Community urged to get involved

The Pine Plains Central School District is in the throes of its annual extensive, budgeting process for the upcoming 2013-14 school year.Superintendent Linda Kaumeyer spoke to The Millerton News, urging the community to get involved.“We have our volunteer group, the budget advisory group, who meet with the Board [of Education] approximately three times before the budget is approved,” she said.The group allows community members and concerned citizens to speak more informally with the board.“Members can ask questions in a more informal meeting, get a look into what the board will be talking about, in regards to the budget, at their next regular meeting and provide input,” she said.The new New York state 2 percent tax levy legislation has provided its own unique set of challenges for many districts throughout the state.“On March 1 each district had to file a calculation of what the maximum amount of tax levy would be if the board decided to select the full amount,” Kaumeyer said.While the legislation has “2 percent” in the title, districts use a complicated formula to determine the maximum amount the tax levy could increase each budget year.“The current board has asked for us to stay at that 2 percent. This is not a final decision and the figure could absolutely change if the board decided to. Yet for right now, all out projections and figures are done under the assumption of a 2 percent increase,” she said.While districts across the state are also facing large cuts in state aid, Pine Plains has been anticipating these cuts and working in advance to combat their impact.“In planning ahead we’re fortunate. We can make adjustments to lessen the shock to the total school system of reductions by making them when necessary and with planning,” she said.Kaumeyer urges everyone to take advantage of the resources made available on the district website.“As the meetings progress through March and April we will post all materials to the website. We also urge people to attend the budget advisory meeting. We’re also happy to address any questions that the public may have at regular board meetings,” she said.Meeting dates can also be found on the district website, along with budget information and materials at www.pineplainsschools.org.“We also advise anyone with questions to email them to budget@ppcsd.org. We’re happy to answer as much as we can,” she said.The biggest tip Kaumeyer offers is to get involved as soon as possible.“Come to a meeting now. Don’t wait until May. Come in March and April, before the budget is approved,” she said.