Sullivan West board approves 4.9% tax hike

By TOM KANE

CALLICOON — The Sullivan West Central School District administration team had its work cut out when the school board set five percent as the goal for property taxes for the 2001-2002 budget.

The team did even better. The new budget will result in a 4.9 percent property tax increase, said school superintendent Michael Johndrow.

“It was a tough budget to build,” Johndrow said. “We’ll have to cut three teacher aides and 1.6 teacher positions. It could have been a lot worse. Despite that, the cuts will not affect programs.”

The budget as it stands now is a best guess. “We’ll know more when the legislature passes the state budget and the state aid formulas will be set,” he said.

The main reasons for the increase are a 21-percent increase in health insurance and contractual agreements with district teachers, he said.

Residents will vote on the budget and new school board candidates on May 15.