system's growing debt.
"I hear the school is in debt but we keep spending and keep building," she said. "We need (funding) other places in the county."
Jerry Votaw, Portland, was the third and final opponent of the proposed budget. "Jay County school board's got to be brought under control," he said.
Jay Schools superintendent Tim Long spoke in defense of the budget, asking the DLGF that it be approved as presented.
Long, who said he has worked on about 23 school budgets in 17 years, said the corporation had worked diligently to project the system's needs and reinforced that school corporation is within its legal limits and that the DLGF had already cut their original proposal.
"We still are well within our statutory limits," he said. And later, "We have complied with all the rules of the state of Indiana."
Long also noted that this hearing was for the school's general fund only, so discussions about debt repayment did not pertain to the focus of this hearing. He said he would be happy to meet with and discuss those issues with residents at their request.
Jayne Schoeff, the DLGF representative proctoring the hearing, said the department will take the hearing and any submitted written evidence under consideration before making a decision.
Once the final budget is approved, the county will be able to start sending out property tax bills to residents.
County treasurer Robin Alberson said June 20 that those bills would likely be delayed until after July.[[In-content Ad]]
In a hearing hosted by the Department of Local Government Finance, petitioners had their chance to contest the school system's 2008 budget. Viewpoints on why the school shouldn't receive final state approval for the general fund budget of $24,069,651 were heard.
Jim Sanders, Portland, spoke first and expressed concern that with a larger budget, the school system will continue to increase its debt, which he said is hovering around $54 million. Sanders said at this point, each Jay County resident accounts for about $2,500 of debt.
"We need to cut this budget severely," Sanders said, "and see how good of managers (the school officials) are."
Sanders drew upon Gov. Mitch Daniels own words, stating that the county, state and nation are experiencing a stagnant economy, and said the school board needs to be more responsible with its spending.
"The money being spent for frivolous items is ridiculous," Sander said. "We didn't need air conditioned buses. We didn't need Taj Mahal buildings."
Paula Confer, Dunkirk, spoke next. She was less adamant about stopping all new spending projects but did echo concern about the system's growing debt.
"I hear the school is in debt but we keep spending and keep building," she said. "We need (funding) other places in the county."
Jerry Votaw, Portland, was the third and final opponent of the proposed budget. "Jay County school board's got to be brought under control," he said.
Jay Schools superintendent Tim Long spoke in defense of the budget, asking the DLGF that it be approved as presented.
Long, who said he has worked on about 23 school budgets in 17 years, said the corporation had worked diligently to project the system's needs and reinforced that school corporation is within its legal limits and that the DLGF had already cut their original proposal.
"We still are well within our statutory limits," he said. And later, "We have complied with all the rules of the state of Indiana."
Long also noted that this hearing was for the school's general fund only, so discussions about debt repayment did not pertain to the focus of this hearing. He said he would be happy to meet with and discuss those issues with residents at their request.
Jayne Schoeff, the DLGF representative proctoring the hearing, said the department will take the hearing and any submitted written evidence under consideration before making a decision.
Once the final budget is approved, the county will be able to start sending out property tax bills to residents.
County treasurer Robin Alberson said June 20 that those bills would likely be delayed until after July.[[In-content Ad]]
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